Having high blood pressure can deliver a double-whammy to your erectile function, often resulting in a persistent inability to achieve and maintain an erection.
Over time, high blood pressure causes damage to the linings of your blood vessels. Arteries gradually harden and narrow, a phenomenon known as atherosclerosis, according to MayoClinic.com. Atherosclerosis results in diminished blood flow to the penis, making it more difficult or even impossible to achieve an erection. High blood pressure can also reduce your level of sexual desire and interfere with ejaculation.
Because high blood pressure, left untreated, can lead to a heart attack or stroke, most patients with hypertension are prescribed medications to lower blood pressure. Therein lies the second half of the double-whammy as many of these medications in and of themselves can cause ED. Among all anti-hypertensive drugs, the ones most likely to cause ED are thiazides, which are diuretics, followed closely by beta-blockers, according to MedlinePlus. Alpha-blockers are less likely to impede erectile function.