Heart and Vascular Health for Men

At the Men’s Wellness Clinic, we provide the guidance you need to lower your heart risks. This might include strategies like:

• Taking medication to lower your blood pressure and/or cholesterol
• Controlling your weight
• Exercising regularly
• Managing your stress
• Improving the quality of your sleep

Erectile dysfunction in men can be like a “check engine” light for underlying heart problems. At the Men’s Wellness Clinic, our multidisciplinary team of experts can uncover the cause of erectile dysfunction. We may recommend a few noninvasive tests to diagnose the problem. For some men, the solution may be as simple as optimizing their blood pressure medication.

Some types of vascular disease may be to blame for erectile dysfunction. When plaque builds up in the arteries, it can reduce blood flow throughout the body, including to the penis. This can make it more difficult for men to have an erection.

Treatments like angioplasty and stent placements can help improve blood flow and sexual function. This involves inserting a small, thin tube through the artery in the upper thigh and placing a small, mesh tube inside the artery to open up the blockage.

It’s important to have medical supervision from experts if you are considering taking testosterone. That is because testosterone therapy may increase the risk for heart attack or stroke in some men.

At the Men’s Wellness Clinic, we can discuss the pros and cons of testosterone, including how it may affect your heart health.

An abdominal aortic aneurysm occurs when part of the largest artery in your body (aorta) becomes weak and expands. If the aorta breaks open, it can be deadly.

Because an AAA rarely causes symptoms until it becomes life-threatening, screening is recommended for some men.

Men between the ages of 65 to 75 who have ever smoked should get screened for an AAA. This involves a painless abdominal ultrasound test. At UChicago Medicine, we offer this screening through our advanced vascular lab services.

If you need treatment for AAA, we can connect you to one of the most established aortic programs in the region, the UChicago Medicine Center for Aortic Diseases.

Peripheral artery disease, also known as peripheral vascular disease, occurs when plaque forms in the arteries that supply blood to the legs and arms. This can reduce blood flow to the extremities and cause symptoms like leg cramps and wounds on the feet. But sometimes, it may not cause any symptoms. If untreated, it can lead to potential loss of the limb.

At the Men’s Wellness Clinic, we offer a quick, non-invasive screening test for PAD called an ankle-brachial index that measures how well blood is flowing to your limbs. If you have severe PAD, we can connect you to one of the most innovative limb salvage programs in the country, located at UChicago Medicine.

People who are 65 and older, as well as people 50 and older with risk factors (such as diabetes) or a family history of PAD, should get screened. At UChicago Medicine, we offer this screening through our vascular lab services.

Yes, men can develop varicose veins that can cause achy, tired legs. If untreated, varicose veins can lead to more serious problems, such as sores on the legs that are difficult to heal.

Vein treatments available through the Men’s Wellness Clinic includes injections, lasers and minimally invasive surgery.