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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
Erectile dysfunction (ED), formerly known as impotence, is a condition that affects roughly 40% of people with penises over the age of 40 and 70% over the age of 70. One of the critical risk factors for ED is high cholesterol. Some studies suggest that seven of every 10 people with ED meet the clinical definition of high cholesterol (also known as hypercholesterolemia). Therefore, it may seem reasonable to assume that taking cholesterol-lowering drugs like statins could potentially improve ED. But is the relationship that straightforward? This article takes a closer look at the potential benefits of statins in people with ED, as well as the various factors that can influence a person's ability to get and keep an erection if a statin drug is prescribed. Hailshadow / Getty Images High Cholesterol and ED There is no single cause of ED. Many factors can contribute, some of which are physical, and others of which may be psychological. In most people, multiple factors are involved. From a physiological standpoint, ED can be caused by the reduced flow of blood to the penis. In people able to achieve an erection, sexual arousal triggers the rush of blood to the penis, causing it to become engorged and stiff. When blood flow is impaired, getting or sustaining an erection can be difficult. High cholesterol contributes to ED by causing the build-up of fatty plaques in the arteries that service the penis. The build-up of plaques can also lead to high blood pressure, causing blood vessels to narrow and harden over time (referred to as atherosclerosis). All these things can reduce the volume of blood needed to achieve an erection. High cholesterol and high blood pressure share similar risk factors that can directly or indirectly affect a person's ability to achieve or sustain an erection. They include:Older ageObesityDiabetesLack of exercisePoor dietToo much alcoholCigarettesCholesterol and EDHigh cholesterol is part of a larger cascade of conditions that can contribute to ED.Having high cholesterol on its own may increase your ED but doesn't "cause" ED.Neither does having high cholesterol mean that you will get ED. How Statins Work Statins are the most common cholesterol-lowering drugs prescribed today. Statins are most effective at lowering the "bad" form of cholesterol known as low-density lipoprotein (LDL). This is the type of cholesterol responsible for arterial plaques. How Statins Work Statins are also known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. HMG-CoA reductase is an enzyme that regulates the liver's rate of producing cholesterol. By mimicking this enzyme, statins can "step in" and block the chain of events that leads to the production of cholesterol. The main action of statin drugs is to reduce LDL levels. While statins are also pretty good at increasing "good"
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