The Link Between High Blood Pressure and ED

Unfortunately, embarrassment often causes people to ignore changes in sexual health, like erectile dysfunction (ED). However, there are solutions for this very common problem, and trying to pretend they don’t exist can even jeopardize your overall health, especially when it comes to your heart.

There’s a reason it’s called “the silent killer.” Almost half of American adults live with high blood pressure, yet only 1 in 4 have it under control. Why? This common problem usually comes with few — if any — symptoms. However, it does cause one issue that’s difficult to ignore: loss of libido and ED.

Our team at Urology Associates of Southeastern North Carolina can help you regain your sexual vitality and protect your cardiovascular health. If you have ED, here’s why your blood pressure could be to blame.

Your heart and your libido

High blood pressure can cause sexual changes in both men and women. That’s because this problem reduces blood flow throughout the body, including the pelvis. 

In women, that means less blood flow to the vagina, which interferes with how her body responds before and during sexual intercourse. For men, this lack of blood flow leads to problems getting and sustaining an erection.

When a man becomes sexually aroused, nerves in the body release chemicals that trigger increased blood flow into two special chambers within the penis. As these chambers fill up with blood, the penis becomes firm — an erection. 

After orgasm, muscles in the penis relax, and blood gets released back into your circulatory system. At this point, your penis becomes soft and limp again as you return to your pre-arousal state.

However, high blood pressure interferes with this process because it damages the delicate blood vessels, making them less flexible and more narrow. This makes it harder for blood to travel throughout your system, including reaching your penis to achieve a healthy erection.

An estimated 30% of men living with ED also have high blood pressure. To rule out serious problems, talk to your doctor about any sexual changes you notice, especially if you could have high blood pressure.

Regain your sexual vitality, even with high blood pressure

Fortunately, high blood pressure and erectile dysfunction are highly treatable conditions. In fact, making a few healthy lifestyle changes can significantly improve both of these problems at the same time.

Common lifestyle changes that address high blood pressure and ED include:

• Getting regular exercise
• Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet
• Practicing stress management techniques
• Limiting alcohol consumption
• Quitting smoking
• Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight

There are also medications that can control high blood pressure and improve ED at the same time. However, it’s also possible to develop ED symptoms because of some common drugs used to treat high blood pressure.

With our discreet and expert help, we can create a personalized treatment strategy that protects your heart while helping you regain your sexual vitality at the same time.

Don’t ignore ED. Contact the Urology Associates of Southeastern North Carolina office closest to you in Wilmington or Southport, North Carolina, to schedule a consultation by calling or requesting an appointment today.