Erectile dysfunction is not an uncommon problem, in fact there are concern among health officials because an alarming increase has been observed in recent decades. According to a 2019 review from the Department of Cardiology at the Montevideo School of Medicine“erectile dysfunction has a high prevalence, it is estimated that it affects about 100 million adult men in the world and that it will affect 322 million in the year 2025, with a more accentuated growth in Africa, Asia and South America”.
Its prevalence increases with age. In a population-based study conducted in Massachusetts, United States, in men between 40 and 70 years of age, the prevalence of erectile dysfunction of any degree was 52%. The prevalence of complete erectile dysfunction increased from 5% for patients aged 40 years to 15% for those aged 70 years, and moderate degrees increased from 17% to 34%, respectively.
However, although it is associated with age for reasons such as decreased levels of testosterone in the blood, decreased sexual desire or other reasons related to aging, there are other avoidable causes that are closely linked to erectile dysfunction, to the point that the behavior of the penis during sexual activity is considered a sentinel of hidden diseases.
Increased incidence among young people
Moreover, the biggest concern ranks among family doctors in the increased incidence of erectile dysfunction among those under 50 years of ageas reflected in a study carried out by the Urology Department of the Renji Hospital in Shanghai, which between 2009 and 2012 studied the data of thousands of young men and compared them with middle-aged men.
The study was published under the title A weaker masturbatory erection could be a sign of early cardiovascular risk associated with erectile dysfunction in young men without sexual intercourse. The objective of the research was to analyze the presence of weak erections during masturbation in young men.
Men between the ages of 18 and 40 underwent the study. The youngest stated that they did not usually have intercourse and had weak erections during masturbation. At the other end of the spectrum, the most adult group stated that they had intercourse, some of them also having problems with their erections.
After various studies and tests, it was concluded that young people who had weak erections during masturbation showed cardiovascular risk factors. Even more in those men who were diagnosed with erectile dysfunction. Consequently, the study warns about the need for regular reviews.
Erectile dysfunction is known to precede the development of angina by two to three years, and the onset of cardiovascular events by three to five years.
The importance of going to the consultation
According to a publication of the Spanish Society of Cardiology“Erectile dysfunction is considered a cardiovascular risk factor, being a important predictor of coronary heart diseaseespecially in those under 60 years of age. In addition, there is a high percentage of patients with coronary heart disease who suffer from erectile dysfunction.”
The same publication explains that “usually erectile dysfunction is known to precede the development of angina by two to three years, and the onset of cardiovascular events by three to five”, especially in younger men and calls for more clinical attention this aspect as preventive alarm of cardiovascular accidents.
In this regard, Héctor Corredor, Surgeon specializing in Urology and international medical director at Boston Medical Group, explains in an article from the magazine Men’s Health that “young people can suffer cardiovascular risk for many reasons, since today we tend to have an unhealthy diet and work that involves many hours without movement, becoming commonplace sedentary lifestyle that brings about being overweight and high levels of cholesterol in the blood” .
For his part, urologist Eduard García Cruz, author of 20,000 guys, what they haven’t told you about sex and the male mindsetensures In an interview that “erectile dysfunction is considered to be the tip of the iceberg of cardiovascular disease.” And he complains that 80% of men never seek help: “if more came, we could diagnose more, and avoid other problems.”
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