Vascular conditions such as venous leak, low blood pressure, cholesterol level, obesity, and smoking can all create ED problems. Learn more about how vascular conditions affect erectile dysfunction.
ED in men can be attributed to a wide range of causes and vascular conditions can create unwanted side effects regarding sexual function. Here is a brief list of some of the most commonly encountered vascular conditions that can negatively affect sexual performance.
Venous leak conditions, whether caused congenitally or by trauma, may create unwanted leakage from the penis. Penile venous surgery can be performed on young men to improve the trapping of blood to the penis and improve a man’s ability to have and maintain an erection. Venous constriction devices.
A diastolic blood pressure measurement of 80-95 mm Hg is an indicator of good erectile function. Low blood pressure similarly limits erectile performance, and the drugs used to treat hypertension can also come with unwanted ED side effects.
While high cholesterol and erectile dysfunction are seemingly unrelated conditions, they actually go hand in hand. Cholesterol can contribute to an unwanted buildup of plaque in the blood vessels surrounding the penis.
Obesity creates many adverse challenges for the body, and ED is a common side effect from inactivity and overeating, with associated emotional factors regarding self-esteem and reduced sexual activity.
Smoking adversely affects blood circulation, and can sometimes affect men as young as 20. Smoking disrupts blood vessels in the corpora cavernosa (the penile arteries), and often become a contributing factor in erectile dysfunction.
Specialists provide ED treatments that range from traditional natural supplements, like ginseng and yohimbe to medications for ED such as Vardenafil (Viagra), Sildenafil (Levitra), and Tadalafil (Cialis). For men who do not respond to these drugs, and for other men with conditions such as venous leak issues, surgical methods such as penile venous and penile implant procedures are available. The use of acoustic wave therapy for ED, with products such as Shockwave or Gainswave, is relatively recent and has met with considerable success, opening up a new avenue of ED treatment for many men.
Consult with skilled urologists to discuss how vascular conditions such as venous leak, low blood pressure, cholesterol level, obesity and smoking may be causing ED problems.