Heart disease is atherosclerotic plaque in the coronary arteries, starving the heart muscle of blood and oxygen—a myocardial infarction when a plaque ruptures or blocks flow completely.
With atherosclerosis, vessels fail to dilate properly (endothelial dysfunction). Cholesterol accumulates in vessel walls, narrows arteries, and can stop blood flow entirely. Atherosclerosis affects the whole body—angina, heart attacks, strokes, claudication, and erectile dysfunction. It often affects the penis first; ED can warn of heart attack or stroke within three to five years. The same vascular damage affects women as decreased sensation and desire.
Elective angioplasty, stents, and bypass surgery are generally not appropriate except during an active heart attack. Dr. John McDougall explains why in this series: