18 percent of U.S. men age 20 and up suffer from erectile dysfunction --

[almaty 19]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- There's more bad news for those pudgy couch potatoes, junk food junkies and TV devotees -- and this time it really hits them where it hurts.

A study published Thursday found that about 18 percent of U.S. men age 20 and up suffer from erectile dysfunction -- and the condition is strongly linked to a sedentary lifestyle of little physical exercise, poor diet and lots of television.

Not surprisingly, the condition was most common in older men. But there was a strikingly high prevalence in men with diabetes and high blood pressure.

"This really means that staying active -- moving more and eating less -- and staying healthy, in addition to being good for your cardiovascular health may also be good for your sexual health," said epidemiologist Elizabeth Selvin of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, who led the study, in an interview.

"It's just another reason to get off the couch and exercise," Selvin added.

The study in the American Journal of Medicine sought to get a sense of the prevalence of erectile dysfunction, formerly called impotence, in what Selvin called "the post-Viagra era."

The U.S. government approved Pfizer Inc.'s Viagra in 1998 as the first pill for erectile dysfunction -- the inability to attain an adequate penile erection for satisfactory sexual activity.

The arrival of Viagra not only provided a treatment option, but boosted awareness of the formerly taboo subject and made it more acceptable to discuss.

The study estimated that 18.4 percent of U.S. men age 20 and older -- about 18 million -- have the condition. Among those ages 20-39, 5.1 percent had it; ages 40-59, 14.8 percent; ages 60-69, 43.8 percent; and age 70 and older 70.2 percent.

Half of the men in the study who had diabetes also had erectile dysfunction. Nearly 90 percent of men with erectile dysfunction had risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including diabetes, high blood pressure, poor cholesterol levels or smoking, the study found.

TV watching

Men who watched three or more hours of TV per day were much more likely to have erectile dysfunction than men who watched less than an hour per day. And men with erectile dysfunction were less likely to have done vigorous physical activity in the previous 30 days than other men.

Selvin said there are two clear messages from the findings. One is that lifestyle changes -- losing weight, exercising more and eating healthier foods -- may be very effective in warding off erectile dysfunction rather than merely relying on a pill.

"By making lifestyle changes now, you can prevent this decline in sexual function," Selvin said.

The other message, she said, is for doctors to be more aggressive in screening and managing their middle-aged and older patients for this common quality-of-life issue.

Selvin and colleagues Arthur Burnett and Elizabeth Platz based their findings on data from 2,126 men who took part in a broad national health and nutrition survey whose participants were representative of the general U.S. population.

Men who said they were "never able" or "sometimes able" to maintain an erection were listed as having erectile dysfunction. Those who said they were "always or almost always able" or "usually able" were not.

The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Selvin said there are two clear messages from the findings. One is that lifestyle changes -- losing weight, exercising more and eating healthier foods -- may be very effective in warding off erectile dysfunction rather than merely relying on a pill.

[brnidokiegurl 0]

Also alot IS due to the medications many are on, for the Bi-Polar etc.... diabetes, high blood pressure

[Robor007 0]

In other words, less than 20% of men under 60 have ED problems. The article could've been more misleading it it tried.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Also alot IS due to the medications many are on, for the Bi-Polar etc.... diabetes, high blood pressure

That may be true, but diabetes and high blood pressure are actually consequences from having a poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle.

[brnidokiegurl 0]

Of course im not a guy but i had high blood pressue early as high school, it just runs in our family.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Of course im not a guy but i had high blood pressue early as high school, it just runs in our family.

I have hypertension also and my father has had it for years. I take Zestril and I've never had any negative side effects from it. In fact, I remember reading that it actually would help men who suffered from erectile dysfunction because it helps the blood flow.

[garya505 2]

I'm waiting for the Viagra jokes.

[Sharon 1]

I'm waiting for the Viagra jokes.

Like this?

"Viagra - The quicker dicker-upper"?

[brnidokiegurl 0]

[mawilson 2,133]

How provocative. The whistling guy obviously has an erection and the girl thinks it's o-kay....

[almaty 19]

How provocative. The whistling guy obviously has an erection and the girl thinks it's o-kay....

[garya505 2]

My fiancee wants to have baby. Should I be checking my morning orange juice for signs of Viagra?

[Sharon 1]

I'm waiting for the Viagra jokes.

Like this?

"Viagra - The quicker dicker-upper"?

...my son has the t-shirt...lol...

[Ban Hammer 13,345]

'If you need Viagra, it's very possible you are with the wrong woman'"

the donald.