News and Information

Back to News and Information

Is there a connection between heart disease and Erectile Dysfunction

A The connection between heart disease and erection problems or erectile dysfunction is very close. Both follow the same factors related to age and become increasingly common in men from age 45 onward. They even share some common causes.

Researchers have noted a close relationship between high blood levels of homocysteine, an amino acid marker for heart disease and erectile dysfunction. It’s been found that 20 of the 30 patients with erectile dysfunction are also found suffering from high homocysteine levels. Testing of homocysteine may be able to identify patients with the risk of erectile dysfunction.

The same factors that raise your risk of atherosclerosis in the arteries in your penis also increase your chances of coronary artery disease. Due to arteries supplying your penis blood are smaller than the ones in your heart, symptoms may first show up as erectile dysfunction.

Relationship between erectile dysfunction and heart problems

From a purely mechanical point of view, an erection is a hydraulic event. It’s a matter of getting extra blood into the penis, keeping it there, and then eventually letting it drain away.

A key chemical messenger is nitric oxide sends the message to the brain in case of an arousal. It helps in sending blood to the penis. This tiny molecule is made by both nerves and the inner lining of arteries. It relaxes smooth muscle tissue inside the penis and inside arteries. This relaxation is vital to creating and keeping an erection.

As arteries in the penis relax, they widen and supply more blood. This extra blood flows into two parallel shafts of smooth muscle that run along the length of the penis. Relaxation of this spongy muscle lets blood trickle into its tiny crevices. This makes the muscle more rigid and compresses small veins that drain blood away from the penis.

Causes of erectile dysfunction and heart disease

Atherosclerosis

Many things can disrupt erectile function. One of them is Atherosclerosis, which is the same disease that causes heart attacks and strokes. The accumulation of fatty plaque inside blood vessels throughout the body injures artery walls and interferes with nitric oxide production. When the nitric oxide does not reach the arteries leading to or inside the penis, erectile problems may result. When you suffer from erectile problems, it may a sign that your heart is also week.

Medications

Some medicines taken to protect heart problems can cause erectile dysfunction. Also, medications that are often prescribed for erectile dysfunction may not be safe when combined with certain heart medications.

Anxiety and depression

Erectile dysfunction is a major source of anxiety for men. The constant worry and the emotional turmoil can affect the heart and cause cardiac problems. Added fear of lack of sexual activity could cause heart disease and your love life could deteriorate.

Depression frequently affects men with heart disease. Both the condition itself and some of the medications used to treat it can lead to erectile dysfunction

Risk factors which contribute to erectile dysfunction and heart disease

Diabetes

Men who have diabetes face more problems in getting an erection than men who don't have diabetes. The problem is partially due to the diabetes-related damage to blood vessels that supply the penis.

Obesity

Overweight men are more likely to have erectile dysfunction. Also, men who are over weight and obese tend to have heart problems sooner than other people due to fatty foods and blood pressure.

High cholesterol

A high level of low-density lipoprotein, LDL, or "bad" cholesterol contributes to atherosclerosis in blood vessels, raising the risk of erectile dysfunction.

Smoking

Smoking cigarettes raises your risk of developing atherosclerosis. Smoking not only increases your chances of heart disease, but it can make you nearly twice as likely to develop erectile dysfunction.

High blood pressure

If high blood pressure persists for a long time, it damages the lining of your arteries and accelerates the process of atherosclerosis. This can be dangerous which can lead to cardiovascular disease and erectile dysfunction.

Erection problems call for a thorough checkup for signs and symptoms of other problems especially heart disease. This includes testing for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes and other risk factors. It will help in early detection of the problem and timely treatment.