German researchers said in the current issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association that men with cardiovascular disease, also known as heart disease, and ED were twice as likely to die from all causes than men who did not have erectile dysfunction. And those with ED were 1.6 times more likely to suffer from a serious cardiovascular problem such as a heart attack or stroke.

Researchers have known for years that there is a link between erectile dysfunction and heart disease, said Dr. Sahil Parikh, an interventional cardiologist from University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland who was not involved in the study. "But now there is pretty clear evidence that there is a substantially increased risk of heart attack and death when patients have erectile dysfunction."

The results are probably not too surprising, added Dr. Robert Kloner, a cardiologist at USC’s Keck School of Medicine, "because arteries in the penis are smaller, so atherosclerosis shows up there sooner," perhaps three to four years before the onset of cardiovascular disease

Dr. Petryk’s Thoughts: Now here is where I will get into trouble…. Instead of trying to worry about where or when the next time might be, why not prepare yourself pro-actively so that there might be a next time.

Advertisers know how much our society is “sex driven” and they’re playing you like a fiddle. If you actually understood that ED may be a sign of an underlying pathology like a HEART ATTACK, I think you might be less interested in whether you are adequately sexed and more concerned about having a heart attack. I have heard people say that they’re dying for it… makes we wonder if they really are….

I laugh because each commercial even tells you what is wrong when they tell say “check with your doctor to be sure you can exercise or have sex before taking” this little pill and yet Big Pharma is making billions.

If you’re having this type of problem, check with your doctors and first assess your heart health. Take ED for what it can be, a sign of more significant problems and not a lack of sex.

There are many natural things to treat heart disease like certain vitamins and nutrients. These take some commitment as some will require a change in lifestyle to which many will  laugh and say, well I am going to die anyway, might as well be during that…  Sad to say people think that way.

There are also other fairly successful treatments like chelation therapy