High cholesterol, also known as hyperlipidemia or hypercholesterolemia, is a treatable chronic health condition. Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is essential for carrying out vital functions in the body. It supports various functions such as cell building, hormone production, and vitamin D synthesis.  

There are two main types of cholesterol present in the body. They are HDL or “good” cholesterol and LDL or “bad” cholesterol. An increase in the levels of LDL in the body can contribute to health issues. It becomes problematic when the LDL levels remain persistently high for a prolonged time.  

High cholesterol can potentiate the risk of health conditions like high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and heart disease. Since high cholesterol is a contributor to heart disease, it can give rise to erection difficulties.  

In males, Erectile dysfunction (ED) is an early indication of heart disease, and this is how cholesterol is linked to erectile dysfunction.      

How cholesterol affects heart health?  

Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is produced by the liver. It is released into the blood plasma. Because of its wax-like form, it does not get dissolved in the water. It gets released into the bloodstream and these substances float around with the help of lipoprotein molecules.    

An increase in the levels of LDL or bad cholesterol can lead to health damage. It gradually affects vascular health and impairs the functioning of your blood vessels. These fatty substances stick to the walls of the blood vessels and cause the blood vessels to become narrow.  

The accumulation of fat cells in the vascular lining limits the flow of blood through the blood vessels. Due to the narrowing, the heart must work extra hard to pump blood through such clogged blood vessels. This increases the risk of heart attack or stroke.    

Thus, the buildup of fatty deposits of LDL cholesterol in the walls of the blood vessels makes the blood vessels narrow and potentiates the risk of heart disease and coronary arterial disease.   

How does erectile dysfunction happen?

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is characterized by difficulty in getting or sustaining erections. It happens because of a lack of adequate blood circulation to the penile. The blood supply to the penile is affected due to the narrowing of the penile blood vessels.  

For a healthy erection function, sufficient blood must flow to the penile. However, this difficulty can be overcome with ED medicine such as Tazzle 20. This medicine is composed of an active ingredient known as Tadalafil. It dilates the penile blood vessels and increases the blood flow inside them.   

These medicines help achieve firmer erections only in the presence of arousal. They do not trigger erections spontaneously.  

The link between High cholesterol and erectile dysfunction

Individuals having high cholesterol are more prone to the risk of developing heart disease and some arterial disorders. This happens when the cholesterol fats stick to the walls of the blood vessels and accumulate inside, leading to the narrowing of the blood vessels.  

The flow of blood through the blood vessels does not happen properly. This affects blood circulation. The heart must exert more force to facilitate blood flow throughout the body. In this process, the delicate walls of the heart get severely damaged.  

The blood vessels become hard because of plaque accumulation. The plaque can break from the wall and clog the blood vessels. This can block the blood vessels, potentiating the risk of heart attack or stroke.  

Heart disease and cardiovascular dysfunction are the major contributors to erectile dysfunction. The narrowing and clogging of the blood vessels might also happen in the penile blood vessels. This prevents the blood flow to the penile and as a result, the person struggles to get or maintain erections.  

Potential risk factors of high cholesterol 

Lifestyle factors: Your lifestyle choices are the decisions that influence your overall health and well-being. Unhealthy eating habits, lack of exercise, smoking, drug abuse, etc., deteriorate your health.  

It is crucial to adopt healthy lifestyle choices such as healthy eating, regular exercising, managing stress, and so on. A healthy lifestyle promotes good sexual health. They reduce the risk of developing heart disease and other chronic medical illnesses.  

Genetics: Some people may have inherited high cholesterol from one of their parents.  

Weight: Overweight individuals are more susceptible to high cholesterol. The issues related to sexual health are quite common among such individuals.  

Age: The likelihood of developing high cholesterol is quite high among older individuals.  

General health: Some health conditions like diabetes, kidney disease, and liver disorder might potentiate the risk of developing high cholesterol.