If you think that erectile dysfunction has nothing to do with blood vessels, you may be wrong! It is scientifically confirmed that if you have erectile dysfunction, it is likely to be a sign of atherosclerosis or clogged arteries.
Can blocked heart arteries cause erectile dysfunction?
As it is known that a strong erection depends on the flow of a sufficient amount of blood to the arteries of the penis and the ability of those arteries and veins to retain and reserve that
amount of blood in the penis area during intercourse, and therefore the occurrence of erectile dysfunction means that one or more of the conducting blood vessels The penis has narrowed or blocked.
This condition is known as atherosclerosis, which is the accumulation of plaques of fatty deposits on the walls of blood vessels, causing them to narrow and impede normal blood flow.
What is the relationship between atherosclerosis to erectile dysfunction?
The heart pumps blood to pass through the arteries to different parts of the body. For the blood to reach the penis, it must first pass through the arteries in the abdomen and their branches.
When it's time for an erection, these arteries begin to widen or dilate. More blood flows into the penis, causing it to swell and cause an erection.
The occurrence of erectile dysfunction often means that some of these blood vessels that carry blood to the penis are not in optimal health.
Even if you don't have an artery blockage yet, the lining of some blood vessels may not work as well as it should and block blood flow appropriately.
The endothelium of the arteries also acts as a maintenance staff that prevents the appearance of atherosclerotic plaques.
Doctors have long recognized erectile dysfunction as an "early warning sign" of atherosclerosis.
Difficulty with erection usually means the development of atherosclerosis. Erectile dysfunction can also mean that hardening of the arteries is already present, in the arteries of the heart or brain.
Diabetes appears to be particularly harsh on the arteries in the penis. Up to half of the men with diabetes in their 50s report some degree of impotence.
For these reasons, erectile dysfunction is a red flag that requires attention. Experts agree that all men with ED should be screened for atherosclerosis in the heart.
Of course, there are other factors besides atherosclerosis that can cause erectile dysfunction. Nerve problems, hormones, and emotional factors should be ruled out. You can see a doctor to sort out and identify these causes.
The groups most at risk of developing atherosclerosis
Most men with erectile dysfunction have risks that make them more likely to develop atherosclerosis, such as:
Presence of disease in family members
High levels of cholesterol in the blood
Hypertension
diabetic
obesity
Treatment of erectile dysfunction due to atherosclerosis
For the treatment of erectile dysfunction due to atherosclerosis, the above-mentioned risk factors should be controlled.
You must control high blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels, work to lose weight, and exercise regularly with a healthy diet.
The above measures are prerequisites for drug therapy to succeed in producing a satisfactory response to the patient.
If the response to drug therapy is limited or low and unsatisfactory for the patient, the penis stent operation is the final and decisive solution to the problems of erectile dysfunction caused by atherosclerosis.
The brace helps many patients regain their sexual activity and vitality within a short period and with high satisfaction rates.
Erectile dysfunction: a sign of heart disease?
The same process that causes heart disease may be the cause of erectile dysfunction, but earlier.
Erectile dysfunction - The inability of the penis to get an erection and maintain an erection enough for intercourse may be an early warning sign of current or potential problems in the future.
likewise; If you have a heart condition, getting the right treatment can treat erectile dysfunction. Understand the connection between the various problems and what you can do about them.
Why is erectile dysfunction linked to heart problems?
In the past, plaque buildup in the body's arteries (atherosclerosis) was thought to be the reason erectile dysfunction often preceded a heart problem.
The idea was that the plaque buildup reduces blood flow to the penis, making erections difficult.
But experts now believe that pre-cardiac erectile dysfunction is often caused by a defect in the inner lining of blood vessels (the endothelium) and soft muscles.
Membrane dysfunction causes insufficient blood supply to the heart and impedes blood flow to the penis, and contributes to atherosclerosis.
How is erectile dysfunction related to heart problems?
