Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. for both men and women. One reason for that is many people aren’t aware they’re at risk until they have a heart attack.

But some men have an early warning sign that they shouldn’t brush off as a “normal” part of aging, says Johns Hopkins Medicine. It’s erectile dysfunction. Regular, ongoing ED could be a clue to heart disease.

The link between ED and heart disease is strong. Research shows that men in their 40s who develop ED and have no other risk factors for heart disease run an 80 percent risk of developing heart disease within 10 years.

The good news is that treatment can help reverse ED and improve your heart health.

Here’s what you need to know about the ED/heart disease connection, your potential risk and what to do about it.

5 Things Men Should Know About ED and Heart Health

1. ED is surprisingly common. Did you know ED affects about 15 percent of men in their 40s and 50s and nearly half of men in their 60s? If you have ED, you are not alone.

2. ED and heart health are strongly linked. The penis, like the heart, is a vascular organ and a part of the body’s system of arteries, veins and capillaries that blood flows through. Heart attacks happen when fatty deposits build up in the arteries and block the blood vessels that supply the heart with oxygen. Like the heart, the penis needs a healthy blood supply for an erection to happen.

3. ED can be a “check engine” light for the heart. One of the first signs of heart disease is when the blood vessels cannot open properly and start to narrow. Because the arteries in the penis are much smaller than those in the heart, they are the first to show damage. That’s why ED often starts years before other noticeable signs of heart disease.

4. Risk factors for ED and heart disease are the same. Many of the risk factors that raise a man’s risk for ED also raise their risk for heart disease, says UChicago Medicine. These include:

• Being over 40
• Having high blood pressure
• Having diabetes
• Smoking
• Being overweight or obese
• Having high cholesterol

5. There is a link between ED and Type 2 diabetes. ED is also closely tied to Type 2 diabetes. High blood sugar damages blood vessels and nerves that are responsible for erectile function. A study by Johns Hopkins researchers at its Bloomberg School of Public Health found that almost half of all men in the study with diabetes also had ED.

Get Help: Talk to Your Doctor

Heart disease can be hard to spot in its earlier stages. In fact, about 45 percent of heart attacks are “silent” heart attacks. And they’re more likely to strike men than women. But ED is a canary in the coal mine, an early warning signal that should not be ignored.

Yes, ED might be a touchy subject to bring up, but having that conversation with your doctor can put you on the path to improving your ED and your heart health.

Your doctor will screen you for common risk factors for heart disease, especially if you are having other symptoms.  

Don’t wait — schedule a visit with your doctor today. By addressing the issues that are causing ED, you’re also improving your heart health.

Sources: Special Heart Risks for Men,  Johns Hopkins Medicine; Erectile Dysfunction and Your Health: 5 Things You Need to Know,  Johns Hopkins Medicine; What can erectile dysfunction tell you about your heart health?,  UChicago Medicine, 2022; Heart attack,  Mayo Clinic, 2023