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20 things your penis could be telling you about your heart

Published 09:28 7 Oct 2026 BST

Updated 09:28 7 Oct 2026 BST

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20 things your penis could be telling you about your heart

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Listen up, fellas...

Erectile dysfunction is something millions of men worldwide experience, but it's fair to say most don't immediately associate it with heart health.¹

We probably should.

A growing body of research has found a significant connection between erectile dysfunction (ED) and cardiovascular disease. Crucially, erection problems can sometimes appear years before more obvious heart symptoms.^1,2

That's the serious message behind Listen to Jordic, a new awareness campaign from JOE which has taken a slightly less serious approach to getting men to pay attention.

At its heart is our hilarious, gloriously over-the-top folk song and music video about erectile dysfunction – complete with Jordic and his merry band – designed to make an awkward subject much easier to talk about.

But behind the laughs there's some genuinely important science. One major analysis involving more than 150,000 people found men with ED had a 59 per cent higher risk of coronary heart disease and a 34 per cent higher risk of stroke than men without ED.²

Yet there's still a huge awareness gap. A UK survey of 2,000 men found 78 per cent didn't know ED could be a sign of heart disease, while almost half said they wouldn't visit their doctor if they experienced persistent erection problems.³

So, in the spirit of listening to Jordic, here are 20 things every man should probably know about ED and what it could be telling you about your heart.

Men with erectile dysfunction have a 43% higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease than men without ED.²
Erectile dysfunction is associated with a 59% higher risk of coronary heart disease.²
Men with erectile dysfunction have a 34% higher risk of stroke.²
Erectile dysfunction is associated with a 33% higher risk of death from any cause.²
The more severe the erectile dysfunction, the greater the risk of future cardiovascular disease and premature death.²
Men under 40 with erection difficulties experience cardiovascular events at more than 7 times the rate seen in the wider male population.⁴
Men with severe erection difficulties are around 35% more likely to be admitted to hospital with a cardiovascular condition than men with mild or no erection difficulties.⁵
Around 60–80% of men with high blood pressure experience erection difficulties, with high blood pressure increasing the odds of erection difficulties by more than four times.^6,7
In men with both erectile dysfunction and coronary artery disease, almost 7 in 10 experienced erectile dysfunction before their heart disease became clinically apparent.⁷
Researchers looked at 300 men with recent chest pain and confirmed coronary artery disease. Almost one in two also had erectile dysfunction.⁷
Men who are overweight are around 30% more likely to experience erection difficulties, and carry up to 60% higher risk of coronary heart disease if living with obesity.⁸
The blood vessels supplying the penis are smaller than those supplying the heart, meaning changes in how well they widen, as well as fatty deposit build-up, may cause erectile symptoms to appear before cardiovascular symptoms.⁹
In younger men, erection difficulties can be a stronger early warning sign of future heart and blood vessel problems than they are in older men, as they are less likely to be explained by age-related changes.⁹
Nearly one in two UK men say they would not visit a doctor if they experienced persistent erectile dysfunction.³
Four in five men say they would not discuss erectile dysfunction with friends or family, underlining the stigma that still surrounds the condition.³
Seventy-eight per cent of UK men surveyed were unaware that erectile dysfunction is a recognised sign of heart disease.³
Sixty-three per cent of men believe erectile dysfunction is simply a normal part of ageing, despite medical experts warning it can be a symptom of an underlying health condition.³
Smoking can increase the risk of erection difficulties by around 50% and almost doubles the risk of heart disease, as chemicals in tobacco smoke reduce blood flow to both the penis and the heart.¹⁰
Men with high LDL cholesterol have around 2.6 times the risk of erection difficulties compared with men with lower levels, as fatty deposits narrow the blood vessels.¹¹
In a survey of over 4,500 men, around 63% of those who have experienced erectiledysfunction said they have never spoken to a doctor about it, despite it being a potential early warning sign for heart health.¹²

References:
1. Jackson G. Arab J Urol. 2013 Sep;11(3):212–216. 

