The Heart of the Matter: The little-known fact of high blood pressure

IN MY FIRST column for Central Florida Health News, I wanted to get down to the heart of the matter on a topic that’s often left unaddressed for men: erectile dysfunction (ED). You may be asking yourself why a cardiology specialist would want to talk about this problem.

Well, did you know that many serious health conditions, including high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries — can contribute to ED? It’s a little known fact, but it’s a reality that many men have trouble facing. Hypertension (also labeled “the silent killer”) is consistent high blood pressure, and left untreated, can be deadly — causing a heart attack or stroke. But, the flipside, even when being treated, is that it can contribute to the problem of ED.

And it’s not a little problem. ED affects nearly 30 million men of all ages in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health. So how do you not become one these 30 million afflicted? Well, first off, take care of your health. If you’ve recently been told by your doctor that you have high blood pressure, follow your physician’s advice to get it under control. It will benefit the quality of your life — as you’ve just discovered — in more ways than one. Next, know your family history and ask your physician what you can do to prevent health risks that you are genetically disposed to.

If you suffer from ED, and are not sure why it’s happening, it could be due to an underlying medical problem that you have not discovered. The good news is, there are new treatment options available to help correct ED, including fixing arteries that supply proper blood flow to the area. If hypertension, heart disease, stroke, or artery diseases run in your family, then make a point to talk to your physician.

This column is sponsored by Heart & Vascular Institute of Florida.

CREDIT

column by IRFAN SIDDIQUI, DO, FACC, FSCAI

BIO: Dr. Irfan Siddiqui is a board-certified interventional cardiologist and a practicing physician at the Heart & Vascular Institute of Florida. He takes pride in taking an integrated approach for his patients to provide comprehensive, consistent care. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call (863) 42-HEART and ask to meet with Dr. Siddiqui.

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