Erectile dysfunction is a condition that affects many men, and it can be caused by a variety of physical and psychological factors. Physical issues such as heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and smoking can all lead to erectile dysfunction. Additionally, depression, anxiety, stress, relationship problems, and other mental health issues can interfere with sexual feelings. Generally speaking, physical causes of erection problems are more common in older men.
These issues occur due to disorders that can affect the nerves and blood vessels responsible for causing an erection.Chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease can also be the source of erectile dysfunction. In some cases, prescription drugs used to treat these conditions may be the cause. If you have a chronic condition, it is important to speak with your doctor about the best prevention methods. The penis hardens as it gets more blood from the body, but it stays hard by trapping that blood and preventing it from leaving the penis.Young men may experience good erections but are unable to maintain them due to venous leakage.
This means that blood cannot be prevented from leaving the penis as soon as it enters. A Doppler ultrasound of the penis can help determine if this is the case. Fortunately, this is a treatable condition.In addition to chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, atherosclerosis can also be a cause of erectile dysfunction. Atherosclerosis is the narrowing of blood vessels in all parts of the body and is thought to be one of the most common causes of erectile dysfunction.
It is also a warning sign of a potential future heart attack or stroke.Other medical conditions that put men at risk for erectile dysfunction include diabetes, chronic kidney disease, multiple sclerosis, and Peyronie's disease. Physical causes account for 90 percent of erectile dysfunction cases, while psychological causes are much less common. Psychological factors such as treatable mental health illnesses or everyday emotional states can contribute to erectile dysfunction.To diagnose the cause of weak erection, your doctor may perform tests to detect heart problems, diabetes, and low testosterone levels. They will also perform a physical exam including the genitals.
Erectile dysfunction may be caused by physical factors such as high cholesterol levels or psychological reasons such as anxiety about sexual performance.
