Dr Ula: Canary in the gold mine
- Dr Ula Heywood
- May 28
- 3 min read
You wouldn’t ignore a check engine light in your car. Don't ignore what erectile dysfunction might be telling you about your heart.
It starts quietly. You're not sleeping well. You’re tired, but wired. Maybe you’ve put on a few kilos around the middle. Your energy isn’t what it used to be. And then one night, something doesn’t work like it used to. You dismiss it. Stress, maybe. A bad day. Nothing to worry about.
But what if that moment—the one you’d rather ignore—was your body trying to tell you something deeper? Not just about sexual performance, but about vascular health, and possibly the early stages of heart disease.
Erectile dysfunction (ED) isn’t just a confidence issue. It’s often a circulatory warning sign—a signal that blood flow is compromised.
Many doctors now call it a canary in the gold mine—a subtle but powerful clue that your cardiovascular system might already be under strain.
It’s about blood flow
An erection is, fundamentally, a blood flow event. It requires the arteries and vessels to expand and deliver blood efficiently.
When that process falters, it often points to endothelial dysfunction—a breakdown in the inner lining of your blood vessels. And that’s exactly what happens in heart disease.
Dr. Peter Attia—one of the world’s foremost voices on preventive health—explains it clearly:
“If you develop erectile dysfunction, there’s a good chance you’re also developing cardiovascular disease. It’s not just about performance—it’s about blood flow. And blood flow is life.”
In fact, research shows that ED can precede a heart attack or other cardiac event by three to five years. This is because penile arteries (1–2 mm) are smaller than coronary arteries (3–4 mm) so they show symptoms earlier. ED is often called “penile angina” — a vascular red flag.
That makes it one of the most underutilized early warning signs in medicine.
Not just a pill problem
For many men, the first stop is a prescription. Medications like Viagra (sildenafil), Cialis (tadalafil), or Levitra (vardenafil) are commonly prescribed to help improve blood flow to the penis. And for some, they work—at least temporarily.
Here’s what they don’t do:They don’t fix the underlying vascular damage. They don’t reverse insulin resistance. They don’t lower inflammation or improve endothelial health.
They treat the symptom—not the cause.
And that’s the risk. You feel better for a moment, but the deeper issue remains. Until one day, it doesn’t just affect the bedroom. It affects your brain, your heart, your health longevity.
In men under 50, ED triples the risk of premature heart disease.
The body keeps the score
We often think of these things—fatigue, poor sleep, creeping weight gain, low libido—as normal signs of aging.
But they’re not.
They’re signs of underlying dysfunction. And the earlier you pay attention, the more chance you have to reverse the trajectory.
Whether it’s inflammation, insulin resistance, low testosterone, or vascular changes, ED can be the thread that—if followed—reveals a much larger story about your long-term health.
We treat ED for what it often is: a signpost.
We don’t just mask the symptoms. We investigate the underlying causes using advanced diagnostics—cardiometabolic testing, hormone panels, inflammatory markers—and help you build a plan that addresses the full picture.
You’ll work with a team of doctors, nurses, and coaches who understand how all the pieces fit together. From blood flow to hormones to sleep and stress—we connect the dots.
Because sexual health isn’t separate from the rest of your health. It is your health.
The takeaway
You wouldn’t ignore a check engine light in your car. Don’t ignore this one in your body. Erectile dysfunction is not the end of the story.It might be the beginning of a critical conversation—and a turning point for your health.
Curious what your body might be trying to say? Book your Autonomy Discovery Consultation today
Dr. Ula Co-Founder and Lead Physician, Autonomy
