As discussed in a previous post, erectile dysfunction (ED) is linked to conditions associated with blood vessel problems – the most common of which are diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension), coronary heart disease (CHD), and elevations in blood lipids (cholesterol). Diabetics and patients with hypertension frequently have heart disease. These conditions typically interfere with the ability of the penile vessels to work properly and can cause ED.
This blog post focuses on the link between obesity, CHD, hypertension, and ED.
Obesity
There is a clear association between obesity and serious medical conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, heart disease, and high cholesterol levels and ED.
79% of men who have ED are overweight or suffer from obesity.
Furthermore, obese men who have coronary disease and high cholesterol levels have a higher incidence of ED. Obesity leads to abnormalities of the lining of blood vessels, decreased nitric oxide production and narrowing of penile arteries.
CHD
ED can be an early predictor of CHD. Cardiovascular disease and vascular problems cause hardening of the arteries. That can slow the blood flowing into the penis, which makes it difficult to get or keep an erection. ED can signal the presence of a cardiovascular disease because cardiovascular diseases affect smaller vessels before they affect the bigger vessels in the body.
Men with diabetes are 3 times more likely to have ED than men who do not. And ED can be an indicator that men with type 2 diabetes will develop CHD.
Hypertension
High blood pressure makes the heart work harder to pump blood, which can, over the long-term, prevent blood flow from reaching the penis, and in turn prevent an erection. Recent reports say that close to 2-out-of-3 men report a change in the quality of their erections if they have high blood pressure, and hypertension is a condition often noted in patients presenting with ED.
ED Treatment Options for Metabolic Syndrome
Dr. Eid can recommend various treatment options for men who have CHD, hypertension, obesity, and ED.
Typically, the first step in treating ED is to get blood sugar levels or blood pressure under control. If you smoke cigarettes, it is strongly recommended that you stop, as tobacco causes blood vessels to narrow.
Next, Dr. Eid would recommend a trial with oral medications – there are four oral PDE-5 Inhibitors: Cialis, Levitra, Viagra, and Stendra.
However, should the oral medications prove ineffective, another viable option is the Internal Penile Implant. The penile implant is an approved medical option that has been used for over 30 years. During the course of a 45-minute outpatient procedure, the pump is inserted through a small one-inch opening in the scrotal sac. By squeezing the pump, fluid is pumped, resulting in a long-lasting erection. Once inserted, there is no maintenance required for the pump and it can remain in place for a lifetime.
Schedule your consultation to learn more
Call Dr. Eid today at 212-535-6690, or schedule a virtual visit to talk more about these treatments and the best option for you.