About vascular health

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About vascular health

Read about vascular health and why it is so important, especially for men

Published 28/04/2010

Visit www.boots.com to find out more about vascular health and why it is so important, especially for men

About vascular health

The vascular system is made up of the vessels that carry our blood around the body – our arteries and veins. As we grow older, our vascular functions can decline slowly and silently. For example, our blood pressure and blood glucose levels can increase, often largely unnoticed; without diagnosis, this can ultimately cause damage to the vascular system.

The term 'vascular disease' includes coronary heart disease and stroke. It currently affects the lives of over 4 million people in England. Stroke is the biggest cause of death in the UK and the largest single cause of long term health and disability.

There may be symptoms of vascular disease many years before any serious event such as a heart attack or stroke – for example erectile problems, but many people don't make the connection. One in four men suffer from sexual health conditions such as erectile problems. If symptoms occur visit your GP as this may be an early warning sign of vascular disease.


It's a lifestyle thing

Lifestyle factors, plus existing conditions can contribute to the onset of vascular disease, for example:


  • Smoking
  • Poor diet
  • Obesity
  • Lack of exercise
  • High blood pressure
  • Diabetes


The narrowing of the arteries associated with vascular disease is caused by atheroma. Atheroma is like fatty patches or 'plaques' that develop within the inside lining of arteries. Plaques of atheroma may gradually form over a number of years in one or more places in the body, commonly in arteries going to the heart, brain, legs and penis. In time, these can become bigger and cause enough narrowing of one or more of the arteries to cause symptoms and problems.


Have you got the (Se)X Factor?

Because poor vascular health can affect the flow of blood to the penis, it is thought that for some people there may be a connection between vascular health and the feeling of sexual wellbeing.

Whilst the benefits of good vascular health are of obvious importance, sexual wellbeing and healthy loving relationships also hold significance, as it is thought that men and women who are happy with their sexual relationships are more likely to be satisfied with their relationships and their lives in general, than men and women who are only marginally satisfied with their sex lives. A healthy sex life is also a form of exercise – it releases the hormone seratonin, known as the 'happy' hormone.

Good vascular health is important; so in the same way that it is widely accepted that you brush and floss teeth to try and keep them healthy, be proactive to maintain vascular health, to do everything you can to minimise the risk of longer-term health conditions such as erectile dysfunction or even heart disease.


Dr Steven Lamm

Expert Opinion

"When I was invited to take part in a combined European-American research effort of a natural supplement that would support endothelial health and therefore contribute to heart and penile health, I gladly accepted.

"The six-month study enrolled fifty men under the age of 50 who took two pills a day containing the mixture of Pycnogenol and L-Arginine. The goal of the study was to determine if this combination nutritional supplement would improve overall sexual satisfaction. As I was to discover, the experimental product did just that and today, this experimental product is marketed as Prelox."


Dr Steven Lamm, MD, author of 'The Hardness Factor'

Read more like this:
How does Prelox work
Why consider Prelox
About Pharma Nord UK
Prelox: your questions answered


Related Categories:
Men's Health
Men's Health Centre at Boots WebMD
Vascular Disease and Erectile Dysfunction at Boots WebMD

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