Questions about sex and hypertension are natural.
Whether or not sex is safe for a person with hypertension is a question that comes up frequently. Fortunately, the American Heart Association has indicated that most people with heart problems can enjoy sex safely, including those with high blood pressure.
Sex is like any other form of exercise because it gets the heart pumping. In rare cases, the extra exertion may trigger a heart attack although the risk is encouragingly negligible. A report by the American Journal of Cardiology showed a less-than-1-percent risk of a heart attack occurring during sexual activity.
Still, some people should be wary because sex may be fatal for people with severe out-of-control hypertension. Your doctor may ask you to abstain from sex or other exhausting activities if your blood pressure is too high despite treatment. If there’s any doubt about your condition, your doctor will order a stress test to measure the limits of your capabilities.
Medications Affecting Sexuality
A lot of drugs are good for your heart, but some of them may adversely affect your sex life. According to the Mayo Clinic, beta blockers and many diuretics can cause erectile complications. It’s usually safe to take erectile dysfunction drugs like Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis with high blood pressure medication. Make sure you don’t ingest them with nitrates because the combination of medicines may cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure. Be careful with alpha-1 adrenoreceptor blockers such as tamsulosin and doxazosin. You should only take these drugs with erectile dysfunction medication under close supervision by your doctor.
Do not suffer in silence if you are developing any sexual difficulties after taking medication. Your doctor may easily solve your problem by changing your prescription. ACE inhibitors, alpha-blockers, and calcium channel blockers may lower your blood pressure with fewer risks of sexual side effects.
There are hypertension drugs you may use to boost your sex life. The American Journal of Medicine and Science published a study in May 2001 showing 82 men with sexual dysfunction having reliable erections and frequent sex after drug treatment. Losartan was the particular drug used in the treatment. It belongs to a class of medicines known as angiotensin II receptor blockers.
Hypertension and high blood pressure should not be a hindrance to your sex life. There are many ways to work around your condition and enjoy intimacy with your partner.
So, don’t be shy and rely on your doctor because your life will be easier with proper medication.
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Dr. Veronica Anderson is an MD, Functional Medicine practitioner, Homeopath. and Medical Intuitive. As a national speaker and designer of the Functional Fix and Rejuvenation Journey programs, she helps people who feel like their doctors have failed them. She advocates science-based natural, holistic, and complementary treatments to address the root cause of disease. Dr. Veronica is a highly-sought guest on national television and syndicated radio and hosts her own radio show, Wellness for the REAL World, on FOX Sports 920 AM “the Jersey” on Mondays at 7:00 pm ET.
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