What Causes Erectile Dysfunction and What Can You Do?

by Rakib Raihan SEO Consultant

Erectile dysfunction - the inability to perform satisfactorily sexually - is experienced by one in five men and is increasingly common with age. The good news is that simple lifestyle changes may be enough to ward off the problem. That's because new research indicates erectile dysfunction is much more common among men with diabetes or other risk factors for heart disease and those who were physically inactive. Regular exercise and a healthy diet may greatly improve erectile dysfunction by reducing the risk factors.

Erectile Dysfunction More Common Than You Think. Many men in mid life find for the first time they are not able to perform as confidently as they did when they were younger.

Most men by age 40 have experienced inconsistent erections, or sometimes only brief erections.  Over 50 per cent of men between 50 and 70 years of age experience varying degrees of erectile dysfunction, though it is not an inevitable consequence of normal aging.

Erectile Dysfunction - You Don't Have to Put Up With It  The great news is there is nothing inevitable about ED. Sex is too important a part of life to just "give up". Research shows maintaining a good sex life (rated as twice a week or more) is actually good for men's health. A top sex expert says in general, men are on a 'five day cycle' where sex is concerned (ie wanting it every five days) - whereas women are more likely to be on a '10 day cycle'. Post-Viagra, there's no need to feel bashful. Men are now more willing to admit to needing a boost and taking action to get it.

Erectile Dysfunction Causes & Treatments  Erectile dysfunction - also dubbed ED - is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance.

Frequent erectile dysfunction can cause emotional and relationship problems, and often leads to diminished self-esteem.

Some form of erectile dysfunction is experienced by:  40 percent of all 40-year-olds  50 percent of all 50-year-olds  60 percent of all 60-year-olds  15 percent are unable obtain any erections at all

Causes of Erectile Dysfunction  7 per cent of erectile dysfunction is caused by disease, particularly:  Diabetes  Kidney disease  Alcoholism  Atherosclerosis  Cardiovascular (angina and myocardial infarction)  Neurological disorders

Between 35 and 50% of men with diabetes experience erectile dysfunction.  10 - 20 percent of erectile dysfunction is caused by psychological factors, notably:  stress  anxiety  depression  guilt  fear of sexual failure  Other causes include pelvic surgery or trauma especially  radical prostate and bladder surgery for cancer  smoking (restricts blood flow in veins and arteries)  Or the side effects from prescription drugs particularly  blood pressure drugs  antihistamines  antidepressants  tranquilizers  appetite suppressants  the stomach ulcer drug cimetidine

Since an erection requires a precise sequence of events, erectile dysfunction can occur when any of the events is disrupted. The sequence includes nerve impulses in the brain, spinal column, and area around the penis, and response.

Many men who experience physical causes for erectile dysfunction also experience psychological symptoms like stress, anxiety, guilt, and depression as a result. Secondary Premature Ejaculation

After years of normal ejaculation, sometimes the duration of intercourse grows progressively shorter. Some men with severe Premature Ejaculation will ejaculate during foreplay, even before penetration. This can be devastating. Secondary Premature Ejaculation is due to physical causes, usually involving the penile arteries or veins or both.

Lifestyle Factors and Erectile Dysfunction

The controllable risk factors for arteriosclerosis like:  Being overweight  Lack of exercise  High cholesterol  Cigarette smoking  High blood pressure

Will often produce erectile failure before progressing to affect the heart.  The heart's coronary arteries are 1.5 - 2.0mm in diameter; the penile arteries are 0.6 - 0.7mm in diameter - one third the size of the coronaries - and can become clogged sooner. Unless there is a change in lifestyle, coronary artery disease may follow impotence within a few years.

What can you do?

Herbal Male Enhancement Products  Herbs that aid normal erections have been known and used for thousands of years, since men first saw the vigor and strength of the most sexually active animals and adopted the natural herbs he saw them grazing on for his own natural male enhancement.

Modern science has identified the key active ingredients in the herbs early man and his stallions and goats ate indiscriminately. Those actives can be isolated, extracted, measured, and encapsulated in natural health products which are tested for guaranteed quality.

Thousands of men and women are discovering the benefits of natural sex boosters like tribulus terrestris, horny goat weed, avena sativa, maca, muira puama, and ginseng, taken as dietary supplements.

Lifestyle Changes to help Reduce Erectile Dysfunction  Change your Prescription Drug  Discuss with your doctor whether an alternative drug would suit your needs and reduce erectile dysfunction side effects.

Deal with Stress  Talk to your doctor about stress, anxiety or depression  Exercise regularly  Eat regular meals low in fat and salt and high in fruit and vegetables  Reduce alcohol intake,  Get adequate sleep, and  Taking steps to deal with personal conflict  Stop smoking  Stop alcohol abuse

Oral Medicines for Male Enhancement  Oral medications for male enhancement have changed the whole arena of men’s sexual health by making it acceptable to admit to erectile dysfunction and seek treatment. The key ones are, Viagra, Levitra and Cialis.

All three medicines work in much the same way - by enhancing the effects of nitric oxide as a chemical messenger that relaxes smooth muscles in the penis, increasing the amount of blood and allowing an erection to sexual stimulation.

If you've had a heart attack, stroke or life-threatening heart rhythm during the last six months or if you are on a nitrate medication, don't take them.

Other Male Enhancement Methods

Method Description  Prostagland in E Needle Injection Therapy : Fine needle injection into the side of the penis producing an erection in five to 20 minutes that lasts about an hour. Side effects can include scarring. The cost per injection can be high.

Vacuum Devices: Self administered pump and vacuum system.

Penile Implants: Not recommended unless other methods have been considered or tried.

Vascular Surgery: Usually reserved for men whose blood flow is blocked in the pelvic area. Long term success of this surgery is unclear.