Cause Your Health Counts

WHAT IS ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION?

Also referred to as impotence, Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the consistent inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse. ED is the most common male sexual disorder, affecting almost 30 million men in the United States alone. While many men may experience occasional problems achieving an erection, ED is a persistent problem that consistently interferes with a man’s normal sexual activity. ED is a progressive disorder and will worsen without treatment of underlying causes.

ARE YOU AT RISK?

Although some men never develop Erectile dysfunction, the chance of being affected by it increases with age. ED can also become more severe as a man gets older. According to the 1987 Massachusetts Male Aging Study (MMAS) 40% of men had ED at age 40 and 67% had ED at age 70. Men with chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes, and men with depression are at increased risk.

WHAT CAUSES ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION?

ED is caused by physical and psychological factors or often by a mixture of both. The most common causes are impairment of normal blood flow in the male organ and/or damage to its nerves. Cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol can lead to ED. A healthy nervous system is required for normal erectile function. ED can result when nerves that are needed for erection become damaged or injured by trauma or by certain diseases. Pelvic procedures, particularly surgical removal of the prostate gland and radiation therapy for prostate cancer, can injure nerves and cause ED.

DIABETES AND ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

Diabetes, which can lead to damage of blood vessels and nerves, is one of the leading causes of ED. It is estimated that about half of all men with diabetes have ED.

MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

Psychological problems linked to Erectile dysfunction include generalized or performance anxiety, depression, stress, guilt, relationship conflicts. While psychological factors alone can cause ED, many men with ED due to physical causes experience depression, guilt, low self-esteem, and anxiety, which can make the condition worse.

MEDICATIONS

It is thought that some medications can cause erectile problems. The exact mechanism by which many of these medications can cause Erectile dysfunction is not known. Common medications that may cause ED include certain drugs used for the treatment of high blood pressure and depression. If you are taking one of those medications, it is important to continue taking it and to talk to your physician to determine if the medication has a link to ED.

SMOKING, ALCOHOL AND DRUGS

Long term and/or heavy alcohol, cigarettes, and recreational drugs use can lead to Erectile dysfunction. Smoking can cause damage to the blood vessels throughout the body. Chronic alcoholism can affect erectile function through changes in hormone processing and damage to the nerves that control an erection.

LIFESTYLE

Lifestyle factors, including being overweight and lack of exercise are also often associated with Erectile dysfunction.

THE GOOD NEWS

The good news is that Erectile dysfunction is successfully treated 95% of the time. Therefore, it is important for a man experiencing problems with erection to discuss the issue with his physician. The doctor can then determine if ED is present and what might be the cause. This is especially important because ED may have a serious underlying cause such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease.