Contents:
- Medical Video: High Blood Pressure – Take Control
- How does an erection occur when blood pressure is normal?
- Why can high blood pressure be the cause of impotence?
- Be careful when using hypertension drugs
- Diuretic drug
- Beta-blockers
Medical Video: High Blood Pressure – Take Control
High blood pressure or hypertension often does not cause any signs or symptoms. However, if you often experience high blood pressure, you should be vigilant because over time this disease can affect your sexual life. Yes, hypertension can be one of the causes of impotence which is a big scourge for adult men.
Study reported from Journal of the American Geriatrics Society reported that 49 percent of men aged 40-79 who had high blood pressure had problems with erectile dysfunction (impotence). These results are reinforced by other studies from Journal of Urology that 68 percent of men with high blood pressure also experience erectile dysfunction, even 45 percent are categorized as severe.
So, how can blood pressure make men at risk of impotence? Check out the answer from the following review.
How does an erection occur when blood pressure is normal?
The process of erection depends on the condition of your blood pressure. When blood pressure is normal, the brain sends a signal that the smooth muscle in the penis becomes more relaxed and opens wider. This allows blood flow to enter and fill the empty space (corpora cavernosa) on the penis.
The more blood that flows with normal pressure, the penis will expand and tighten. This is a condition called erection. After sexual activity ends, smooth muscle will contract again and suppress blood vessels. As a result, the blood will flow out again and the penis will soften again.
Why can high blood pressure be the cause of impotence?
In addition to the risk of a heart attack or stroke, high blood pressure is also a cause of impotence. Because the blood pressure that exceeds the limit can damage the lining of blood vessels in your body slowly.
The arteries will experience hardening and narrowing (atherosclerosis) which makes your blood flow become choked up. This decrease in blood flow results in less blood flow to the penis. In fact, this blood flow is needed to make the penis reach an erection.
Men with high blood pressure also tend to have low levels of testosterone. In fact, this testosterone hormone makes men excited when having sex. That's why high blood pressure can also interfere with ejaculation and reduce your sexual arousal.
Be careful when using hypertension drugs
One of the causes of impotence in adult men can come from the treatment that is being undertaken. This is because impotence is one of the side effects of some drugs, including blood pressure-lowering drugs.
Diuretic and beta-blocker drugs are two examples of hypertension drugs that are most often associated with impotence. Therefore, you need to consult with a doctor to get the right treatment for your hypertension without interfering with your sexual function.
Diuretic drug
Diuretic drugs can affect several parts of the nervous system that are responsible for erection. Taking diuretics can make the blood flow to your penis less intense. This is what makes it difficult for you to achieve an erection.
In addition, this drug is known to reduce zinc levels in the body which are needed to form the hormone testosterone. So, if the zinc level in your body decreases then this can cause a decrease in your sex drive.
Beta-blockers
Beta-blockers can affect parts of the nervous system that cause erections. This is because beta-blockers can prevent the entry of blood flow to the penis making it difficult to achieve an erection. In fact, this drug can trigger symptoms of depression and inhibit sexual arousal.
Meanwhile, there are other things that also make a man's blood pressure problems unstable, for example, smoking habits. Besides increasing blood pressure, this can also harm blood vessels and reduce blood flow throughout the body.
