High Blood Pressure: When Is It Erectile Dysfunction?
WebMD Medical Reference
If you have high blood pressure, you may experience
erectile dysfunction (ED).
For a healthy young man, erectile dysfunction is typically not a problem. As
you age, however, you may notice some changes. Maybe it takes more coaxing to
get erect than it used to. Sometimes it may take more direct stimulation of the
penis, whereas merely a daydream or the suggestion of sex was once enough. Or
perhaps your erection isn't quite as firm as it once was, but it's still good
enough. These are normal changes.
So, when is it erectile dysfunction and when should you seek help? Let's
consider a few scenarios:
1. You come home one evening after a long and stressful day at work. Your
partner wants to have sex. You think you'd like to also, but you have a problem
getting an erection. The next time you try, everything is fine.
In this case, your problem probably doesn't need medical treatment, as long
as it happens rarely. If it starts to happen more often, you may want to talk to
your doctor about it.
2. Sometimes when you try to have sex, you get only partially erect. Your
erection isn't rigid enough to enter your partner.
In the most severe cases of erectile dysfunction, a man
isn't able to get even slightly erect. But there are degrees of this condition. Even mild erectile
dysfunction is worth discussing with your doctor.
3. You can get a good erection during foreplay, but after you start to
have intercourse you lose it.
This can be very frustrating for you and your partner. Even though you are
able to get an erection, if it doesn't last long enough to complete sexual
intercourse you may have erectile dysfuncton.
An estimated 80% of erectile dysfunction is due to
physical causes. High blood pressure is often the cause.
The other 20% is psychological. For a long time, doctors
thought that erectile dysfunction was mostly in one's head. Now they know that
is not true. Still, the mind plays a big role in getting an erection. Maybe
you're losing your erection due to anxiety or other issues between you and your partner. Your
doctor can help you determine the cause.
4. Your doctor prescribes a new
medication, and you notice that it's now
more difficult to get an erection than it was before you started taking it.
Side effects of drugs cause up to 25% of erectile dysfunction cases. Blood
pressure medicines are lifesavers, but erection problems are sometimes a side
effect. Other medications that can cause erectile dysfunction include:
Talk to your
doctor about switching to a different drug that's less likely to cause problems.
Also ask about treatment options specifically for erectile dysfunction.
5. You typically have several alcoholic drinks every night. It's difficult
for you to get an erection when you've been drinking.
Drinking too much alcohol can lead to erectile dysfunction. While a glass of
wine may help you and your partner get in the mood, heavy drinking can really
hamper your sexual performance.
Alcohol depresses the nervous system, which may cause erection problems if
you've had too much to drink. If it only happens when you drink and the effect
is temporary, you should limit your drinking and avoid treating the problem with
erectile dysfunction medication.
Keep in mind that alcohol also has long-term toxic effects on the nerves that
can cause erectile dysfunction, even at times when you're not drinking.
SOURCES: American Urological Association,
"AUA Guideline on the Management of Erectile Dysfunction: Diagnosis and
Treatment Recommendations," 2005. Barksdale, J. Pharmacotherapy, May 1999; vol
19: pp 573-581. Cappelleri, J. International Journal of Impotence Research, July
2005; vol 17: pp 307-319. The Mayo Clinic, "Erectile Dysfunction." Miller, T.
American Family Physician, January 2000; vol 61: pp 95-104, 109-10. National
Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC), National
Institutes of Health (NIH), "Erectile
Dysfunction."
©2005-2006 WebMD Inc. All rights
reserved.
Last Editorial Review: 8/15/2006
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