Hypertension and Erectile Dysfunction - Understanding the connection |
Posted: November 13, 2017 |
Erectile Dysfunction or ED is a sexual health disorder associated with an inability of a male to achieve or sustain a penile erectile necessary for satisfactory sexual intercourse. ED is not a primary condition buy is always a consequence of some chronic long-term lifestyle disorder or brain or psychological condition. You must have often heard your doctor saying that hypertension or high BP for a long time can cause or is a risk factor for erectile dysfunction. To understand this connection you need to first know properly how an erection occurs which is actually a complicated process. The spongy tissue present on the side of the shaft of the penis is called corpora cavernosa is mainly responsible for erection. In this tissue, there is a dense network of blood vessels that supply blood to the penis. After any sexual stimulation, signals from the brain cause the penile smooth muscles to relax and blood vessels to expand, or open wider. Due to this there is a rush of blood to fill the empty spaces which causes the penis to expand and you have an erection. After the end of the sexual activity, the smooth muscle contracts and the blood flows back out of the penis; thus, returning it to a flaccid state. High blood pressure or hypertension is a major cause of ED. As per The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 49% of males aged 40 to 79 years with hypertension had ED. Hypertension is a condition where the arteries or blood vessels become rigid so that they do not dilate the normal way, thus, increasing the pressure with which the blood flows. Same thing occurs with the blood vessels in the penile region. High blood pressure and rigidity of the penile arteries restricts the flow of the blood in the penis leading to ED. Men with hypertension often have low levels of serum testosterone which leads to loss of libido and even ED. Ed can be caused to hypertension or some drugs that control BP (antihypertensive) also lead to ED as a side-effect. Drugs like Diuretics and beta-blockers are anti-hypertensive that may cause ED. Diuretics may cause erectile dysfunction by declining the blood flow into the penis and also by reducing the amount of zinc in the body. Zinc is required by the body for the production of testosterone. Beta-blockers inhibit the reaction to nerve impulses that lead to an erection. They do not allow arteries in the penis to expand and let in blood. Also, sedation and depression caused by the beta-blockers as a side-effect play an important role in sexual arousal. Also, bad lifestyle choices along with the presence of high blood pressure can potentiate the existing problem. Smoking is one such bad lifestyle habit that increases blood pressure and harms blood vessels and decreases blood flow all over the body. Just Remember….. Note: Medications like penegra 100mg. kamagra are widely utilised and prescribed by the doctors for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. But all these erectile dysfunction medication should only be utilized under the observation of medical expert.
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