Hypertension, as a very common type of chronic metabolic disease in clinical practice, often requires patients to take antihypertensive drugs for years to control their blood pressure levels. The underlying causes of hypertension are often closely related to people’s lifestyles and dietary habits. With the continuous improvement of living standards, many people cannot do without a “high fat and high salt” diet, which eventually causes fluctuations in blood pressure and leads to diseases such as hypertension.
Of course, while many patients use antihypertensive drugs to maintain their blood pressure levels, there are still many people who have little understanding of the mechanisms of the antihypertensive drugs they are taking. Especially for male friends, prolonged use of antihypertensive drugs can even affect their physiological functions. For example, there are four categories of first-line antihypertensive drugs, two of which may decrease male function, while the other two may enhance male function.
1. Antihypertensive drugs that affect male function:
1. Aldosterone receptor antagonists
Most of these antihypertensive drugs belong to weak diuretics that can lower testosterone production by inhibiting hydroxylation on the 17th carbon atom, thereby achieving good blood pressure control. However, during the reduction of testosterone levels in the body, some testosterone will be converted into estrogen. If the level of estrogen secretion in males is too high, it can naturally affect their sexual function. In this case, males not only feel physically weak and lack desire, but they also reduce their sperm activity.
Therefore, for hypertensive patients taking this type of antihypertensive drug, if the body experiences the aforementioned discomfort, it is best to communicate promptly with the attending physician to avoid worsening issues.
2. Thiazide diuretics
According to relevant medical studies, male patients who take this type of antihypertensive drug for a long time may also experience sexual dysfunction. This is mainly because a component called “catecholamines” contained in this drug directly affects the smooth muscle of the male penis, leading to vascular constriction. Especially for moderately to severely hypertensive patients, the probability of encountering problems when taking this drug will be higher.
2. Antihypertensive drugs that improve male function:
1. Beta-blockers
These antihypertensive drugs mainly promote the release of nitric oxide. Patients taking this medication are much less likely to experience sexual dysfunction compared to other medications. Therefore, for hypertensive male patients with certain requirements in terms of fertility, they can communicate with the attending physician before taking the medication, and choose to take this medication to regulate blood pressure.
2. Calcium channel blockers
According to existing clinical statistics, calcium channel blocker antihypertensive drugs do not have a significant negative impact on male sexual function and also do not reduce sperm activity, affecting normal fertility. In addition, males who use this drug long-term for blood pressure control will also experience a noticeable improvement in sexual function.
[This text and image are exclusive original content by “Panda Medicine” new media, written by Shang Han, unauthorized reproduction or copying is prohibited.]
