Your Overall Health Can Affect Your
Sexual Health
Health conditions are often interrelated, and frequently, being diagnosed with one can put you at higher risk for another. Men who have one or more of the following conditions: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes, are more likely to have some degree of erectile dysfunction (ED).2,3,4 Many men with one or more of these conditions don't realize the impact they may have on their erections or that changes in their erections can be an indicator of other health concerns.2
- 29 million men have high blood pressure (hypertension).1 Since a high percentage of men who have hypertension also have difficulty with the quality of their erections, ED could be an indicator that you need to see a doctor to get your blood pressure checked5
- 50 million men have high cholesterol.1 This condition can increase your chance of experiencing problems with your erections9
- 8 million men have diabetes. Up to 58 percent of these men may have experienced changes in their erections4
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Two out of three men with high blood pressure experienced changes in erections. Survey of 104 men with hypertension at a major medical center. |
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The majority of men with diabetes experience changes in erections. |
Other Possible Risk Factors for ED
Since getting and keeping an erection that lasts long enough to finish having sex is dependent on the blood flowing smoothly and easily through the penis, any health condition that interferes with blood flow could negatively impact erectile function.3 Many other medical, physical, and lifestyle issues may also have a negative effect on a man's ability to get or keep an erection, including2,3:- Smoking
- Lack of exercise
- Obesity
- Heavy drinking
- Side effects from medication
- Lack of sleep
- Stress
- Depression
- Spinal cord injury
- Prostate surgery
To find out what could be causing changes in your erections, start by getting your free Men's Facts Kit and then talk with your doctor about treatment options.
If you are experiencing changes in erectile function, don't ignore the signs. It has been clinically proven that ED may be an indicator of other health concerns.18
A. High Blood Pressure and Erectile DysfunctionA large number of men who have high blood pressure (also called hypertension) also have varying degrees of erectile dysfunction, since the condition interferes with blood flow.5 High blood pressure causes tension in the arteries, which may lead to damage in the blood vessels of the penis.3
If you haven't been diagnosed with high blood pressure and you're experiencing a change in your erectile function, speak with your doctor. The change in erectile function could be an indicator of larger health concerns.3 There are ways to improve erectile function even if you have high blood pressure. Begin by talking with your doctor. Together you can explore treatment options.
B. High Cholesterol and Erectile DysfunctionED could be an indicator of cholesterolemia, or high cholesterol.6 The risk of ED is nearly two times greater in men with total cholesterol levels above 240 than in men who have total cholesterol levels below 180.2,18
High cholesterol can cause plaque, a substance that narrows arteries in the body and can, in turn, interfere with blood flow. Blood flow is critical to healthy erectile function. Changes in erectile function may be a sign of ED.3
It's natural and normal to want a healthy sex life, so if you think your high cholesterol may be affecting the quality of your erections, talk with your doctor about treatment options.
C. Diabetes and Erectile DysfunctionDiabetes may eventually lead to changes in erectile function.4 Like high cholesterol and high blood pressure, diabetes is a condition that can negatively impact blood flow.4 Healthy blood flow is critical to healthy erectile function.4 In fact, more than half of the men with diabetes will, over time, experience decreased erectile function.4
When the glucose (sugar) levels in the blood are not properly controlled, the risk of erectile dysfunction (ED) increases.3,4 ED is also known to occur at an earlier age in diabetic men when compared to men who do not have diabetes.4
It's natural to want a healthy sex life, so if you see a change in your erection quality, learn the facts and start a discussion with your doctor. Together you can explore treatment options. Your doctor will take into account your overall health and any current pharmaceutical products you are already taking before making a decision on which therapy is best for you.
