Erectile Dysfunction Can Be an Early Sign of Heart Disease: What Every Man Should Know 

June is Men’s Health Month, an excellent opportunity to turn your focus to your health and wellness needs. If you’re like many men, you might place preventive health at the end of a long to-do list. Heart health can affect many aspects of your life and can even lead to sexual dysfunction. 

For residents of Frisco, Texas, help is available through the care of Shahnaz Begum, MD, FACC, and the team at Heart Care. If you’re experiencing problems in the bedroom, including erectile dysfunction, it’s important to get screened for heart health issues. 

What is considered erectile dysfunction?

All men experience an occasional period of difficulty in sexual function. Whether it’s a stressful time at work, worries about money, poor sleep, or even a simple cold, your performance in intimate settings can suffer. It’s also usually nothing to worry about.  

Erectile dysfunction, the inability to achieve and maintain an erection for intercourse, is common. If you frequently struggle in this department, it’s time to have a medical professional evaluate your overall health. 

How are erectile dysfunction and heart health linked?

Healthy blood flow enables your body to achieve an erection, which results from a temporary increase in blood flow to the penis. Poor heart health decreases blood flow, making it difficult to achieve erections. 

One potential cause is a problem with the inner lining of your blood vessels, called the endothelium, which can limit the flow of blood to your heart and also prevent adequate blood flow to the penis. Over time, your arteries can harden, a condition called atherosclerosis. 

Enhancing heart health can resolve erectile dysfunction

If issues like high blood pressure or problems with your circulation are causing erectile dysfunction, managing those conditions can do wonders for enhancing your performance in the bedroom. 

It’s important to have an overall health screening before beginning medication for erectile dysfunction. There are drugs that can help you get and maintain an erection, but they work by temporarily dilating your arteries to enhance blood flow. But this also temporarily lowers your blood pressure, which can be dangerous to some men. 

Screening is simple

At Heart Care, we focus on preventive cardiology. We have the tools and experience to deliver heart health screenings that will reveal how well your heart is functioning. The results help practitioners determine the best treatment options for your unique set of needs. 

If you’re ready to take action and preserve both your heart health and sexual health, reach out to Heart Care in Frisco, Texas, by calling the office or using the online booking tool to set up your visit.