Can peripheral vascular disease cause erectile dysfunction?

Before knowing the fact as to how peripheral vascular disease causes erectile dysfunction, it is very important to understand few things about peripheral vascular disease. Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) generally refers to the diseases of the blood vessels (arteries and veins) located outside the heart and brain.

PVD can affect both the Arteries (that carry blood from the heart to the body) and Veins (that carry blood back to the heart). While there are many causes of peripheral vascular disease, but medical practitioners commonly use the term peripheral vascular disease to refer to peripheral artery disease (PAD). This is a condition that develops when the arteries which supply blood to the internal organs, arms, and legs become completely or partially blocked as an outcome of atherosclerosis. Peripheral vascular disease can cause Erectile Dysfunction in men who are diabetic, in such cases atherosclerosis occur which causes hardening of the arteries in the legs. This blockage of the arteries lowers the amount of blood supply to the penis which directly results in a very weak erection or probably no erection.

Atherosclerosis is a gradual process which occurs in the human body whereby hard cholesterol substances are deposited in the walls of the arteries. These cholesterol plaques cause hardening of the artery walls and narrowing of the inner walls of the artery. When atherosclerosis is mild, it hardly causes any symptoms, but with increase of age can certainly cause problems. Erectile Dysfunction caused due to Peripheral vascular disease generally causes due to arteries that supply blood to your legs. If peripheral artery disease occurs in your legs, then it’s an alarming sign for Erectile Dysfunction. PVD causes reduction of blood flow to the legs (sometimes termed as poor circulation) and this situation can cause pain or damage to the tissues. Since this condition makes walking difficult, it can interfere with many daily aspects of life. Because the process that causes PVD affects blood vessels throughout the body, so the situation might get worse if not treated accordingly.

PAD develops gradually in the early stages and may not show any symptoms at all but with gradual increase in age factor, the risk of PAD also increases. Due to reduction in blood flow to the legs, many complications like cramping, numbness, weakness in the legs can be seen. A feeling of your leg “giving out” may also be seen. As it is clearly evident that Erectile Dysfunction occurs due to insufficient blood flow to the male penile organ and in patients with Peripheral Vascular disease the blood flow to the legs is drastically reduced or in fact in some cases, there were very minimal blood supply. Since Erection occurs due to adequate circulation of blood to the male penis, this medical condition of PVD completely obstructs Erection.

Peripheral artery disease can be treated by lifestyle alterations, medications, angioplasty and related treatments, or surgery. Though much improvement is said to be achieved by changing the lifestyle but condition like Erectile Dysfunction can always be treated with medication like Generic Viagra, Kamagra, Cialis as oral medications whereas there are many other forms like Kamagra oral jelly. These drugs have the inbuilt quality to augment more blood to the male penile organ and thereby helping in sustaining a strong erection. Thus, taking steps to prevent and control your risk factors for PVD will also reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.