Erectile dysfunction occurs in most cases due to circulatory disorders. These can be promoted by heart diseases that may not yet have been recognized.
However, potency problems can also be a harbinger of an impending heart attack or stroke. This is shown by a study at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. The observational study ‘Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis’ (MESA) found that patients with erectile dysfunction had a twice as high risk as symptom-free men. According to the authors in the journal Circulation , impotence can be seen as an alarm sign for possible narrowing and calcification of the vessels (arteriosclerosis).
Weak heart and weak potency are related
A complex interaction of nerves and blood vessels is necessary for a man’s penis to stiffen. The arteries that supply the penis dilate and direct blood to the erectile tissue. At the same time, the outflow of blood is slowed down. If the penis is no longer stiff enough or if the erection keeps fading away too quickly, doctors speak of erectile dysfunction or erectile dysfunction (ED). According to 비아그라 for Urology, up to 20 percent of 65-year-old men are affected.
Danger from arteriosclerosis: Calcified vessels weaken the erectile tissue
The greatest risk factors for arteriosclerosis include high blood pressure, smoking and obesity, as well as high cholesterol and diabetes mellitus. The deposits of fat and lime, so-called plaques, constrict the veins and promote inflammatory processes. The vessel walls thicken and become more rigid, the blood flow is made more difficult by the “calcified” vessels.
High blood pressure: a risk for the fine vessels in the penis
High blood pressure (hypertension), for example, often has a negative effect on love life. The constant overpressure puts a strain on the blood vessels in the long run, they become inelastic and can no longer expand sufficiently. The blood supply to the penis is reduced and the ability to have an erection decreases.
It is estimated that almost half of Germans suffer from high blood pressure. Only every second person affected knows about the disease, as the German Hypertension League reports. In addition, many of those who are aware of the excessive pressure on their vessels are not receiving treatment. However, if high blood pressure remains untreated, not only potency problems can occur over time, but there is also a risk of arteriosclerosis. It becomes a risk not only for potency, but also for health.
Not only the spongy bodies in the penis suffer from these plaques. The risk of stroke, heart attack and other cardiovascular diseases is also increased. Since the deposits on the vessel walls usually go unnoticed for a long time, erectile dysfunction can be the first warning sign of dangerous circulatory problems and indicate an increased risk of heart attack.
Diabetes mellitus can lead to erectile dysfunction
There is also often a connection between diabetes mellitus and erectile dysfunction. If diabetes is not treated adequately, it also promotes deposits in the vessels.
High blood pressure and elevated blood lipid levels, which are often associated with diabetes, also weaken the blood vessels. In addition, diabetic nerve damage that reduces sensation in the penis can impair erection. Stimuli are then no longer perceived as intensely.