Hypertension And Impotence

Hypertension (high blood pressure) affects many men in Anguilla, many of whom are on medication. It is estimated that more than 40% of men with hypertension have impotence or erectile dysfunction. Many of the medications used to treat hypertension themselves also cause impotence.

What is impotence or erectile dysfunction?
Impotence also known as erectile dysfunction is the inability to achieve or sustain an erection for satisfactory sexual activity. Erectile dysfunction is different from other conditions that interfere with sexual intercourse, such as lack of sexual desire and problems with ejaculation and orgasm.

How common is impotence in Anguilla?
Impotence varies in severity. Some men have a total inability to achieve an erection. Others have inconsistent ability to achieve and erection, and still others can sustain only brief erections. These variations make it difficult to estimate the frequency of impotence in any country. In Anguilla it is even more difficult as many men are reluctant to discuss impotence with their doctors, and thus the condition is under-diagnosed.
Erectile dysfunction can occur at any age. It is uncommon among young men and more common in the elderly. It is estimated that by the age of 50 most men have experienced some degree of impotence at least some of the time.

What causes impotence?
In addition to hypertension many other conditions can cause impotence. These include the following:
• Diabetes mellitus
• Cardiovascular disease
• Nerve or spinal cord damage
• Substance abuse (marijuana, cocaine and alcohol)
• Cigarette smoking
• Depression and anxiety
• Medications

Hypertension and impotence
Individuals with essential hypertension have an increased risk of developing impotence. It is not clearly known how high blood pressure causes impotence. It has been found that individuals with high blood pressure have low production of nitric oxide by the arteries of the body, including the arteries in the penis. We now know that the decreased levels of nitric oxide may contribute to impotence.
Many medications used to treat hypertension can also cause impotence while others can actually increase sexual appetite and improve sexual performance.
Anti-hypertension medications are often used alone or in combination (s) to control high blood pressure. Men should not stop using one drug or the other in an attempt to improve their sexual performance. They should discuss this with their doctor who can make the necessary adjustments.
There are many different classes of medications used to treat hypertension. It is known that beta-blockers and diuretics tend to cause more impotence than other classes of anti-hypertensive drugs. Calcium channel blockers and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) do not seem to affect erectile function. Patients should not change their anti-hypertensive medications on their own. All changes should be done in conjunction with your doctor.

Do Viagra and other medications for impotence work while taking anti-hypertensive drugs?
If impotence is caused by the anti-hypertensive medications used for treating hypertension then there is a good chance that Viagra and other medications like Levitra and Cialis will be beneficial.

Lifestyle improvements related to impotence
Quitting smoking, exercising regularly, losing excess weight, curtailing excessive alcohol consumption, controlling hypertension, and ensuring good control of glucose levels (if you are a diabetic) are not only important for maintaining good health but may also improve erectile function.

What medications are used to treat impotence?
A number of medications are now available for the treatment of impotence. Other devices and treatment options are also available for the management of impotence including psychotherapy. Prior to prescribing medications for impotence a complete history and physical examination should be done by the doctor.

Conclusion
Many men over the age of fifty have some form of impotence at one time in their life. A significant number of men in Anguilla also have high blood pressure and are on medications to control their blood pressures. It is known that hypertension is associated with impotence and some of the drugs used to treat high blood pressure can also cause impotence. Good control of hypertension and adjusting medications can help to improve the management impotence. All men with impotence and who also have hypertension should see their doctor for consultation and management.