Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common condition that affects around 20 million Americans. It occurs when a person cannot achieve a full erection on a regular basis. ED can be caused by physical problems such as heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and smoking. Mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, stress, and relationship problems can also interfere with sexual feelings.
The brain is an erogenous zone that is often overlooked. Sexual arousal starts in the head and goes down. Depression can decrease desire and cause erectile dysfunction. Unfortunately, many of the medications used to treat depression can also suppress sexual desire and make it difficult to get an erection, and can cause a delay in orgasm.
Alcohol consumption can interfere with erections, but the effects are usually temporary. Moderate drinking (one or two drinks a day) may have health benefits, such as reducing the risk of heart disease. Illicit drugs such as amphetamine, cocaine and marijuana can also cause sexual problems in men. Certain medications can cause erectile dysfunction, including certain blood pressure medications, pain relievers and antidepressants.
Don't stop taking any medications without first talking to your doctor. Stress can affect many different parts of the body, including the penis. Tackle stress by making lifestyle changes that promote well-being and relaxation, such as exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and seeking professional help when appropriate.Anger can cause blood to reach your face, but not the only place you need it when you want to have sex. Unexpressed anger or poorly expressed anger can contribute to performance problems in the bedroom.
Worrying about not being able to act in bed can make it difficult for you to do just that. Anxiety from other parts of life can also spread to the bedroom.Low self-esteem can cause you to worry not only about your appearance, but also about your performance in bed. That performance anxiety can make you too anxious to even try to have sex. Low libido isn't the same as erectile dysfunction, but many of the same factors that stifle an erection can also decrease your interest in sex.Erections mainly affect the blood vessels and the most common causes of erectile dysfunction in older men are conditions that block blood flow to the penis such as hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and diabetes.
Other disorders, as well as hormonal imbalances and certain operations, can also cause erectile dysfunction.Education about sex, sexual behaviors, and sexual responses can help a man overcome his anxieties about sexual dysfunction. Therapy with a trained counselor can help a person address feelings of anxiety, fear or guilt that may have an impact on sexual dysfunction.While it takes longer to get aroused as you age, regular erectile dysfunction deserves medical attention. The results of these tests will help determine if your erectile dysfunction is physical or mental. Doctors also often use medications such as sildenafil (sold as Viagra) to treat erectile dysfunction.Erectile dysfunction pills that people can buy online without a prescription may contain harmful ingredients that the label doesn't indicate.
Debunking myths about masturbation and erectile dysfunction and learning more about the causes and treatments of ED is important.
