10 Causes of Erectile Dysfunction

3. High blood pressure

Another common cause of erectile dysfunction is hypertension or high blood pressure. Chronic high blood pressure is when the heart is working too hard to pump blood, and the blood is repeatedly putting pressure on the walls of the arteries. According to the American Heart Association, 85 million Americans, or one in every three adults over age 20, have high blood pressure. Hypertension raises the risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney disease or failure, vision loss, angina, peripheral artery disease, and sexual dysfunction. In men, it can present as erectile dysfunction, and in women, it may present as low libido. To manage high blood pressure, the American Heart Association recommends eating a balanced diet that is low in salt, limiting your alcohol intake, being physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, and properly taking any prescribed medications.