Erectile dysfunction can increase the risk of cardiovascular problems. Australian researchers came to this conclusion. They tracked the health data of 95,000 men aged around 45 and over. In their study, the researchers found that men who had moderate erectile dysfunction (ED) had a 23% greater risk of being hospitalized for a heart problem, such as a heart attack. In the presence of severe erectile dysfunction, this percentage was 35. The study lasted two years and factors such as smoking, alcohol use, obesity and family history of cardiovascular disease were taken into account. One hypothesis for the link between erectile problem severity and heart health is that atherosclerosis may occur first in smaller blood vessels, such as those in the penis, the research team explained. Atherosclerosis is the formation of plaques in the arteries, which restricts blood flow and is accompanied by changes in the middle vascular layer of the arterial wall. The results of the study were published in the journal PLoS Medicine. Erectile dysfunction occurs in more than half of men between the ages of 40 and 70, but it can also affect younger men. It is expressed in the inability to achieve or maintain an erection in order to be able to perform a successful sexual act. There is a problem when the condition is observed continuously for more than three months.