Ryan Terlecki, M.D., a urologist at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center will discuss the connection between erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular disease as part of the “Drive for Men’s Health,” an event designed to increase awareness about men’s health issues.
As two urologists from Florida attempt to set a Guinness world record for the fastest time in an all-electric car from central Florida to Manhattan, they will stop at charging stations along the 1,100-mile route to conduct interviews with top physicians that will be streamed around the world.
Terlecki will meet doctors Sijo Parekattil and Jamin Brahmbhatt at 7:30 p.m. June 12 in Lumberton to discuss erectile dysfunction as an early warning sign of cardiovascular disease and whether testosterone replacement can cause cardiovascular disease. The drive and interviews will be streamed via google glass at http://www.driveformenshealth.com.
Terlecki, a specialist in men’s urologic health, said that many men do not realize that erectile dysfunction can be an early warning sign of atherosclerosis, the buildup of plaque in the blood vessels that can lead to heart attacks and stroke.
“Erectile dysfunction (ED) can be a warning sign of the future development of heart disease,” he said. “In some cases, ED is a vascular problem. Changes that occur in the small vessels that supply the erectile tissue in the penis with blood may happen prior to changes in the body’s other vessels.”
At the event, Terlecki will demonstrate a non-invasive test to gauge the health of the lining of blood vessels. The test, available at the Wake Forest Baptist urology clinic, can detect early abnormalities in the vessels that can lead to atherosclerosis.
Erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular disease are risk markers for each other, said Terlecki. “In patients with ED, evaluating vascular health during their urology checkup may help identify men with undiagnosed cardiovascular disease or who are at risk of developing it.”
Terlecki will also discuss recent research suggesting that testosterone replacement can lead to cardiovascular disease. “Contrary to these findings, I agree with the International Society of Sexual Medicine that testosterone replacement therapy appears to be safe when used as directed and, in fact, may result in improved longevity,” he said.
All proceeds for the Drive for Men’s Health will help support genetic research in men’s health conditions and scholarships for future innovators at Florida Polytechnic University.
Media Relations
Shannon Putnam: news@wakehealth.edu, 336-713-4587