Is there a link between impotence and heart disease or Diabetes?

Is there a link between impotence and heart disease?
One of the main causes of heart disease is fatty deposits that narrow and eventually block the arteries supplying the heart. This process can also affect blood vessels in the penis, which can lead to male impotence. Because the blood vessels of the penis are smaller than those supplying the heart, getting an erection is often one of the first signs they are becoming narrowed.

The most common cause of impotence is a problem with blood flow to the penis. Many small blood vessels supplying the penis can shrink and eventually they can be blocked with fatty deposits. More than half of men suffering from impotence may in fact have heart disease.

If you experience impotence problems, you must go to the doctor who will be better placed to assess your risks of developing heart disease in the future. Your doctor will check your cholesterol levels and blood pressure and ask you questions about your lifestyle, for example if you smoke or have a sedentary lifestyle. Your doctor can then determine your risk of developing heart disease over the next 10 years. Your doctor may suggest you change your lifestyle like trying to lose weight or quit smoking to help reduce your risk of heart disease. It can also help improve impotence.

Diabetes Linked With Impotence
Diabetes is the leading cause of erectile dysfunction in men according to experts. Erectile dysfunction is a condition where the man is unable to obtain or maintain an erection for satisfactory sexual intercourse. Various studies have shown that men with diabetes are more likely to develop impotence. In fact, it is estimated that half of men with diabetes experience erectile dysfunction at some stage. It is believed that men with diabetes experience erectile dysfunction about 10 to 15 years earlier than men without diabetes. Experts also suggest that erectile dysfunction can be an early indication of diabetes, especially among men aged 45 and under.

How diabetes increases the risk of impotence?

Diabetes is a condition characterized by hyperglycemia and  may interfere with the process of erection in the following ways:

Diabetes can cause damage to the nerves and therefore affect the sending and receiving of nerve impulses. This condition is called peripheral neuropathy. It can affect the hands and feet of diabetic patients. Due to a lack of functioning of nerves, nerves are not able to send the right signal to the brain to cause an erection. Therefore, it becomes difficult to have an erection for satisfactory sexual intercourse.

Diabetes can also restrict blood flow to the penis. In this condition, the arteries of the penis thicker because of which blood flow to the penis decreases. As a result, diabetics often experience erectile dysfunction.

People with diabetes also have lower levels of testosterone. Testosterone plays an important role in sexual functioning in men. A drop in testosterone levels can result in erectile dysfunction in men.

In addition, the drugs used by diabetics can worsen the impotence. These medications can cause erectile dysfunction in diabetics.