In his latest self-experiment, tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson monitors his nightly erections. To do this, he uses a wearable cock ring sensor that registers changes in circumference and stiffness during sleep. Like the British daily newspaper “Daily Mail” According to reports, he is now also measuring the values ​​of his 19-year-old son Talmage for comparison.

Johnson takes his self-experimentation to a new level

Johnson has been pursuing a radical anti-aging program for years with the aim of living as long as possible. This includes, among other things, a daily plan with around 100 nutritional supplements and strict eating rules. According to his own statements, the 48-year-old sometimes fasts for up to 23 hours a day.

His latest practice of measuring his own erections – and now his son’s as well – has been met with a lot of criticism. “Seriously the craziest thing I’ve ever read,” said one person on social media platform X. “For God’s sake, why would you post this publicly on the internet?” said another. “I feel sorry for your son,” the Daily Mail quotes.

However, Johnson defends his approach: In his opinion, all men who want to live a long and healthy life should keep their erectile function in mind. Because he sees it as an important health indicator. “It’s really one of the most important things we should know about our bodies,” he explained. However, this is rarely discussed. In his opinion, regular nighttime erections could provide clues about overall physical health. Even if his methods seem unusual, from a medical point of view he is correct.

What the penis says about heart health

“Two-thirds of men who have a heart attack also had one in the years or months before Erection problems “,” explains Peter Radke, head of internal medicine and cardiology at Schön Klinik Neustadt, to FOCUS online. This means that as a cardiologist it is important for him to address this taboo topic more.

The penis is often referred to as the “antenna of the heart”. The reason lies in the special structure of the blood vessels. With a diameter of only one to two millimeters, the vessels in the penis are significantly smaller than the coronary arteries, which measure three to four millimeters. At the same time, they have to transport a particularly large amount of blood during an erection. Even small deposits or constrictions can therefore impair blood circulation – and thus also erectile function.

The most common cause of a heart attack is so-called arteriosclerosis, i.e. deposits in the arteries. If such changes first occur in the fine vessels of the penis, they can Erection problems become an early warning signal.

Connection between erectile dysfunction and heart failure

A scientific study in a specialist journal British Association of Urological Surgeons shows how close the connection can be. A study with 796 men found that around six out of ten participants with erectile dysfunction also had measurable heart failure – more precisely, a dysfunction of the left ventricle. The results underline the connection between erectile dysfunction and diseases of the cardiovascular system.

These risk factors increase the risk of vascular problems

Doctors therefore advise men with erection problems to have their cardiovascular health checked. Important risk factors for vascular diseases include:

• Diabetes or permanently elevated blood sugar levels
• High blood pressure
• increased LDL cholesterol
• increased lipoprotein (a) levels, which are often genetically determined

If you recognize and treat such risk factors early, you not only reduce your risk of a heart attack – but can also prevent erection problems.