Erectile dysfunction refers to the inability of a man to get and maintain a firm erection. It is also sometimes referred to as impotence. ED is quite a common problem and can occur on an occasional basis, including in healthy men. Men aged around 40 years and over are the most commonly affected by ED. It should be more of a concern if the erection trouble occurs too frequently or is ongoing.
Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
ED can be a very sensitive subject, but getting a clear understanding of what causes it will help you solve the problem. The causes usually vary from one man to another, but the most common causes are highlighted below.
Cardiovascular Problems
There are several cardiovascular conditions which can result in erection problems. ED is, in fact, one of the signifiers of some cardiovascular-related health problems. Blood pumping into your penis is what causes your erection. This means that any condition that affects the flow of blood may affect the quality of your erection. For example, having too much cholesterol in the arteries may restrict blood flow, which in turn results in ED. High blood pressure, heart disease, and atherosclerosis are some examples of the cardiovascular conditions that can result in ED.
Medication
There are various types of medication which can affect your ability to get or maintain an erection by reducing libido and interfering with normal blood flow. Examples include antidepressants, anti-cancer drugs, tranquilizers, estrogen, and high blood pressure medications, among many others. If medication is the cause of your erection problems, you should not stop your prescription. Instead, consult your physician to determine whether you can replace your medications with others that do not have such side effects.
Recreational Drugs
A majority of recreational drugs can also play a part in causing ED. This includes the most popular ones such as marijuana, cocaine, alcohol, amphetamines, opiates, barbiturates, nicotine, and methadone, among many others. The drugs cause ED by suppressing and affecting the central nervous system. They can also cause damage to blood vessels, which interfere with blood flow and leads to ED. A single use of any of these recreational drugs can be enough to cause ED, with chronic use increasing the risk quite significantly.
Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes mellitus in older men is another major cause of ED. This is because diabetes can result in several vascular complications in many parts of the body, including the penis. Diabetes can also destroy nerves, including those that are essential for an erection.
Psychological Conditions
There are various psychological conditions which are associated with erectile dysfunction – depression, stress, and anxiety being the most common ones. As a man, you need to be emotionally ready and have feelings of sexual excitement to get an erection. Stress, anxiety, and depression can interfere with sexual feelings, resulting in an erection problem. Resolving your emotional disorders, perhaps by seeing a therapist, is the best way to treat ED that is caused by psychological conditions.
Physical Injury
Working out can be quite beneficial to your health. However, there are some chances that you can injure your penis during the workout, which can result in ED. Physical injury to various other parts of the lower body, and not necessarily the penis, can also cause erection problems. For serious injuries, you need to see your physician for treatment and recuperate in order to resolve your erection problem.
Peyronie’s Disease
Peyronie’s disease is a condition that causes the penis to curve because of hardened scar tissue inside the penis. With the disease, you might experience a lot of discomfort and pain when you get an erection. There are several medicines available to treat the disease, and surgery is an option in severe cases.
You should not be embarrassed by erectile dysfunction. It is a problem that affects nearly all men at some point and can be treated successfully. You simply need to consult with your doctor to determine the cause of the problem and the best treatment options.
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