Gentlemen, it is time to talk about something that impacts as many as 1 in 2 men at some point in their life and is associated with quite a lot of embarrassment: erectile dysfunction.
Erectile dysfunction, or ED, is the inability to get or maintain an erection that is firm enough to engage in sexual intercourse or activities. This is nothing to worry about if it happens a few times throughout your life, but if you are having persistent issues with getting or maintaining an erection, then it is time to seek medical help. This is important, as not having this issue looked at can cause you to feel concerned, which can feed into the cycle and cause more stress.
It is nearly impossible to list all the causes of ED in a short article, so here are 5 of the most common physical disorders that can cause ED and how to treat them.
Heart Disease
So, this is the most life-threatening cause of ED.
John Hopkins Medical Centre published research that suggested that men who have difficulty maintaining of getting erections should first get checked for heart disease, as ED is one of the first warning signs.
This could be due to an issue with blood vessel dilation or may be due to clogged arteries. Either way, if you have a history of heart disease in your family, this will need to be ruled out. Once you are stabilised on your heart medication, you can use medications to help you with your ED, such as Viagra or Tadalafil 5mg tablets. Just be sure to check with your doctor before taking ED medications.
Diabetes
As the number of men being diagnosed with diabetes increases, so does the number of men reporting issues with ED.
The cause of this is linked to nerves and blood vessels becoming damaged by the high levels of blood sugar, and potentially the associated issues that come along with diabetes such as weight. So, if you have diabetes and are suffering from ED, talk to your doctor or healthcare provider. In most cases, you will be able to be prescribed prescription pills, or you may even be given self-injectable prostaglandins to help you to get and keep an erection.
Obesity
OK, it’s time to talk about the link between obesity and ED.
Not to use anecdotal evidence, but the once boastful King Henry VII of the Tudors was noted to be suffering from ED as he became larger, leading them to suspect a link (not that they would tell him) And there was one. Unfortunately, alongside the increase of men being diagnosed with diabetes, there is an increase in men being diagnosed as overweight or obese. This can in turn lead to high insulin levels, higher levels of fat in the blood, and high cholesterol. All of these are bad for getting and maintaining an erection.
While your doctor may opt to put you on medication temporarily, your best bet for treating this is to get regular exercise, to help you get back to a healthy weight. This will help you to feel better physically too, which is also important for getting into the right mood for sex and sexual activities.
Substance Abuse
When talking about substance abuse, this includes things like tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs such as heroin. Obviously, with tobacco, there is a link to high blood pressure and vasoconstriction of the blood vessels which can cause issues with erections, but also fertility in men. If you have an issue with drinking too much, this has a similar impact on your erections. Because you have high levels of ethanol in your blood, your blood vessels are constricted. This means that you will have less blood going to your penis, so, fewer erections.
When it comes to drugs like heroin and others that suppress the central nervous system, this can cause the heart rate to slow down, meaning that the blood flow is slowed too. That means less blood going around the body in general, let alone to the genital region. If you suspect that you have an issue with any substance, then seek the advice of your doctor.
Low Testosterone
As men get older, they go through a period where their testosterone naturally begins to reduce, much like oestrogen does in women. This can cause issues with erections, simply because there is not enough of the associated hormone to feel sexually aroused. Luckily, many doctors are now more than happy to prescribe testosterone shots to men in this age group, which will help you to get and maintain erections, while also helping you to feel in the mood at the same time.
