A weak erection could indicate a weak heart, according to a new study in the Journal of the American Heart Association . Researchers found that men who reported erectile dysfunction were twice as likely to experience heart attacks, cardiac arrests, sudden cardiac death and fatal or non-fatal strokes. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men in the U.S. It causes 1 in 4 deaths, almost 610,000 people every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The most common form of heart disease is coronary heart disease, caused by plaque clogging up arteries and stopping blood flow.

“Risk factors for erectile dysfunction, including high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity and tobacco use, are shared by other vascular diseases, including coronary artery disease,” says Dr. Kartik Mehta , cardiologist, with Advocate Heart Institute at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center in Normal, Ill. “Therefore, it is important to treat all these factors aggressively when diagnosed with erectile dysfunction to reduce dangerous cardiovascular issues in the future.” Dr. Mehta advises patients to know the warning signs of heart disease and erectile dysfunction and to take steps preventing them.