2. Zhao B, et al.  J Sex Med. 2019;16(7):1005–1017.

3. TRTed. TRTed & The Urology Foundation Survey Results Report. Accessed August, 2026. https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/633aebd8e9bf1113de502a13/649069bfc332d7314ad09560_Results%20Summary%20Report.pdf.

4. Nehra A, Jackson G, Miner M, et al. Mayo Clin Proc. 2012;87(8):766-778.

5. Banks E, Joshy G, Abhayaratna WP, et al. PLoS Med. 2013;10(1):e1001372. 

6. Rashidi M, Kıskaç N, Kaya Meral D, et al. PeerJ. 2024;12:e18596.

7. Kumar S, Khurana NK, Lohana S, et al. Cureus. 2020;12(12):e12061.

8. Montorsi F, et al. Eur Urol. 2003;44(3):360–365.

9. Mongraw-Chaffin ML, Peters SAE, Huxley RR, et al. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2015;3(6):437-449.

10. Cao S, Gan Y, Dong X, et al. PLoS One. 2013;8(4):e60443.

11. Gupta H, Singh UP, Ahuja SK, et al. J Family Med Prim Care. 2025;14(10):4317-4321.

12. Healthline. Results for Healthline’s Survey on Men’s Health | Erectile Dysfunction Edition. Accessed July, 2026. https://www.healthline.com/health/mens-health-survey-and-ed#results

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Men with erectile dysfunction have a 43% higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease than men without ED.²
Erectile dysfunction is associated with a 59% higher risk of coronary heart disease.²
Men with erectile dysfunction have a 34% higher risk of stroke.²
Erectile dysfunction is associated with a 33% higher risk of death from any cause.²
The more severe the erectile dysfunction, the greater the risk of future cardiovascular disease and premature death.²
Men under 40 with erection difficulties experience cardiovascular events at more than 7 times the rate seen in the wider male population.⁴
Men with severe erection difficulties are around 35% more likely to be admitted to hospital with a cardiovascular condition than men with mild or no erection difficulties.⁵
Around 60–80% of men with high blood pressure experience erection difficulties, with high blood pressure increasing the odds of erection difficulties by more than four times.^6,7
In men with both erectile dysfunction and coronary artery disease, almost 7 in 10 experienced erectile dysfunction before their heart disease became clinically apparent.⁷
Researchers looked at 300 men with recent chest pain and confirmed coronary artery disease. Almost one in two also had erectile dysfunction.⁷
Men who are overweight are around 30% more likely to experience erection difficulties, and carry up to 60% higher risk of coronary heart disease if living with obesity.⁸
The blood vessels supplying the penis are smaller than those supplying the heart, meaning changes in how well they widen, as well as fatty deposit build-up, may cause erectile symptoms to appear before cardiovascular symptoms.⁹
In younger men, erection difficulties can be a stronger early warning sign of future heart and blood vessel problems than they are in older men, as they are less likely to be explained by age-related changes.⁹
Nearly one in two UK men say they would not visit a doctor if they experienced persistent erectile dysfunction.³
Four in five men say they would not discuss erectile dysfunction with friends or family, underlining the stigma that still surrounds the condition.³
Seventy-eight per cent of UK men surveyed were unaware that erectile dysfunction is a recognised sign of heart disease.³
Sixty-three per cent of men believe erectile dysfunction is simply a normal part of ageing, despite medical experts warning it can be a symptom of an underlying health condition.³
Smoking can increase the risk of erection difficulties by around 50% and almost doubles the risk of heart disease, as chemicals in tobacco smoke reduce blood flow to both the penis and the heart.¹⁰
Men with high LDL cholesterol have around 2.6 times the risk of erection difficulties compared with men with lower levels, as fatty deposits narrow the blood vessels.¹¹
In a survey of over 4,500 men, around 63% of those who have experienced erectiledysfunction said they have never spoken to a doctor about it, despite it being a potential early warning sign for heart health.¹²

20 things your penis could be telling you about your heart

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