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Is erectile dysfunction a sign of heart problems?

Erectile dysfunction can be an early warning sign of heart problems due to shared issues with blood vessel function and blood flow. Medical sources indicate it often appears before heart disease symptoms because the penile arteries are narrower and show problems sooner. Men with erectile dysfunction have a higher risk of heart attack or stroke.

Key points:

• Erectile dysfunction links to heart disease through endothelial dysfunction in blood vessels.
• It often precedes detectable heart problems by two to three years.
• The association is strongest in men in their 40s and 50s.
• Physical factors like damaged arteries underlie the connection.

This text has been fact-checked for accuracy by Sorin Romaniuc, Pharmacist at medino.