With more than 600,000 annual deaths, heart disease remains the most common cause of
death in the US. According to the Center for
Disease Control (CDC),
heart disease beats out cancer, accidents, and breathing issues. Hypertension, also known as high
blood pressure, relates to heart disease and affects almost one in four US adults. What many people
don’t know is the correlation between high blood
pressure and erectile dysfunction.
We often get the question “does high blood pressure cause ED?” In this article, we will go over
the answer to this question and provide information about blood flow, blood pressure, and men’s sexual
health.
Does High Blood Pressure Cause Erectile Dysfunction?
Yes, high blood pressure causes erectile dysfunction (ED) for some men. But there is more to it than that.
Hypertension causes all of your body’s organs and tissues to slow down and additional strain to perform
every day functions. Roughly 30% of men with
hypertension also experience ED. Hypertension is both directly and indirectly responsible for these
issues.
High Blood Pressure and Your Blood Flow
When your blood flows naturally, you can have healthy erections. Natural arousal leads to increased blood
flow to your penis causing an erection. This process becomes more difficult with high blood pressure. In this
case, the blood vessels narrow, slowing its natural flow. Not only does hypertension raise your risk of a
stroke or heart attack, it also complicates erections. At this point getting or maintaining erections may
become a challenge – this is ED.
High Blood Pressure and Your Male Sex Drive
Testosterone is one of the key hormones responsible for sex drive, especially for men. High blood pressure
can lead to a decline in blood flow and thus a decline in the delivery of testosterone throughout your body.
With lower testosterone levels, men will become less interested in sex and performance as well as having
difficulty getting and maintaining erections.
High Blood Pressure and Your Sexual Performance
Lastly, high blood pressure can impact your sexual performance. With your narrowed blood vessels, the penis
gets less blood flow making it difficult to get and maintain an erection. It also makes physical exercise more
of a challenge. Due to sex being a physically demanding exercise, you may experience difficulty in continuing.
Getting Help with Your ED from Understanding Medical Professionals
As you can see, high blood pressure is no good for your body. It complicates your overall health and leads
some men to experience ED. Erectile dysfunction does not have to be a lifelong condition. Working with
the medical professionals at Prime Men’s Medical Center can help you live a healthier, happier life with fewer
sexual problems. Give us a call today to chat through your unique problems.
