Around 40 percent of men over the age of 40 suffer with erectile dysfunction but many are unaware that the condition could be an early sign of something more serious.
Erectile dysfunction is linked to a number of health issues including cardiovascular disease (heart and blood vessel disease), diabetes, neurological disorders and conditions affecting the body’s hormones such as low testosterone.
In a move to address what can be a distressing problem and to identify those at risk of more serious conditions Blackburn with Darwen Care Trust Plus is planning to include questions about erectile dysfunction in health checks carried out on male patients.
The free, confidential, health checks are open to all 35 to 74 year olds with a GP in Blackburn with Darwen who have not already been diagnosed with diabetes, heart disease or stroke.
They are carried out in GP practices and in community venues or work places.
They include assessments of high cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar levels and are intended to pick up on any risks associated with conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and kidney disease.
The Care Trust Plus is also holding a workshop for GPs and practice nurses that will highlight the need to include erectile dysfunction as a regular medical enquiry and to emphasise the link between the problem and other medical issues.
To book a health check call 0800 917 6072 or contact your GP.
For more information advice on erectile dysfunction contact the psychosexual service on (01254) 669429.
