Just like the stock market & foreign cars, erections in men are mysterious that work in their way. When they don’t occur, it can be sad, at the very least. Low blood flow, typically because vessels that supply blood to the penile have narrowed, is often the reason for erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. Emotional problems are commonly at the root of it for young men. It happens to many men on a timely basis. But if it happens to you more often than half the time you have sexual sessions, talk to your doctor.
Is the Problem in your Head?
Probably not. Many cases of poor erections are caused by physical issues alone or in combination with emotional ones. Just about any condition that affects your nerves or blood vessels could hurt your ability to achieve erections. High blood pressure, heart disorders, multiple sclerosis, kidney disorders, and diabetes can all lead to poor erections in men. Over 50% of men suffering from diabetes find themselves in such situations.
Hormonal problems like low testosterone levels can also factor in, more often for old men. Treatments of prostate cancer involving surgery & radiation may be the culprit as well. If you have erections in the morning, the problem probably isn’t physical. Stress, anxiety, and also depression can cause ED. Discuss with your doctor your symptoms. They may want to run a few tests to help figure out what’s going on.
Can You Blame My Medicines?
This can be the reason. Many types of medications, such as blood pressure drugs (especially beta-blockers) and a few antidepressants, can make it difficult to achieve an erection. If you think your oral medication may be causing your problem, don’t just stop consuming it. Discuss with your doctor. You may need to switch to something very different or consider taking an ED medication.
Could My Lifestyle Play a Role?
Being overweight, getting a little exercise, and smoking can work against the blood flow that is key to erections. Alcohol consumption can also lead you to ED, better to stop consuming alcohol and quit all the habits that might not allow you to achieve an erection by any chance.
How About the Age Factor?
Aging doesn’t cause poor erections, but the problem is common in old men. It may take longer to gain an erection, and you may need more touching & also foreplay. About 4% of men in their 50s and almost 17% in their 60s are not able to achieve erections. About half of the men old than 75 are quite seriously affected. Treatments can help men irrespective of their age.
What Can be Done?
Experts agree: If you smoke, stop. Get your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels under control and get them tested at regular intervals. Then discuss with your doctor about your options.
ED medications can often help whether your problem is performance anxiety or poor blood flow. Self-injections, vacuum devices, and injection pumps implanted under the skin are other options to boost your response to erections. If your testosterone is reduced, replacement therapy may surely be helpful, though it won’t necessarily solve the ED issue. Counseling can help you through any relationship or emotional difficulties you may be facing. Keep your partner informed about your erection issues and the treatment that you are currently taking, because impotency affects both of you.
Causes
Sexual stimulation in men is a complex process that involves the brain, hormones, emotions, nerves, muscles, and blood vessels. ED can result from a problem with any of these mentioned lists. Likewise, stress & mental health concerns can worsen erectile dysfunction in men.
At times a combination of physical & psychological factors causes erectile dysfunction in men. For instance, a small physical condition that slows your sexual response might cause anxiety about sustaining an erection. The resulting anxiety can lead to or worsen poor erections.
Physical causes of erectile dysfunction
In most cases, impotency or ED is caused by something physical. A few common causes involve:
- Heart disease
- Clogged blood vessels (atherosclerosis)
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Obesity
Psychological causes of erectile dysfunction
The brain plays an important role in triggering a series of physical events that cause an erection, starting with feelings of sexual excitement. Many things can interfere with sexual feelings and cause or worsen ED. These involve:
- Depression, anxiety, or mental health conditions
- Stress
- Relationship problems because of stress, poor communication, or other concerns.
Risk factors
- As you get older with age, erections take longer time to develop and might not be as erect. You might need a more direct touch to your penile to achieve and maintain an erection.
- Many factors can contribute to erectile dysfunction, which involves:
- Medical conditions, like diabetes or heart conditions.
- Tobacco, which restricts blood flow to veins and arteries, can cause chronic health conditions leading to erectile dysfunction.
- Being overweight, especially if you’re obese.
- Medical treatments, like prostate surgery or radiation treatment for cancer.
- Injuries, particularly if they damage the nerves or arteries that control erections.
- Medications, including antidepressants, antihistamines, & oral medications to treat high blood pressure, and pain.
- Psychological situations, like stress, anxiety, or depression.
- Drug & alcohol consumption, if you’re a long-term drug user or heavy drinker.
Prevention
The perfect way to prevent impotency is to make necessary lifestyle choices and manage them if you are suffering from any kind of existing health condition. For example:
- Discuss with your doctor to manage diabetes, heart disorder, or other chronic health conditions.
- See your doctor for daily check-ups & medical screening tests.
- Stop smoking, limit or avoid alcohol consumption, and don’t use illegal drugs.
- Exercise daily.
- Take steps to cut down stress.
- Get help for anxiety, depression, or other mental health concerns.