Erectile dysfunction does not always indicate a heart problem. But some research suggests that men with erectile dysfunction without an apparent cause
— such as physical injury
— who don't show symptoms of heart problems should be screened for heart problems before starting any treatment.
What are the risk factors?
In addition to their pathogenesis, erectile dysfunction and heart disease share step factors that include:
diabetic. Men with diabetes are more likely to develop erectile dysfunction and heart disease.
Tobacco use. Smoking increases the risk of vascular disease and may cause erectile dysfunction.
Alcohol abuse. Excessive alcohol use can cause heart disease and may contribute to some other heart disease causes such as high blood pressure or irregular cholesterol levels. Alcohol also weakens erections.
Hypertension. Over time, high blood pressure damages the lining of the arteries and causes vascular disease to develop faster.
It can also affect Some antihypertensive drugs, such as thiazide diuretics, may affect sexual function.
High cholesterol. High levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol can lead to atherosclerosis.
the age. With age, erections take longer to occur, and may not be as solid as they used to be. The younger a person is, the more likely it is that erectile dysfunction is an indicator of possible heart disease. People under 50 years of age are at increased risk.
obesity Being overweight usually worsens other risk factors for heart disease.
Low testosterone. Men with low testosterone levels have higher rates of erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular disease than men with normal levels.
What are the treatment options for erectile dysfunction caused by heart disease?
If a doctor thinks that a person may be at risk of developing heart disease, some lifestyle changes should be considered.
Any lifestyle change that improves heart health can also improve reproductive health. Increase your level of physical activity, maintain a healthy weight, stop smoking, and use only moderate or complete alcohol.
More serious signs and symptoms of heart disease may lead to the need for further testing or treatment.
In the case of erectile dysfunction and heart disease at the same time, you should talk to your doctor about treatment options.
And if a person is taking certain heart medications
— especially nitrates —
it will not be safe to use many of the medications used to treat erectile dysfunction.
Atherosclerosis and its effect on sexual ability
The integrity of the arteries affects the health of individuals, as they are the pathways for the distribution of blood carrying oxygen and nutrients from the heart to the rest of the body.
This article will explain the causes and symptoms of atherosclerosis in males and their impact on the sexual ability and appropriate treatment methods.
Causes of atherosclerosis
Although the exact cause of it is not yet known, the common causes of it are limited to the following:
high blood pressure.
High levels of triglycerides in the body.
Smoking and other sources of tobacco.
Obesity and diabetes.
arthritis.
Once the inner wall of the artery is damaged, blood cells and other materials collect at the site of the injury and accumulate in the inner lining of the artery.
Over time, fatty deposits consisting of cholesterol and other cellular products build up at the site of the injury, causing the arteries to narrow.
In addition, the smooth lining of the arteries may rupture in some cases, causing cholesterol and other substances to leak into the bloodstream, sometimes causing a blood clot, which
can block blood flow to a specific part of the patient's body, and the blood clot can also move to other parts of the body. Other parts of the body prevent blood flow to other organs.
The dangers of narrowing of the arteries increase over time in addition to the serious dangers in old age. Factors that increase the risk of narrowing of the arteries include the following:
obesity.
Hereditary history of heart disease.
Lack of exercise.
An unhealthy diet.
Complications of taking some medications.
Its complications depend on the condition of the blocked arteries, for example, when coronary arteries supply the heart with oxygen and nutrients, resulting in coronary artery disease, and complications include peripheral artery disease, carotid artery, aneurysms, and chronic kidney disease.
Symptoms of atherosclerosis
Symptoms of narrowing of the arteries depend on the time of detection of the disease and the extent of late complications.
If the patient suffers from narrowed heart arteries, he may show symptoms such as chest pain or pressure or develop angina pectoris, and if the patient suffers from hardening of the arteries leading to his mind, he may appear The following symptoms:
sudden numbness
Weakness in the arms or legs.
difficulty speaking
Temporary vision loss in one eye.
drooping facial muscles;
If the patient suffers from atherosclerosis in the arms and legs, he will have symptoms of peripheral artery disease, such as leg pain when walking.
