The link between impotence and heart health has been examined extensively in several studies around the world. Now there is evidence that erectile dysfunction is an indicator to heart disease. There are several theories, but one that has the most ground is because the difficulty experienced by men to get an erection is caused by blood flow being blocked from going to the penis. Researchers are now saying this could also indicate a potential for further clogged arteries in the heart and possible in other areas of the body, such as the brain.

"There is a strong link between erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular disease as risk factors for both are the same. Usually it is ahead of heart disease by three to five years", says Dr Mohammad Al Howairis, a specialist in urology in Dubai at Citi Hospital. He also said that understanding the correlation between erectile dysfunction and heart disease is an important way to recognize the early symptoms which can lead to the early treatment and potentially save lives.

The sudden onset of erectile dysfunction can be due to psychological reasons or stress, and a progressive worsening of sexual dysfunction should be taken seriously. The solution may lie in taking stimulants such as Viagra, but it is essential to get a complete health check to rule out heart disease. Another researcher, Dr Esmail Abbar, consultant urologist at the United Hospital and Clinic Abbar, said that erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular disease are determined by risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, smoking, and lack of exercise .

Erectile dysfunction occurs when there is little production of nitric oxide, which is crucial for the dilation of blood vessels in the penis in order for an erection to occur. This same substance also dilates the blood vessels in the heart. Because the arteries that supply blood to the penis are smaller than those that supply the heart, symptoms may first appear as erectile dysfunction. Besides heart disease, this can also increase the risk of other problems such as aneurysm, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease.

In establishing a relation between impotence and heart problems, scientists from Soochow University in Suzhou, China, combined twelve previous studies on erectile dysfunction and heart disease which included nearly 37,000 men. They found that men with impotence problems had a 48% increase in their likely hood and risk of developing heart disease and also had higher death rates in comparison to the men who didn't suffer from erectile dysfunction. The results of this study further strengthen the evidence that lifestyle modification and pharmacological treatment of cardiovascular risk factors are effective in improving sexual function in men with erectile dysfunction.