Male erectile dysfunction (ED) is closely related To a variety of chronic diseases, which indirectly lead to erectile difficulties by affecting blood vessels, nerves, endocrine or psychological state. The following are the main related diseases and their mechanisms of action:
I. Vascular-related chronic diseases (most common causes)
1. Diabetes
◦ Impact:
■ Hyperglycemia damages the vascular endothelium and reduces penile blood flow (vascular ED).
■ Peripheral neuropathy leads to erectile signal conduction disorders (neurogenic ED).
◦ Data: The risk of ED in diabetic patients is 3 times higher than that of ordinary people, and the age of onset is 10 to 15 years earlier.
2. Hypertension
◦ Mechanism: Arteriosclerosis reduces the blood supply to the corpus cavernosum of the penis, and some antihypertensive drugs (such as beta-blockers) aggravate ED.
◦ Note: For every 10 mmHg increase in systolic blood pressure, the risk of ED increases by 15%.
Hyperlipidemia/atherosclerosis
◦ Key impact: Cholesterol plaques block the internal iliac artery or penile arterioles, resulting in insufficient blood flow.
4. Cardiovascular disease
◦ Association: ED often appears earlier than symptoms of coronary heart disease (penile artery diameter is 2mm, coronary artery diameter is 4mm, and lesions are exposed earlier).
