Warning Signs Men Should Look Out For To Prevent Heart Problems Later In Life

Heart disease claims someone's life every 33 seconds, making it the number one cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you're already getting at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week, you're off to a good start in lowering your risk of heart disease. A healthy diet that's rich in fiber and low in sodium, saturated fat, sodium, and sugar will also keep your heart healthy.

Men should pay closer attention to their urinary health because certain conditions could be early warning signs for cardiovascular conditions, according to a 2024 review in the Journal of Men's Health. In particular, men with untreated erectile dysfunction (ED) are at a higher risk of being hospitalized for heart disease or heart failure. Moderate or severe lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) such as nocturia (getting out of bed often to urinate) have twice the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Although it might be embarrassing to talk to your doctor about ED or any urinary symptoms, treating them early can help you prevent or take early action against heart disease and other cardiometabolic conditions.

ED might be a frustrating condition for men, but this common condition doesn't exist in isolation. According to a 2016 article in the World Journal of Men's Health, healthy blood flow and erectile function rely on your body's release of nitric oxide (NO), and chronic disease or toxins in your body can disrupt the release of NO. High blood pressure is linked to ED in that a pathway that regulates your blood pressure also affects your erectile tissues. High cholesterol can damage your blood vessels and cause inflammation, but it can also increase your risk of ED.

A man's prostate grows larger with age, and an enlarged prostate diagnosis can cause LUTS. Yet LUTS could signal other chronic conditions. Nocturia is the most common urinary tract symptom, and a 2022 article in Trends in Urology and Men's Health said nocturia could indicate sleep disorders, neurological conditions, or endocrinological diseases such as diabetes. High blood pressure, heart failure, and metabolic syndrome could also bring on nocturia.

Even if ED and LUTS such as nocturia seem to be minor, they might be pointing to a condition you might not know you have. The CDC says that high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking are among the main contributors to heart disease. An unhealthy diet, diabetes, lack of exercise, and being overweight can also increase your risk of heart disease.

Younger men might not talk to their doctors about urinary problems or ED because they believe these conditions will go away on their own, according to the 2024 review in the Journal of Men's Health. Older men believe ED and urinary issues are simply a matter of getting older. Sometimes treating conditions like ED involves therapy, injections, or surgery, but your treatment depends on the cause. While sometimes ED can result from emotional problems, remember that risk factors for heart disease such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, lack of exercise, and obesity also can cause ED.

Treating LUTS also means considering its cause. While antibiotics can treat urinary infections and other medications can treat symptoms of an enlarged prostate, you also might need to adopt lifestyle changes to help lower your blood pressure. This might include exercising, quitting smoking, and losing weight. Some medications used to treat high blood pressure might also treat LUTS. Your doctor will know the best course of treatment to protect your urinary system while also keeping your risk of heart disease in check.