Cardiovascular disease and ED

The link between erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular disease is a similar level of risk associated with current smoking or family history of heart attack ⁴⁷

Diseases of the heart and circulatory system (cardiovascular disease or CVD) are the main cause of death in the UK and account for almost 198,000 deaths each year. The main forms of cardiovascular disease are coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke. About half (48%) of all deaths from cardiovascular disease are from coronary heart disease, with around one in five men that die from the disease ⁸.

Coronary heart disease happens when your arteries become narrow and restrict the supply of oxygen and blood to your heart. Atherosclerosis is a build-up of fatty materials within the walls of the arteries. It can be a cause of cardiovascular disease and symptoms may include:

• Breathlessness
• Palpitations
• Fainting
• Fluid retention
• Fatigue
• Chest pains