Older men who suffer from restless legs at night are almost twice as likely to have erectile dysfunction as those without restless legs.
Older men who suffer from restless legs at night are almost twice as likely to have erectile dysfunction as those without restless legs.
To examine whether men with restless legs syndrome have higher prevalence of erectile dysfunction, researchers studied 23,119 American men through health-related surveys at regular intervals. In 2000 and 2004, the men were asked to rate their erections on a five point scale from very poor to very good. In 2002, the men answered questions related to symptoms of restless legs syndrome. None of these men had diabetes or arthritis, which increase the risk of restless legs.
About four percent i.e. 944 of the men reported symptoms of restless legs syndrome. These men had an average age of 70 years, while those without restless legs were on average about two years younger, tended to exercise more, and were less likely to smoke. Of those who reported restless legs, more than half - 53 percent - also reported trouble with their erections, compared to 40 percent of those who did not complain about restless legs.
It was found that the likelihood of erectile dysfunction also varied with the severity of restless legs symptoms. Men who had restless legs 5 to 14 nights per month were 16 percent more likely to have erectile dysfunction compared to men without restless legs, while men with more than 15 nights of restless legs symptoms per month had a 78 percent higher chance of erectile dysfunction. Factors like age, ethnicity, obesity, tobacco use had no significant effect on the likelihood of the link between the two conditions.
The study shows that both restless legs syndrome and erectile dysfunction are linked.
To examine whether men with restless legs syndrome have higher prevalence of erectile dysfunction, researchers studied 23,119 American men through health-related surveys at regular intervals. In 2000 and 2004, the men were asked to rate their erections on a five point scale from very poor to very good. In 2002, the men answered questions related to symptoms of restless legs syndrome. None of these men had diabetes or arthritis, which increase the risk of restless legs.
About four percent i.e. 944 of the men reported symptoms of restless legs syndrome. These men had an average age of 70 years, while those without restless legs were on average about two years younger, tended to exercise more, and were less likely to smoke. Of those who reported restless legs, more than half - 53 percent - also reported trouble with their erections, compared to 40 percent of those who did not complain about restless legs.
It was found that the likelihood of erectile dysfunction also varied with the severity of restless legs symptoms. Men who had restless legs 5 to 14 nights per month were 16 percent more likely to have erectile dysfunction compared to men without restless legs, while men with more than 15 nights of restless legs symptoms per month had a 78 percent higher chance of erectile dysfunction. Factors like age, ethnicity, obesity, tobacco use had no significant effect on the likelihood of the link between the two conditions.
The study shows that both restless legs syndrome and erectile dysfunction are linked.
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