Low-T, ED And Men's Hearts

On average, men may experience a first heart attack around age 65, while, for women, the average age is 72. But while men’s risk of heart disease and heart attack is greater at a younger age than women, men are 33 percent less likely than women to have visited a doctor in the past year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These two factors can have dire consequences if men ignore symptoms that could indicate larger problems down the road. It doesn’t help that some of revealing health issues are sensitive topics. But regular doctor visits and frank conversations with your physician about the following health concerns can truly save your life.

Erectile Dysfunction (ED) And Your Heart

While an embarrassing topic for some men, erectile dysfunction (ED) can be a sign of other problems.

“For men, erectile dysfunction is often a leading indicator for vascular disease or coronary heart disease, often 10 years in advance of having an event,” said Derrick Plahn, DO, a Franciscan Physician Network cardiologist in Indianapolis.

The Connection Between ED And Your Arteries

Arterial damage often shows up first in erectile dysfunction because the arteries in the penis are much smaller than those in the heart. Johns Hopkins researchers say that men in their 40s with physical erection problems and no other risk factors for cardiovascular disease have an 80 percent risk of developing heart problems within 10 years.

Ghaith Nahlawi, MD, a cardiologist with Franciscan Physician Network Specialty Clinic in Lafayette, adds that it’s important to talk with your doctor the about use of ED medications like Viagra, which was first invented to be a heart drug.

“If you’re taking nitrates for chest pain and Viagra, you could bottom out your blood pressure and that could be a problem,” he said.

Low Testosterone And Heart Disease

Another factor particular to men is low testosterone and accompanying abdominal obesity, which is a risk factor for heart disease.

“Abdominal obesity can be a marker of prediabetes, hypertension and metabolic syndrome,” Dr. Plahn said.

Products marketed to treat “Low T” have their drawbacks. Kamlesh Kaul, MD, a family medicine doctor at Franciscan Physician Network Family Medicine West Lafayette, notes that while some studies associate low testosterone with coronary artery disease, the FDA, in 2015, placed a warning label on testosterone products for risks of heart attack and stroke.

Stress And Men's Heart Health

Heart attacks are often associated with men who exhibit high stress and anger. Dr. Plahn said chronic stress can lead to problems in the endothelium, a thin membrane that lines inside of the heart and blood vessels. Endothelial dysfunction can lead to vascular damage and heart disease.

“They say stress kills, and it’s probably true,” he said.

Dr. Nahlawi adds that people who are more stressed tend to have more bad habits that pose dangers to the heart. It can be difficult to pinpoint the cause of heart disease to stress or the things that come with it.

How Can Men Reduce Their Risk?

Dr. Kaul points to the most important risk factors for men: obesity, lack of physical exercise, not eating a proper diet, smoking, hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol. “If we can take care of those things, those have all proven to be contributing to heart disease,” Dr. Kaul said.

Preventative screenings

A variety of preventative screenings can provide peace of mind or guide a patient to needed treatments. Dr. Nahlawi said the most important thing for smokers is to quit smoking. Eat a healthy diet, watching for salt if you have a known heart diagnosis. Anyone over the age of 30 should monitor their cholesterol levels. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate exercise daily, even if it’s as simple as a long walk. “Those basic things go a long way to keeping your heart healthy,” Dr. Nahlawi said.

Exercise

Exercise is an area where men who like to try out the latest gadgets have an advantage. Exercise trackers provide a way to make sure you’re getting in the recommended 10,000 steps a day. They also allow you to monitor your resting heart rate, a key measure of cardiac fitness. “If you can lower your resting heart rate through exercise, you can lower your risk for heart issues,” Dr. Plahn said.

Family history

Family history is also a big risk factor. If anyone in your family is taking medications for high blood pressure or has had a heart procedure (including a cardiac stent placed or open heart surgery), this can provide clues to your inherited risk.

“If you have a parent with early onset heart disease – a heart attack or stroke at a young age – then you are at risk,” Dr. Kaul said. “We don’t mind one bit seeing people that self-refer because they’re concerned about a family history.”