Sexual Side Effects of High Blood Preasure
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a common cardiovascular disease. General symptoms are mild and can go undiagnosed until a periodical check up. High blood pressure puts the health of your arteries at risk and can result in more serious conditions such as heart disease or stroke. Symptoms and medication for this condition can result in side effects that can inhibit sexual function in men. Women can also experience sexual side effects due to stress, exhaustion and medication.
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Erectile Dysfunction Due to Medication
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Erectile dysfunction is one of the most common sexual side effects of hypertension in men. Hypertension treatment, such as beta blockers and diuretics, work to reduce and maintain a low blood pressure and flow of blood to the penis. Some patients may only experience slight difficulty in obtaining an erection. Others may simply experience a delayed erectile response to sexual stimulus. Additional erectile dysfunction side effects may include an inability to achieve multiple erections, as well as an inability to achieve any erections. Age, general health, pre-existing conditions and other medications are all contributing factors to the levels of erectile dysfunction a patient may experience. High blood pressure medications least likely to cause erectile dysfunction are ACE inhibitors, alpha blockers, calcium channel blockers and agiotensin receptor blockers.
Erectile Dysfuntion Due to Condition
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Hypertension can lead to stress and damage to the small blood vessels in the penis. As the damaged blood vessels heal, they become thicker and slower to dilate in response to sexual stimulation. This can eventually inhibit effective blood flow to the penis. As a result, patients often have difficulty obtaining and maintaining an erection. Patients who are able to obtain an erection often have difficulty obtaining multiple erections or maintaining the erection over longer periods of time.
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Decreased Sex Drive in Men
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Men diagnosed with hypertension can suffer from decreased levels of testosterone. Age, personal habits, physical health and pre-existing conditions are contributing factors to the possibility or rate at which men with hypertension may suffer from this side effect. A decrease in testosterone can ultimately cause a noticeable decrease in your libido and healthy sex drive. A decreased sexual drive can also result from premature exhaustion due to heightened stress levels on the body. This can create decreased physical endurance for sexual activity, as well as interest.
Premature Ejaculation
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When left untreated, blood pressure remains at high levels. At times of sexual excitement, blood pressure will continue to increase and flow at heightened levels through the body and to the penis. This can result in rapid as well as short-lived erections, leading to premature ejaculation, exhaustion and decreased endurance of sexual activity.
Sexual Side Effects in Women
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Sexual side effects from hypertension in women is not as common. However, hypertension can often result in increased stress levels and exhaustion in women, leading to a decrease in sexual drive and endurance. General symptoms associated with this side effect include low libido and difficulty with arousal and orgasms. Medications such as beta blockers and diuretics can potentially cause low libido in women. Age, general health, pre-existing conditions and other medications are factors that can affect the level of sexual side effects from hypertension in women.
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