NATION NEWS (Barbados ) – Erectile dysfunction could be a man’s first sign of heart disease.

Doctors have expressed concern about the increasing use of energy drinks like these and male enhancement drugs.

Cardiologist Dr Raymond Massay stated this Wednesday as he expressed concern about the widespread consumption of energy drinks and the ease with which people could get certain drugs over the counter.

Massay said he believed the medical fraternity must now “present their case” to educate patients on the benefits of prescribed medication, as opposed to over-the-counter drugs.

The cardiologist made the comments at a press conference while responding to a question about the use of male sex enhancement products and consumption of popularly touted energy drinks.

Massay said: “There is always going to be a demand for that sort of thing because men want to be able to perform at 48 the same way they performed at 18.

“If somebody comes along and says they have something that is going to make that happen, then they will buy it,” he said.

Massay said: “Why we want people to come to us rather than get over-the-counter male enhancement products is the realisation…that erectile dysfunction may be your first sign of heart disease.

“The stuff that doctors recommend for male enhancement has been proven to be useful and safe in patients with heart disease,” he added.

Of greater concern to Dr Massay, however, were the claims made by products to lower cholesterol, cure cancer and treat diabetes.

“When you stop your cholesterol-lowering medication and you come into the hospital with a heart attack, the peddlers of snake oil charms are nowhere to be seen,” Massay said.

He further charged: “There is a great deal of chicanery going on out there…and we the physicians are concerned about the answer coming from our medical association that we can’t do anything about that.”

He also observed that energy drinks and carbonated beverages had been recognised as “a contributor to the explosion of diabetes and obesity”.

Massay’s position was supported by president of the Caribbean Cardiac Society, St Lucian cardiologist Dr Martin Didier, who suggested that male enhancement products bought over the counter could pose a danger to people with heart disease.

“There are male enhancement drugs that are necessary for people. These are prescribed under medical supervision,” Didier said.