Erectile Dysfunction
Introduction
Erectile dysfunction (ED)is a common condition affecting 52% of men age
40-70 (10% with complete; 25% with moderate and 17% with minimal ED)
ED is a marker of underlying organic disease including:
- Atherosclerosis (CAD,PVD, cerebrovascular disease)
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Renal or hepatic failure
- Hyper or hypothyroidism, hypogonadism, hyperprolactinemia
- Alzheimers disease, multiple sclerosis
- Depression
- Spinal injury, autonomic dysfunction
- Post urologic surgery
Medications may be implicated in ED. These include:
- Anti-hypertensives
- Anti-depressants
- Hormones
- Tranquilizers
- Alcohol
- Smoking
- Diet
Viagra (sildenafil) has been released to the Canadian market .Other similar
medications are forthcoming. These will have a significant impact on our
practises. We all can expect to see many patients who will ask for the
medication or who wish to be informed of the safety and suitability of
this agent in their case. Many patients might have manifest or occult
coronary artery disease. In this context it is important that we are all
well versed in the cardiovascular implications of sexual intercourse and
medications such as Viagra used to treat ED.
|