Erectile Dysfunction

What Causes Erectile Dysfunction and What Can You Do?

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 yars 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.

• 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.
  

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, 
• 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 mens 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

Prostaglandin 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.