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Since the introduction of Viagra® (sildenafil citrate) in 1998, several other drugs for the treatment of ED have been introduced; it has become clear that ED is far more prevalent than may have been suspected previously. A study conducted in the Boston area from 1987 to 1989 found that 52 percent of men between the ages of 40 and 70 suffered some degree of ED (Feldman HA et al 1994). By extrapolation, about 30 million men are affected by ED in the United States (McKay D 2004). And given men’s ever increasing life span, it has been further estimated that the incidence of ED worldwide will more than double in the next quarter century (Goldstein I 2000).
Arginine is an amino acid the body uses to produce nitric oxide, which relaxes smooth muscle, thus allowing for increased blood flow in many parts of the body. This action may explain why ED is more common in men with forms of vascular disease in which disorders of nitric oxide play a role, such as ischemic heart disease and stroke. For example, 75 percent of men with ischemic heart disease suffer from ED (Kloner RA et al 2003).
Risk factors for ED include conditions such as high blood pressure, abnormally high blood lipids (i.e., elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides), obesity, diabetes, and smoking (McKay D 2004). Recently, some US scientists reported that it may be necessary to add aging itself to the list of risk factors that produce vascular dysfunction of the kind associated with ED. “The normal aging process may induce significant global vascular dysfunction (involving the endothelium and the vascular smooth muscle),” wrote scientists published in the International Journal of Cardiology. This age-associated dysfunction was judged to occur even in the absence of clinically diagnosed atherosclerosis and was related to alterations in the production of endothelial nitric oxide (Al-Shaer MH et al 2006).
The link between ED and vascular disease is so strong that physicians are advised to consider men who present with ED but no diagnosis of heart disease as undiagnosed cardiovascular patients until proven otherwise (Jackson G et al 2006). It is believed that alterations in the availability of vascular endothelial nitric oxide represent the common thread linking these interrelated pathologies (Sullivan ME et al 1999).
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The Life Extension Foundation Buyers Club is celebrating its 21st Annual Super Sale! What does that mean for you? From now until February 1, 2010, you can purchase state-of-the-art dietary supplements at extra-discounted prices.
This year, we have more reasons to be excited about our Annual Super Sale. We are introducing over 40 new and reformulated products to help you maintain optimal health. Choose from vitamins, minerals, hormones, nutrition, weight loss and skin care products all backed by a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee†.
This Super Sale interactive page also features a better way to order multiple items! Simply select the items you would like to purchase and then scroll down to confirm your selection by clicking on the button that says Order Selected Items. It’s fast, easy, and saves you time.
Below are just a few examples of the exciting savings you'll experience during this year's Sale:
* Price based on Super Sale Member/Volume discount
http://www.lef.org/SuperSale/
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