Are you worried about getting erectile dysfunction while having high blood pressure? High blood pressure and ED are really connected.
Yes, it is possible to get erectile dysfunction with hypertension. The distress and disrupted blood flow lead to sexual dysfunction. And if you don’t get it by any chance, intake of high blood pressure medicines becomes the reason for your ruined sex life.
So, if you are wondering how exactly high blood pressure and ED connections affect men sexually, this blog is for you. Read the blog and find the reasons to become sexually impaired with hypertension. Learn about the medicines that increase the chances of ED and also the ED medicines that can help you bring your erection back.
What is High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is an ordinary problem. It is the pressure of the blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. Arteries carry the blood from your heart to other parts of your body.
While high blood pressure can cause various problems, you can see fluctuation in your blood pressure throughout the day. It happens with the different circumstances.
High blood pressure is measured in two numbers, known as systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. You must know, that when you measure your pressure, the doctor gives two numbers, i.e., 120/80. It is the normal range of blood pressure in an adult.
However, when the pressure increases, which is higher than normal, you experience high blood pressure. If your blood pressure goes up or stays at a point higher than usual, consult a doctor about it. Symptoms of hypertension may vary from person to person, and it doesn’t depend on them, but get it checked.
Risks Associated with High Blood Pressure
Heart Attack
High blood pressure damages the arteries by reducing their elasticity. The rupture prevents sufficient blood from flowing to your heart, leading to heart disease. When the blood decreases in large amounts, your heart can’t get enough, and the muscles start dying without the oxygen. It leads to a heart attack.
Heart failure happens when your heart can’t pump enough blood or provide oxygen to other organs. It slowly fails to pump and results in heart failure.
Stroke
High blood pressure can burst or block the blood and oxygen supply to the brain, leading to a stroke. Your brain can end right at the moment due to the insufficient oxygen supply. Brain stroke can cause speech and movement disabilities and difficulty in performing other regular activities. It can also cause dementia if you are in your midlife.
Kidney Disease
The lack of blood flow in the kidney due to hypertension, can cause diseases in it. Your kidney can stop working properly. You may struggle to remove the waste and extra fluid from your body, leading to kidney disease.
How does Erection work?
Erectile dysfunction is a problem in which you find difficulty getting an erection. Let’s see how the erection works and what’s the process behind it. There are two side-by-side chambers present in your penis, which are responsible for the erection. These chambers are called corpora cavernosa and are made from small arteries, veins, smooth muscle fiber, and empty spaces.
During sexual arousal, your brain sends messengers to these chambers to relax and arteries to dilate. This process allows the high blood flow to fill in the space present in the penis. The more blood fills in the shaft, the firmer erection you get.
As the excitement ends, the blood flows out of the veins and your penis. It helps to return your penis to the normal flaccid state.
What is the Link Between High Blood Pressure and ED?
Not only high blood pressure can cause erectile dysfunction, but high blood pressure medications can also cause ED. Changes in the blood pressure at the heart also affect the blood circulation in the pelvic area.
A firm erection requires healthy blood flow, but the disruption in the arteries interferes with the blood flow in the penis. Your penis fails to get sufficient blood, and you experience erectile dysfunction.
The consistent high blood pressure damages the essential blood vessels and ruptures the nerves, leading to the inability to get an erection. A Spanish study in 2004 showed that nearly half of the male patients with hypertension, 45%, experienced erectile dysfunction. It was significantly a higher incidence compared to those without hypertension.
While hypertension can cause erectile dysfunction, the person experiencing ED can also have the early signs of hypertension. It can act as a warning sign of damaged blood vessels.
Do High Blood Pressure Medicines Cause ED?
It is possible to experience erectile dysfunction due to various medications. Antidepressants worsen the condition of ED in men. You can learn more about antidepressants and ED in our blog post.
Likewise, high blood pressure medicines increase the chances of erectile dysfunction. The medicines for hypertension reduce the blood flow in the pelvic area, making it difficult to attain or maintain an erection during intercourse.
Studies show that one-third of the high blood pressure patients reported the side effects of the medicines causing sexual dysfunction. Several drugs may cause ED, while other hypertension medicines reduce the chances of ED.
High blood pressure medication causing ED:
- Diuretics
- Beta-blockers
- Calcium channel blockers
Best high blood pressure medication for ED:
- Alpha-blockers
- ACE inhibitors
- Angiotensin receptor blockers
- Vasodilators
Can You Take Viagra with High Blood Pressure?
There is no harm in taking Viagra with high blood pressure. The medicines you take for hypertension may cause ED. Viagra blocks an enzyme called PDE-5, which helps prevent the breakdown of cGMP.
Viagra helps the smooth muscle to relax and dilate, making it easier to increase the blood flow in the penis. This process lowers blood pressure and is called vasodilation. However, you need to take some precautions to avoid the side effects.
It is essential to have a 6-hour gap between the hypertension and ED medicines. Taking both simultaneously can drop the blood pressure, and you may faint. Be aware if your heart condition medicines have nitrates. The nitrate present in the drugs can lead to a fatal reaction.
Consult a doctor before starting any medicines. They help you to understand the root cause and prescribe the drugs according to your health condition. You can find a variety of generic ED medicines on our website that can help you get your erection back.
Conclusion
High blood pressure and ED connections are linked at some level. It is also possible that you may not experience any type of sexual dysfunction with hypertension. It is essential to speak with a doctor for better judgment. Try not to wait to see the high blood pressure symptoms, as it can delay the treatment and worsen the condition.
Check your blood pressure now and then. Be in touch with your healthcare provider and talk to them before taking any medicines.
If you want to treat your ED, we can help you with that. You can find numerous ED and PE medicines for your erection problems. Click here to learn more about them.
FAQs
Q1. Can ED from High Blood Pressure be Reversed?
ED from high blood pressure can be reversed if you are healthy otherwise. You can take the medicines to speed up the process. However, some high blood pressure medicines cause side effects and worsen the condition. Speak with your healthcare provider to get the best results.
Q2. Can High Blood Pressure Cause Erectile Dysfunction?
There are chances that you may experience ED when having high blood pressure. Studies show that the percentage of patients having high blood pressure and experiencing ED is high. Chronic hypertension patients are twice as likely to have ED.
Q3. What is the Fastest Way to Cure Erectile Dysfunction?
You can bring lifestyle changes. Increase the physical activity and eat healthy. Opt for medicines and seek counseling. Medications for ED help to improve the blood flow and enhance the erection. Alternative ways include therapy and surgery.
Q4. What is the Main Cause of ED?
The lack of blood flow causes erectile dysfunction in men. It can happen for various reasons, including abnormalities in penile arteries and veins. ED is common to find in older men. However, psychological issues can increase the chances of erectile dysfunction in young men.