New Delhi, June 18 -- Most men think erectile dysfunction (ED) is simply a sexual problem. However, in many cases, it may actually be an early warning sign of underlying heart disease. An erection depends on healthy blood flow through the arteries. The arteries supplying the penis are much smaller than the arteries supplying the heart. As a result, problems affecting blood vessels often show up in the penis years before they cause symptoms in the heart.

"A large study in Translational Andrology and Urology has shown that men with erectile dysfunction have a significantly higher risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death compared to men without ED. Research published in the Arab Journal of Urology has demonstrated that erectil...