Erectile dysfunction warns of early heart attack

Erectile dysfunction is linked with heart attacks but it is being ignored by general practitioners, a doctor with Good Hope Hospital in Birmingham has warned.

It is well known that ED doubles the risk of heart disease, a risk equivalent to being a moderate smoker or having an immediate family history of heart disease.

ED in type 2 diabetes has been shown to be a better predictor of the risk of heart disease than high blood pressure or high cholesterol, according to an Eurekalert release.

But despite this considerable evidence ED is still treated as a recreational or “lifestyle issue” rather than a predictor of a serious health problem, said Hackett.