Shock-wave therapy not shown to help with erectile dysfunction

which is most commonly used for kidney stones, is an experimental treatment for ED. It is thought to work by improving blood flow inside the penis. Unfortunately, a trial published in March 2018 failed to show benefit of this procedure. It isn’t recommended at this time.

Dear Dr. Roach: I am a 62-year-old male. My aortic valve was replaced with a Carpentier-Edwards bovine tissue valve, and my ascending aorta was replaced in 2005. My question is about competitive powerlifting.

I compete in the bench press. I lift and train with between 50 percent and 100 percent of my max lift three to four times a week. How high does blood pressure go when lifting to the max on the bench press? Does it reach dangerous levels? Is the risk of damaging the valve slight, moderate or severe? Is there a risk of developing a second aneurysm?

A: In powerlifting, many parts of the body are pushed to their physiological limits. Measurements of elite-level lifters show that blood pressure can reach or exceed 300 mmHg (!) during a maximal lift. Powerlifters are at increased risk for some kinds of heart damage and stroke during these lifts, but the risk for young, healthy lifters is not large.

In your case, you have two potential weaknesses. The first is the prosthetic aortic valve, but the Carpentier-Edwards valve has a reputation for strength. It is unlikely that you would damage the valve. It’s the abdominal aneurysm that concerns me.

Although the diseased part of the aorta has been replaced with a very strong graft, the attachment — where the graft is sewn onto your blood vessels — is a point of weakness. I can’t recommend powerlifting for you, as the risk seems too great.