There are certain things men will not talk about – such as if they’re injured, if they’re lost or if they’ve ever cried. Manhood is an appearance that is always guarded.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is not a subject that fits well with “manhood.” There is a code of silence among men when it comes to sexual inability. You’ll never hear a man say, “I’m no longer able to perform sexually,” to a friend, or to anyone, for that matter.

There is now good reason to break the silence when it comes to impotence. New studies confirm the link between ED and cardiovascular disease. Think about it: If circulation is poor in one area of the body, it can be just as poor in other areas. The plaque that can form within the arteries that surround the heart can form within the arteries that supply blood to the penis.

The correlation between ED and heart disease is not a new discovery in medicine. Research studies have taken patients with known heart disease and studied their conditions over a period of time. The outcome of these studies showed that patients with heart disease are more likely to have ED than those without heart disease.

However, in a recent study, patients without known heart disease were separated into two groups: those with ED and those without. More than 1,500 patients from 13 countries were studied for a period of five years. The outcome was shocking.

In this trial, men with ED were about twice as likely to suffer a heart attack and die from cardiovascular disease within five years, compared to men without ED. Additional studies have shown that the association between ED and heart disease is particularly strong in younger men.

We’ve all seen the commercials for a quick cure in the form of a magic pill. Doctors now know that’s not always the best solution to treat ED. In fact, in some cases of undiagnosed heart disease, that little pill can harm or even kill you - especially if you have major blockages or are taking nitrates.

It is important for patients and physicians alike to understand that ED can be the first sign of heart disease. The public must be educated, and men must be encouraged to break the code of silence about ED and talk to their physicians.

Studies show that symptoms of ED arise well before the symptoms of heart disease on average of about 36 months. Recognizing this early warning sign might allow for the diagnosis and treatment of undetected heart disease before it is too late.

“Erectile dysfunction can be a wake-up call that you are at risk for heart disease,” says Dr. Stanley Wang, a cardiologist with Austin Heart. “The same factors that contribute to heart disease can cause erectile dysfunction, but the symptoms of erectile dysfunction usually come first.”

Just as diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and a family history can be risk factors for heart disease, ED should also be considered an important risk factor and warning sign.

“Men, especially younger men, should consider having ED to be similar to having chest pain,” Wang says. “It could be heart disease striking below the belt.”

While ED might not be life threatening, it is important to bring up because it may be the first symptom of deadly heart disease.

“Many men are too embarrassed to discuss ED with their doctor,” says Dr. David Phillips, a urologist with Urology Austin. “However, the connection is confirmed. It is important that men speak up to determine if they are at risk.”

In some cases, treating heart disease may also improve ED. For men who have ED or have remained silent about their impotence, the good news is that it is not too late to find out if they are at risk for heart disease. Those who speak up and ask their physicians may be able to undergo simple, non-invasive screenings that can quickly detect or rule out heart disease.

The HeartSaver CT is a technology that is used for screening for heart disease before it even causes symptoms. It uses images of the heart and coronary arteries that enable a cardiologist to identify areas of calcium buildup. Deposits of calcium in the heart are seen in plaques (blockages) that can cause a heart attack if not properly treated. 

The HeartSaver CT is a painless procedure that takes only minutes to complete. Men over the age of 40 may schedule a HeartSaver CT. Men younger than 40 years old must obtain a prescription from their health care providers. 

A Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) screening is a method to identify additional cardiovascular disease. PAD screenings utilize Doppler ultrasound to view blood flow in the abdominal and carotid (neck) arteries. 

Blood pressure is also taken at the ankle to measure circulation in the legs. Plaques can be detected by directly imaging them with ultrasound or indirectly by finding areas of diminished blood flow or blood pressure.

For more information about ED, or to learn more about heart disease, please visit www.hearthospitalofaustin.com or www.urologyaustin.com.