An "All-Natural" Alternative to Viagra Information supplied by Waukesha Memorial Hospital Men with erectile dysfunction (ED) may be overlooking the possibility of heart disease. "Heart disease is the primary reason for more than half of all cases of ED in males over age 50," says Kooroush Saeian, MD, cardiologist at Waukesha Memorial Hospital. Heart disease and ED are so closely related that difficulty with erections may be the first indication of a heart problem. Studies show that a man older than age 50 experiencing ED has a one in four likelihood of having a heart attack some time within the next two years. However, men enrolled in heart improvement programs, including a low-fat diet, regular exercise, smoking cessation, stress management, and other lifestyle changes, report an unexpected bonus: improved sexual function and, in many cases, reversal of ED. Normal sexual function is a complete interaction of stimuli, hormones, and neurotransmitters delivering messages to the brain to increase blood flow to the necessary regions of the body, Saeian explains. When things are working right, a rush of blood three times greater than normal is required. Thus, a healthy circulatory system is vital for optimal performance. What can men do to safeguard their circulatory systems? Saeian recommends the following: Tell your doctor if you are experiencing ED, even just occasionally. Keep cholesterol in check through exercise, weight control, diet, and medication, if prescribed. Take blood pressure medications as prescribed. Beta blockers and diuretics have a bad reputation for causing ED, but many doctors believe that hypertension itself, or interactions between medications, are more likely at fault. Don't smoke. Smoking causes significant changes in the walls of blood vessels, impairing normal blood flow. Saeian says Viagra can be appropriate for some individuals, but cautions that patients, especially those with a cardiac condition, need to be carefully screened by a physician who knows them before using this drug. "Buying the drug on the Internet or borrowing a few tablets from a friend can be very risky," Saeian cautions. In addition, the drug should never be used in combination with nitrates, another common heart medication. Information supplied by Waukesha Memorial Hospital. Check out our message boards in Peer Perspectives. Back to Experts' Advice Legal Stuff You Should Know