Men often wonder which erectile dysfunction (ED) treatment would be safe and effective for them if they have ED and an underlying heart condition.
Well, in an article published in Healthline, experts have explained men with ED as well as heart disease are lucky to have several ED treatments.
Michigan-based cardiologist Dr. Joel Kahn, director of the Kahn Center for Cardiac Longevity, says the ED complaints often precede the diagnosis of heart disease by a number of years.
He says, “The complaint should lead to an assessment of all traditional measures like adequacy of blood pressure control, blood glucose control, blood cholesterol control, smoking, diet, and fitness as well as labs to evaluate these issues, testosterone levels, and thyroid hormone levels.”
Lifestyle changes can have a positive impact on the prognosis of both ED and heart disease. Dr. Kahn says a change in lifestyle is the first safe ED treatment for men with heart disease.
“Some patients regain their sexual function by improved diets focusing on whole plant selections, gradual increases in fitness activities, quitting smoking, weight reduction, and better sleep therapies,” he explains.
Oral drugs that include phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors are the first-line treatment for men with ED. The two most common ED drugs include sildenafil citrate (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis). Others include vardenafil (Levitra) and avanafil (Stendra).
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved these drugs for the treatment of ED.
After looking into the lifestyle modifications, Dr. Kahn says PDE-5 inhibitors are the second approach to ED treatment. “They are generally safe to use in stable heart patients not taking nitroglycerin medication, if the extent of their heart disease is known and if they have at least average fitness and stability,” he says.
However, PDE-5 inhibitors are not advised to men who already take nitroglycerin-based medications, such as nitrates, and high blood pressure drugs like alpha-blockers.
“Men on nitroglycerin medications with poor fitness, with unstable symptoms, and not fully evaluated should not be treated with these medications,” Dr. Kahn says.
Apart from oral ED drugs, doctors may advise alprostadil injection, which increases blood flow to the penile organ by dilating the blood vessels, encouraging an erection.
Testosterone therapy is yet another treatment option for men with ED and heart disease. If you have ED and low libido due to low testosterone, your doctor may suggest testosterone therapy along with a PDE-5 inhibitor.
If low testosterone levels and low sex drive are factors in your ED, your doctor may recommend testosterone therapy in combination with a PDE5 inhibitor.
A penile pump, or a vacuum erectile device, is a mechanical device that helps men to get and maintain an erection. They are safe, effective, and well-tolerated. Other ED treatments include prosthesis and vascular surgeries. Treating the underlying cause of ED can also help men to regain their lost ability to attain and sustain an erection. For instance, if they have ED due to high blood pressure, controlling their blood pressure with antihypertensive drugs is important. Men with diabetes and ED must keep their blood sugar under control with medications, diet, and exercise.
