Guest article written by Chris Craft
Numerous peer reviewed studies have demonstrated the statistical correlation between hypertension (also known as high blood pressure) and erectile dysfunction. These studies demonstrate not only that having high blood pressure is correlated to an increased risk of erectile dysfunction, but also that the reverse is true. Men with erectile dysfunction are more likely to have high blood pressure than men without ED.
In each of the studies performed, scientists carefully adjusted the statistics to compensate for factors such as age and region. Even so, it has been demonstrated multiple times that men with similar ages, places of residence, and lifestyles, are more likely to have high blood pressure if they have ED and vice versa. Both diseases are particularly common among men in the middle age group.
As to the exact mechanism which allows hypertensions to increase the risk of ED, researchers have yet to reach an absolute consensus. However, there are a number of indications that the main link between the two diseases is hypertension’s tendency to weaken the membrane lining the walls of blood vessels and its tendency to lessen the strength of smooth muscle tissue. The prolonged effect of high blood pressure on these two systems can make achieving and maintaining an erection very difficult for the body. If these systems continue to be stressed, the erectile dysfunction can become more severe over time.
On the other hand, there are also some indications that some of the medicines used to treat high blood pressure may contribute to ED. For example, beta blockers have been shown in tests to worsen ED. Hence, some doctors have experimented with placing patients who suffer from both ailments on medications that are know not to cause ED.
In some cases however, a traditional erectile dysfunction drug such as Viagra is still the choice of doctors, especially because Viagra is also known to treat certain types of high blood pressure including pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).
Chris Craft is a freelance writer, providing high quality content to Viamedic.com, a US located online pharmacy, selling only FDA approved medications and providing comprehensive research, such as the Erectile Dysfunction Resource Center.
