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Understanding Erectile Dysfunction – |
What Causes Erectile Dysfunction (ED)? |
Before we talk about what causes ED, let's first take a look at how you get an erection.
Here's what happens when you get sexually aroused.
When you see, hear or feel something "sexually stimulating" our brain sends out a signal that makes the muscles in your penis relax. When that happens, two tubes that run the length of your penis (called the corpa cavernosa) fill with blood. Your penis expands and gets hard.
As these tubes expand, they also press against the veins that carry blood out of your penis. Blood becomes trapped in the tubes and your penis stays erect.
It's important to understand the role of blood flow in getting and keeping an erection. In many cases, erectile dysfunction is caused by other health conditions that can restrict the flow of blood throughout your body-including your penis.
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Some men assume that erectile dysfunction is an inevitable part of aging.
It isn't. Erectile dysfunction is usually caused by other health conditions, medicines, or habits that interfere with blood flow. Some of these health conditions occur more commonly as men age—but age itself does not cause erectile dysfunction.
Whatever the cause of your ED, you're not alone. Over 152 million men around the world are experiencing the same symptoms—and the same emotions—that you and your partner may experience as a result of ED.
The good news is that erectile dysfunction can be treated. The list of treatment options keeps growing and includes a new options that most men will find effective and easy to use. Talk to your healthcare professional to find out more about this new treatment option.
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Health conditions
Living a healthy lifestyle—eating right, getting regular exercise, drinking only in moderation, and not smoking—can help you safeguard your sexual health.
Why? Because your health conditions that affect blood flow are among the most common causes of causes of erectile dysfunction.
Conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure restrict your blood flow by causing damage to blood vessels, nerves, smooth muscle, or fibrous tissue involved in getting—and keeping—an erection. Anything you do to keep your heart and blood vessels healthy will help you have a healthy sex life.
Diabetes
Diabetes is considered a common risk factor for risk factor for erectile dysfunction, and many men with diabetes develop ED (they also tend to get it at a younger age than other men do). In addition, men with diabetes are up to four times as likely as other men to develop ED.
High blood pressure
High blood pressure can cause your blood vessels to stiffen or narrow. This can restrict the flow of blood to your penis, leading to erectile dysfunction. In addition, some medicines used to treat high blood pressure can also contribute to erectile dysfunction.
Heart disease and high cholesterol
Like high blood pressure, heart disease and high cholesterol can affect the flow of blood to your penis, leading to erectile dysfunction. Men with heart disease are twice as likely as other men to develop ED.
Depression
Depression, along with stress, anxiety, and fear of failure, can contribute to ED. At the same time, men who experience ED because of a physical cause may also feel depressed, stressed, or anxious.
Prostate surgery
Surgery—especially radical prostate cancer surgery—can inadvertently cause cause erectile dysfunction by injuring nerves and arteries that run near the prostate and act upon the penis.
Other health conditions
Other health conditions that may cause or contribute to erectile dysfunction include:
- Kidney disease
- Chronic alcoholism
- Multiple sclerosis
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Medicines
Some medicines you take for other health problems can cause erectile dysfunction as a side effect. These include some of the medicines used to treat high blood pressure, heart disease, allergies, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and ulcers.
It is important to follow the advice of your doctor or healthcare professional and take your medicines as directed. Talk to your healthcare professional about medicines that can affect your sexual function—sometimes he or she can prescribe a different medicine that may not cause these problems.
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Habits and Lifestyle
Some "lifestyle choices " that can contribute to erection problems include:
Smoking
Smoking damages your arteries. If you smoke cigarettes, it can cause the kind of blood flow problems that make it difficult for you to get and keep an erection. Men who smoke should consider talking to their healthcare professional about ways to quit.
Drinking too much alcohol
While drinking in moderation may have some beneficial effects, drinking too much can lead to erectile dysfunction. In a recent study, men who had more than two drinks a day were shown to be at a higher risk of developing erectile dysfunction than non-drinkers were.
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Now is the time to talk to your healthcare professional about effective and reliable new, treatment options for erectile dysfunction. Ask about these medications if:
- You're exploring your treatment options for the first time
- You've tried other erectile dysfunction treatments treatments and been disappointed with the results
These prescription-only medications work by helping to increase blood flow to the penis—a critical factor in getting and keeping an erection.
Millions of men around the world have used these prescription erectile dysfunction medications safely and effectively. However, they are not right for everyone.
Talk to your healthcare professional—who knows your medical history—to find out if oral medications are right for you. Do not take prescription medications for erectile dysfunction if you are taking a medication that contains nitrates (such as nitroglycerin for chest pains), even if you take the nitrate medication only occasionally. Talk to your health care professional about all safety aspects and exact directions for taking any medicine.
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