Under Pressure: How High Blood Pressure and Diabetes Damage the Delicate Arteries of ED

Erectile dysfunction — when a man is unable to get an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse — is more common than you might think. Up to 50 million American men have erectile dysfunction in some form.

ED happens for many reasons, including anxiety, neurological conditions, and medical problems like high blood pressure and diabetes. Anything that affects the delicate arteries that supply the penis can cause ED.

At the Vein, Heart, and Vascular Institute, Dr. Hesham Fakhri and our team offer a range of treatments for ED. Dr. Fakhri is a cardiovascular and vein specialist offering angioplasty, stenting, and venous embolization for men living with ED.

Diabetes and erectile dysfunction

Diabetes is a condition in which the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin to control blood sugar levels or doesn’t use it effectively. The result is nerve and blood vessel damage that leads to neuropathy — and ED.

But how exactly does diabetes affect the arteries in the penis? Here are the mechanisms that cause ED with diabetes:

Pairs with other vascular issues

Many people with diabetes also have other medical conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or obesity. These conditions also cause blood vessel damage that contributes to ED.

Accelerated atherosclerosis

Diabetes increases plaque buildup through oxidative stress and inflammation. Rapid atherosclerosis narrows the arteries, reduces blood flow, and makes it difficult to achieve an erection.

Damages the blood vessel linings

Chronically high blood sugar damages the cells inside the arteries, preventing them from producing enough nitric oxide. NO is a molecule that relaxes the smooth muscle, which permits the vessels to dilate. Without it, it’s difficult to achieve an erection.

How high blood pressure affects ED

High blood pressure also affects the penile arteries, as it does in diabetes. The way it affects the penile arteries is similar and includes:

Endothelial injury

Chronic high blood pressure damages the endothelial cells, which produce nitric oxide. Like diabetes, this affects the muscle tone in the vessels, making it difficult for them to relax and engorge with blood to create an erection.

Arterial narrowing

Atherosclerosis is another way high blood pressure affects ED. Over time, high blood pressure causes atherosclerosis, which narrows the arteries and makes them stiffer.

Reduced blood flow

Atherosclerosis and the decreased production of nitric oxide reduce blood flow to the penis, causing ED.

Is managing these conditions enough?

Managing diabetes and high blood pressure is the first step in preventing vein or arterial damage, but sometimes it’s not enough. Keeping your blood sugar under control and taking medications to lower blood pressure helps, but sometimes the damage is already done.

Keeping these conditions in check does help prevent further damage to the penile vessels. Dr. Fahkri also offers several helpful treatments to alleviate ED symptoms.

Endovascular treatment for ED is a good option for men who haven’t responded to ED medications or who want to treat the root cause of ED, not just the symptoms.

After determining your ED is due to vascular issues, Dr. Fakhri offers treatments like angioplasty, stenting, and venous embolization to open the vessels and restore blood flow to the penis.

Call us today or reach out online to arrange a consultation at one of our locations in Tampa, Wesley Chapel, or Sun City Center, Florida. We're here to help you understand vascular ED and the treatments available to you.