Obesity is a growing cause of concern amongst Americans especially given the hectic lifestyles that we lead and the love that we as a nation have for junk food. This is a medical condition and occurs when the body fat has exceeded the permissible limits. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention figures show that more than 1/3rd of American Adults and 1/6th of American children are obese. If the current trend continues any further, it could cause a lot of issues for the general wellbeing and health of Americans. Obesity is caused mainly due to a sedentary lifestyle coupled with a poor diet and lack or exercise. However there are some cases where the condition has been caused by psychiatric illness, genetics or other medical reasons.
Obesity has umpteen adverse health effects on the human body which in turn leads to reduce life expectancy and one of them is heart diseases. Until recently, however it was assumed that there is no relation between obesity and heart diseases. However studies have shown that obesity is related to heart diseases as well as it also independently predicts the risk of cardiovascular diseases in both men and women. Some of the cardiovascular diseases that you are at risk of are sudden cardiac arrest, congestive heart failure, abnormal heart rhythm, and angina.
While heart diseases are life threatening and are directly linked to obesity, they could also be a symptom of certain other health conditions such as Erectile Dysfunction, commonly known as ED.
What Is ED
ED is also a medical condition and is a growing concern amongst Americans these days. ED has been defined by the National Institute of Health as the inability to develop or maintain an erection. Living with ED can be stressful. Research shows that the health of the heart and the functioning of the penis in men are closely related. It all depends on the blood flow to the penis shaft. Arteries in the body supply blood to the heart as well as the penis and they are lined with endothelium. Blood flow in the body is facilitated by a chain reaction that takes place in the body, the key part being the release of nitric oxide. When the endothelium does not respond to the release of nitric oxide, it hampers the flow of blood to the penis thus disrupting the chemical process that facilitates an erection. The main reason for the non responsiveness of the endothelium is due to the plaque buildup in the arteries and this medical condition is known as Atherosclerosis also known as clogged arteries. What adds to the issue is that since the arteries supplying blood to the penis is smaller than the other arteries in the body, the presence of clogged arteries first shows up as Erectile Dysfunction. The arteries get clogged due to various reasons including high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, having diabetes, smoking, depression, and obesity.
Treatment for erectile dysfunction caused due to heart diseases is quite simple but has to be followed with rigor and discipline. Treatment includes changing your diet from junk food to following a balanced and nutritious diet, making simple changes to your lifestyle such as waking up early, going to bed early, indulging in physical and outdoor activities, leading an active lifestyle, exercising, and focusing on the good things in life. If you smoke, then quitting smoking also helps reduce the risk of heart disease and in turn reduces the risk of erectile dysfunction. It is also of utmost importance that you consult your medical practitioner before you make any drastic changes to your lifestyle. When you make changes to your lifestyle after consulting with your doctor, you will notice that it automatically improves your ability to have an erection and keep your heart healthy.
