Editorial
Editorial processWritten by the Men's Health Istanbul editorial team, based on the published sources listed below.
Published
Updated
The short answer
Erectile dysfunction (ED) and heart disease share the same root: damage to the blood vessels. ED often appears around three years before a heart attack or stroke, which gives a valuable window to check your heart and lower your risk.
Key takeaways
- A 2026 Mayo Clinic review calls ED a recognised marker of blood-vessel disease and an early warning of heart problems.
- International experts advise treating men with ED as being at higher heart risk until shown otherwise.
- A simple heart risk check can be done alongside ED treatment.
Why erections and the heart are linked
An erection depends on healthy blood vessels that can widen quickly. The same vessel damage that leads to heart attacks and strokes can affect the penis too, and it may show up there first.
What the new review says
A 2026 review by urologists at Mayo Clinic, published in the Canadian Journal of Urology, describes ED as a recognised marker of vascular disease and an early sign of future cardiovascular events. It highlights the Princeton IV expert consensus, which advises that men with ED should be considered at increased cardiovascular risk until proven otherwise. A review in the European Heart Journal noted that the gap between the first ED symptoms and a cardiovascular event is usually about three years.
Who should pay most attention
The link is especially important in younger men (roughly 30 to 60) and in men with diabetes, for whom ED can be the first visible sign of vascular disease.
What a heart check can include
Your doctor may check blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, kidney function, waist size and family history, and may do an ECG. Testosterone may also be measured. Lifestyle changes such as more exercise, weight loss and stopping smoking help both the heart and erections.
The bottom line
If your erections have changed, don't just reach for a pill. Tell your doctor, and ask for a heart risk check as well.
Questions men also ask
Does ED mean I will have a heart attack?
No. It means your risk may be higher and is worth checking, so you can act early.
Should I see a urologist or a cardiologist?
Start with a urologist or your GP; they can arrange a heart risk assessment if needed.
Sources & further reading
- Canadian Journal of Urology From bedroom to boardroom: erectile dysfunction as a window into cardiovascular health (opens in a new tab) (2026) Guillen Lozoya AH, et al. (Mayo Clinic)
- European Heart Journal Erectile dysfunction in the cardiovascular patient (opens in a new tab) (2013) Vlachopoulos C, et al.
- Weill Cornell Medicine VIVO The assessment of vascular risk in men with erectile dysfunction (review) (opens in a new tab) (2013)
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This article summarises published research for general information. Some treatments mentioned are experimental and not approved. It is not medical advice; please speak to your doctor before starting or changing any treatment. Read our editorial policy and medical review policy.
