11 June, 2006  06:33 GMT
 Men would be more likely to talk to their doctors about erectile dysfunction if they were informed about its connection to other conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol or diabetes.
Most US men ages 35 and older who have high blood pressure do not know of the link between high blood pressure and erectile dysfunction, a survey finds.
Eighty-two percent of the men say they were not aware of the connection between erectile dysfunction, while 86 percent were not aware of the link between blood pressure and cholesterol and 73 percent were not aware of the link with diabetes, a Harris poll of 1,342 men over age 35 finds.
Greater Ease in Talking to Doctor
"These are important findings for the millions of men in the US who suffer from hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes, as any of these medical conditions can lead to erectile dysfunction," says Dr. Matt Rosenberg, medical director at Mid-Michigan Health Centers in Jackson, Mich.
"In my clinical experience, men often feel more comfortable visiting the doctor for a condition like hypertension. If more men understood the link between these medical conditions, which are treatable, they might have an easier time talking to their doctor," he adds.
The survey also found that 44 percent of the men 35 and older said they would be more likely to talk to their doctors about erectile dysfunction if they were informed about its connection to other conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol or diabetes.
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