Science Daily (June 20, 2008) — Men with erectile dysfunction should be examined for testosterone deficiency and the metabolic syndrome, because these conditions commonly occur together, a new study shows.

“Erectile dysfunction is a portal into men’s health,” said the study’s senior author, Aksam Yassin, MD, PhD, of the Clinic for Urology and Andrology of the Segeberger Clinics in Norderstedt, Germany. “It is becoming clear that obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol problems and erectile difficulties are intertwined, and a common denominator is testosterone deficiency.”

Though erectile dysfunction is distressing, it isn't life threatening. But heart disease can be. Erectile dysfunction — trouble keeping an erection sufficient for sex — can be an early warning sign of heart disease. Understanding the connections between erectile dysfunction and heart health can help you recognize signs and symptoms of heart disease early on. Likewise, if you have heart disease, getting the right treatment can help you maintain or improve erectile function. Factors linked to heart disease that can cause erectile dysfunction include:

• Atherosclerosis. This damaging process reduces blood flow to your heart and contributes to coronary artery disease. It can also affect the blood vessels to the penis, causing erectile dysfunction. Conversely, if you're having trouble with erections, it could be a sign that your heart is also at risk.
• Medications. Some prescriptions that men take to protect their hearts can cause erectile dysfunction. Additionally, medications that are often prescribed for erectile dysfunction may not be safe when combined with certain heart medications.
• Depression and anxiety. Researchers have found a connection between depression, heart disease and erectile dysfunction. Feeling anxious can also lead to erectile dysfunction. If you have heart disease, you may worry that having sex could trigger a heart attack.

Atherosclerosis: Where erectile dysfunction and heart disease meet

Atherosclerosis, a buildup of plaques in arteries, can prevent enough blood flow from reaching your heart, legs and brain — and your penis. If atherosclerosis has made your arteries in one part of your body narrow and stiff, arteries elsewhere in your body are probably also affected. When atherosclerosis affects blood flow to your penis, the blood can't sufficiently fill the penis to allow a suitable erection.

The same factors that raise your risk of atherosclerosis in the arteries in your penis also increase your chances of heart disease. Because the arteries supplying your penis are smaller than the ones to your heart, symptoms may first show up as erectile dysfunction. If you haven't been diagnosed with heart problems, consider erectile dysfunction a wake-up call. It could be a warning sign that the blood vessels feeding your heart might also be in trouble.