Diagnosis of arteriosclerosis
People at risk for atherosclerosis should be tested because symptoms do not appear until the cardiovascular disease has developed.
Diagnosis is based on medical history, test results, and a physical examination.
The doctor may need to do other tests, and the most important types of these tests are:
Blood tests
Blood tests measure the amount of sugar, fat, and protein in the blood, and if the results of these tests indicate high levels of fat and sugar, this often indicates a narrowing of the arteries.
physical exams
In these tests, the doctor uses a stethoscope to see if there is an abnormal sound in the arteries of the body as a result of the uneven blood flow, and if the doctor hears evidence of this, the chances of poor blood flow increase.
Ultrasound:
Ultrasound can check blood pressure in different parts of the body, and changes in pressure indicate where arteries are blocking blood flow.
CT scan
A CT scan may be used to find arteries that are narrowing and affecting blood flow.
arteriosclerosis treatment
Treatment options for narrowing of the arteries vary to include taking some medications under the supervision of a doctor, and surgical interventions may become necessary.
Many doctors recommend lifestyle changes to overcome the narrowing of the arteries and their impact on sexual ability.
The most important ways to change the patient’s lifestyle can be explained as follows:
Pay attention to fitness exercises.
Eat foods rich in soluble fiber.
Limit saturated fat intake.
Limit your intake of sodium.
Stop drinking alcoholic beverages.
Some medicines can
It prevents the accumulation of fat and thus reduces the chances of blood clots, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors can help, and so far no evidence treating atherosclerosis improves the strength of erections clearly in many cases.
Severe cases of narrowed arteries can be treated with surgical procedures such as angioplasty or coronary artery bypass grafting.
A blood vessel graft involves widening the artery and opening the blockage so that blood can flow properly again.
The best available treatments for erectile dysfunction are drugs called phosphodiesterase inhibitors. The most important of these drugs can be explained as follows:
Viagra.
Levitra or Ardenafil.
Cialis or tadalafil.
These medications temporarily improve blood flow to the penis, but they do not permanently stop the problems with narrowed arteries and subsequent erectile dysfunction.
If erectile dysfunction persists, a surgical solution can be resorted to by implanting an erection stent of all kinds, which is a safe and radical solution for erectile dysfunction or even impotence.
The relationship of atherosclerosis to sexual ability
Sexual ability is related to blood flow, and to get an erection, blood must flow smoothly until it reaches the penis, and if the patient suffers from ED, this is one possibility that indicates narrow blood vessels.
The blood passes through the arteries to reach different parts of the body. For blood to reach the penis, the blood first passes through the abdominal arteries and then branches.
When the time for an erection comes, these arteries expand and more blood flows into the penis, making it erect.
Erectile dysfunction can indicate that some blood vessels are not in perfect condition, and even if the patient does not have a blocked artery, the lining of the blood vessels may not
work in his body as it should, and most men with ED have risks that make them more likely to develop atherosclerosis. The most important risks can be explained as follows:
Hereditary history of arterial stenosis.
High cholesterol levels.
Abnormal blood pressure levels.
Erectile dysfunction is a widespread problem, and up to 39% of men over the age of 40 often suffer from ED, and two-thirds of men over the age of 70 have many symptoms of erectile dysfunction, sometimes linked to narrowed arteries.
This disease is the most common cause of impotence, and strong erectile dysfunction may indicate atherosclerosis, as blood flow needs a wide range during sexual arousal.
Erectile dysfunction is treated as an "early warning sign" of narrowed arteries, and diabetes appears to be particularly harsh on the arteries of the penis, exacerbating erectile problems in many cases, and up to half of the men with diabetes in their fifties suffer from impotence to varying degrees.