Clogged arteries can make you impotent

Characteristically, the human artery is smooth and elastic. There are reasons for that: for one, the human heart pumps out blood through one main artery. This main artery then divides and branches out into many smaller arteries so that each region of the body has its own system of arteries supplying it with fresh, oxygen- rich blood. Though arteries are tough on the outside, its middle muscle is elastic and very strong. The inner layer is very smooth so that the blood can flow easily with no obstacles in its path. The rhythm between the heart and the artery is very important, because when blood flows without inhibition, it makes for an efficient circulation system throughout the body. But then, arteries can become clogged as a result of plaque build-up, resulting in myriads of health issues, especially heart attack, which may lead to death if it is not treated as a medical emergency. As laymen, many of us are ignorant of certain symptoms that may serve as warnings that our arteries are becoming clogged, making us potential candidates for heart attack. Ironically, they are signs that many people sometimes take for granted as one of those symptoms of growing old. So, what are the signs to watch for? These ones… Erectile dysfunction Physicians describe erectile dysfunction (or impotence) “as sexual dysfunction characterised by the inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis during sexual performance.” A research entitled “Cardiovascular Implications of Erectile Dysfunction,” led by a Professor of Advanced Heart Care, Bryan Schwartz, concludes that sexual problems might mean you have a broken heart, literally. The scientists note that the most common sexual problem in men is erectile dysfunction which, they note, affects up to 30 million men in the United States alone. They argue that while there are several different causes of ED, including depression, low testosterone, nerve problems, and some medications, the most common cause is a problem with the blood vessels that are not able to dilate properly. In medical parlance, it is called atherosclerosis. Though about one in five men over age 40 report moderate or severe erectile dysfunction, the physicians warn that ED might be a sign of heart problems. A similar study led by Emily Banks of Australian National University shows that subjects who reported erectile dysfunction had a higher risk of heart attack, heart failure, peripheral vascular disease and heart conduction issues. They note, “Overall, men with severe erectile dysfunction were 60 per cent more likely to go to the hospital for coronary heart disease and twice as likely to die over a two- to three-year period, compared to men who did not have erection problems.” It is therefore important to discuss sexual health with your doctor. Not only can he prescribe medications to improve your sexual function, but together you may be able to prevent a major heart problem like a heart attack. Baldness Generally, baldness can be due to several health conditions, including thyroid disease and iron deficiency anaemia; but experts are now warning that male pattern baldness may foreshadow heart disease. Researchers from the University of Tokyo’s Department of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases analysed six studies on male pattern baldness and coronary heart disease conducted between 1993 and 2008, with nearly 40,000 participants in the United States and Europe. They showed that “men who had lost most of their hair were more than a third more likely to develop coronary artery disease than those with hair.” They warn that the severity of baldness influences the degree of risk, especially if the balding is at the vertex (top of the head), rather than if the baldness is at the front of the head. Again, a Study at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, United States of America, led by Paulo Lotufo, and published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, note that there’s “a strong relationship between coronary heart disease and hair loss. The researchers say “Those with frontal baldness had a nine per cent increased chance of getting heart disease. And compared to men with no hair loss, men whose crowns were completely bald had a 36 per cent greater risk of having a coronary event, including a heart attack and angina. Men with mild crown balding had a 23 per cent greater risk, rising to 32 per cent when balding became moderate.” The researchers recommended that bald men should be monitored more closely for heart problems. Calf pain when you walk The calf is the fleshy back part of the leg below the knee.
Experts at the University of Michigan warn that where there’s smoke, there’s fire and that leg pain can mean heart danger. “Symptoms of peripheral artery disease can be a valuable warning of future heart attack and stroke danger if you pay attention to the signs,” the scientists say. Without meaning to raise undue alarm, the scientists warn that nearly a quarter of people who have leg pain due to peripheral artery disease will be dead in five years, mostly due to heart attacks and other heart problems! And as for those whose leg pain keep them from walking even short distances, the odds are even worse, “as many as half will die by five years,” the researchers conclude. When you have calf pain, therefore, instead of applying topical medications or popping pills, let your doctor determine the cause and the treatment. Ear crease Your earlobe is that soft part of the ear that people adorn with earrings. Normally, the earlobes of children and young adults are smooth. But in some cases, people do develop creases on the lobe. The crease usually runs down from the ear canal to the lower edge of the earlobe. When this happens, experts say it may be a sign of troubled arteries. Some studies have found that people with earlobe creases have a greater risk for heart attack than others. A study published in the journal Angiology explains that after examining 253 people with no known heart conditions, Turkish researchers found those with a visible ear crease were roughly 10 per cent more likely to suffer from blocked arteries. “Earlobe creases were also more common among those suffering from the most severe arterial backups,” the study authors discovered. The researchers note that your earlobe is a concentrated end point for blood vessels, “So, if you have blood circulation problems, those blockages may show up as wrinkles in your lobes.” The conclusion? Don’t take anything for granted, however ‘negligible’ they may appear.