For men, problems in the sack might just be the canary in the coal mine.
A growing body of evidence indicates erectile dysfunction may also be a harbinger of premature death.
More than 30 million Americans suffer from ED, defined by the inability to conjure and hold an erection long enough to perform in bed. More common in older men, it’s often blamed on waning testosterone, the male reproductive hormone responsible for muscle growth, bone mass and body hair.
And while some previous studies had linked low levels of testosterone to risk of early death, a new study published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society found there may be a bigger issue at play: The disorder may be an early indicator of poor vascular health associated with cardiovascular disease.
“As both vascular disease and low testosterone levels can influence erectile function, sexual symptoms can be an early sign for increased cardiovascular risk and mortality,” Dr. Leen Antonio, lead researcher on the study, said in a statement, along with other researchers from University Hospitals Leuven in Belgium.
Using data provided by the European Male Ageing Study, researchers examined sexual health surveys of nearly 2,000 men ages 40 to 79 — paying close attention to their hormone levels through the years.
During a 12-year period following the survey, 25% of the men died. Within that group, researchers found that participants who exhibited normal testosterone levels but still suffered erectile dysfunction had a 51% higher risk of death — suggesting that sexual disorder, and not hormones, was the clearer indicator.
Antonio points to poor vascular health and clogged arteries, also known as cardiovascular disease, as a key culprit leading to ED. By nature, these conditions impede blood flow, thus making the process of pulling blood to the penis more difficult to achieve. They’re also, of course, clear signs of a high risk for heart attack and stroke.
“This means that in men with atherosclerosis [build-up of plaque in the arteries causing obstruction of blood flow], the blood flow in the penile vessels is compromised earlier than in the coronary arteries,” she told CNN, implying that ED could be one of the first symptoms of cardiovascular disease.
There are other causes of ED, such as certain illnesses and medications; stress, anxiety and depression; and nervous system disorders. Other factors related to heart health, including obesity, smoking cigarettes and alcohol consumption, may also contribute to the inability to achieve an erection.
“These things are also beneficial to improve general health and reduce mortality risk in men suffering from sexual dysfunction,” said Antonio.
ED may also be treatable with drugs, some of which are un-coincidentally used in cases of heart failure.
“Men dealing with sexual symptoms should keep in mind that sexual symptoms could be an early warning sign of poor or worsening health status as well as an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and mortality,” she added. “It is important to discuss sexual symptoms with your doctors, as to identify and treat other cardiovascular risk factors or apparent cardiovascular disease.”