The connection between high blood pressure and ED is a confusing one – lowering your blood pressure is among the most efficient ways to treat ED, but some blood pressure drugs are suspected to actually cause ED. This comes as a problem for many men, since if you can’t lower your blood pressure through lifestyle changes, the doctor will likely prescribe diuretics or beta-blockers – both of which may cause erectile problems.
So, can blood pressure drugs cause ED?
The Link Between High Blood Pressure and ED
The reason why high blood pressure creates erectile problems for many men is the damage to blood vessel lining. Over time, this lining causes the arteries to narrow and harden, which limits blood flow all over the body, including blood flow to the penis. Many studies have explored this connection and found that high blood pressure is connected to several sexual problems, including ED.
Blood Pressure Drugs and ED
So, it stands to reason that lowering your blood pressure could be a good way to treat ED, right?
Not necessarily. A study published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology found that certain cholesterol-lowering and blood pressure-lowering medications don’t affect ED. Quite the contrary, there are implications that the most popular medications for high blood pressure can cause ED. There are, however some blood pressure-lowering medications that don’t have these side effects, namely ACE inhibitors, Angiotensin II receptor blockers, and calcium channel blockers.
Final Word
If you were wondering can blood pressure drugs cause ED, we hope to have answered that question. If you feel like your blood pressure medication is affecting your sex drive or erectile function, inform your doctor. He or she might be able to come up with an alternate treatment plan that includes different drugs that don’t have these side effects but still effective at lowering your blood pressure.
