Erectile dysfunction is usually discussed as a question of sexual function alone. A substantial body of research shows that it is also closely linked to the health of the blood vessels, and that it can appear years before other signs of cardiovascular disease.
What the cohort studies show
A meta-analysis of 14 cohort studies, including 92,757 men followed for an average of 6.1 years, found that men with erectile dysfunction had a 44% higher risk of cardiovascular events than men without it, and a 25% higher risk of death from any cause.1
The association is not explained by the usual risk factors alone. In a study of 9,457 men aged 55 and over, erectile dysfunction remained associated with a 45% higher risk of subsequent cardiovascular events after adjustment for age, body mass index, blood pressure, blood lipids, diabetes, smoking and physical activity.2
Why the penis may show it first
An erection depends on the arteries that fill the penis with blood. These arteries are part of the same vascular network that supplies the heart. One explanation for the timing, known as the artery size hypothesis, is that penile arteries are much narrower, about 1 to 2 millimeters, than the coronary arteries, about 3 to 4 millimeters. The same narrowing process therefore restricts flow in the smaller vessel earlier.3
What this means in practice
Erectile dysfunction has many possible causes, and most men who experience it do not have heart disease. However, when erectile difficulties begin recently, after a period of normal function, it is reasonable to consult a physician and assess cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure, blood lipids and blood sugar.
The Andro-Somatic Method begins with this education. Its first phase explains how an erection works and why it can reflect vascular health, before any practice begins.
References
- Vlachopoulos CV et al. Prediction of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality with erectile dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes, 2013. Source
- Thompson IM et al. Erectile dysfunction and subsequent cardiovascular disease. JAMA, 2005. Source
- Montorsi P et al. The artery size hypothesis (2005), as summarized in a review of erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular disease. Source
This article is educational and does not replace medical advice. Published by The Andro-Somatic Method.