According to a study recently published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, men suffering from erectile dysfunction (ED) who also experience depression have a much higher risk of experiencing a heart attack.

Researchers from the University of Florence, Italy, gathered together 2,000 men to participate in the study. The participants’ sexual health was examined, and they were also monitored for symptoms related to depression.

The study results showed that men suffering from ED who also exhibit depression-related symptoms are most likely to experience cardiovascular troubles down the road. Cardiologist at the Heart Hospital of Austin Dr. Stanly Wang stated, “If you have erectile dysfunction, then moving forward over the next five years, your chance of having a heart attack is almost doubled and your chance of dying from a heart-related problem is almost doubled, as well.”

Furthermore, the study showed that using anti-depressant drugs to ease depression symptoms had no affect on the connection between the symptoms and cardiovascular problems.

Lead researcher Elisa Bandini stated, “Recognizing depressive symptoms in subjects with erectile dysfunction is mandatory not only for improving their sexual life, but also for preventing cardiovascular diseases.”

Editor-in-chief of the Journal of Sexual Medicine Irwin Goldstein said, “What is important about this study is the broader concept of the sexual medicine problem no longer being just about a man’s performance in the bedroom, but about his psychological mood and his cardiovascular health.”

Photo: Source