Tuesday, March 16, 2010

ED and Heart Disease

Here's a great article from CNN Health:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/03/15/erectile.dysfunction/index.html?iref=allsearch

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Erectile Dysfunction - World Wide Epidemic?

Well, that probably caught your eye! I wouldn't say it is a world wide epidemic, at least we haven't been told that yet by the people who tell us such things. However, it certainly is a problem. Just ask the millions of men (and women) whose lives have been affected.

The ground breaking study on the incidence of erectile dysfunction in the United States was the Massachusetts Male Aging Study (MMAS) conducted between 1987 and 1997. Men between the ages of 40 and 70 were interviewed in 1987-1989 and reinterviewed in 1995-1997. Results of this study indicated that 52% of men suffered from either "minimal, moderate or complete impotence" with "the prevalence of complete impotence tripling from 5 to 15% between subject ages 40 and 70." That means the older the man was, the higher the likelihood.

Given that this study is now over 10 years old my suspicion is that these numbers are even higher today. And I must be right as every day I hear an advertisement on the radio telling me that erectile dysfunction is normal! Believe me, it is not normal, men were not designed that way. It is a function of our lifestyle, just as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are.

The worldwide incidence of erectile dysfunction is estimated at over 152 million men, with a forecast of 322 million men by the year 2025. A European study in Vienna of 2,869 men between the ages of 20 and 80 found 32% of their sample have some level of erectile dysfunction. A Canadian study of 3,921 men between the ages of 40 and 88found that 49.4% of men sampled have some level of erectile dysfunction. An Australian study of adult males in 2002 indicates that 39% reports some degree of erectile dysfunction and 18.6% experience severe erectile dysfunction.

Studies show that older adults continue to desire sexual intimacy when there is a partner and health status that allows this behavior. A study in 29 countries consisting of 27,000 men and women aged 40 to 80 reports, “Only 17% of men and 23% of women said ‘older people no longer want sex.’” In fact, experts concur that if all systems are go men can enjoy sexual intercourse well into their 90s.