World Hypertension Day: Can hypertension can affect your sex life?

Is hypertension the reason for your sexual health problems?

Dr Anitha Anchan | Updated: May 14, 2015 10:54 am

Erectile dysfunction: A lifestyle disease like diabetes also takes a toll on your sex life. Around 60-70% diabetic men suffer from erectile dysfunction.

Heart disease, stroke, obesity are commonly associated with hypertension, but not many of us are aware that it can take a huge toll on one’s sex life. When walls of arteries thicken, blood flow becomes restricted, as a result of which blood pressure increases, giving rise to various complications and erectile dysfunction is one of them. When the arteries in the penis get narrowed, the blood supply to the penis gets reduced, which results in an inability to sustain erection while having sex. You may like to read how hypertension or High BP affects your body.

How is sex and hypertension linked?

Medications for hypertension can worsen your problems

Some anti-hypertensive medications may also cause erection problems in men and low sex drive in women. Talk to your doctor about the possibility of changing your prescription to help restore your sex life. Usually, diuretics and beta blockers are replaced with ACE inhibitors, alpha blockers and calcium channel blockers.

Consult before you pop pills

In some cases, medications such as Viagra, Cialis and Levitra may be prescribed to treat the erectile dysfunction. While they may not interact with the anti-hypertensive medication, they may have serious side-effects and it is important to talk to your doctor and discuss your entire medical history before taking any of them. If you have been taking nitrates for chest pain or angina, you should not take these drugs as it may cause a dangerous drop in your blood pressure.

Will sex worsen hypertension?

There is a popular misconception that one should not indulge in sex when suffering from hypertension. This is wrong. Sex is as beneficial to people suffering from hypertension as it is for normal, healthy people. It keeps you fit, confident, reduces stress. Though there may be momentary surge in your blood pressure, intercourse doesn’t affect the mechanisms that cause elevated blood pressure. Here are 10 myths about hypertension busted.

Lifestyle changes can help

Quitting smoking, eating healthy food, cutting down on salt, reducing alcohol intake, getting at least 45 minutes of exercise everyday and living a stress-free life can not only reduce your blood pressure but also decrease your dependence on anti-hypertensives. Both these will go a long way in improving your sex life. you may like to know how losing weight can help your sex life.

Image source: Shutterstock

Published: May 13, 2015 4:56 pm | Updated:May 14, 2015 10:54 am

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