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Men who suffer with erectile dysfunction are unable to achieve or maintain an erection long enough or firm enough to engage in sexual intercourse. While many people assume that erectile dysfunction is an inevitable part of ageing, this is not always the case. The fact is that there may be a number of reasons why men suffer with this health condition.
While getting older can increase your chances of suffering from erectile dysfunction, it doesn’t mean that you’re destined to develop the condition. Keep reading below to find out everything you need to know about erectile dysfunction and what the main causes of it are.
What is Erectile Dysfunction?
In order for a man to become sexually aroused, a number of complex and precise sequences of events need to take place in the body:
- The brain activates nerves in the penis
- The muscles in the penis relax
- Blood is then able to flow from the arteries to fill up the gaps in the tissue
- Increased blood flow makes the penis expand
- The membranes surrounding the spongy tissue maintain the erection
Anything disrupting this sequence can result in the inability to keep or to have an erection long enough to engage in sexual intercourse. This is known as erectile dysfunction.
The Main Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is not an inevitable part of getting older. Although ED’s frequency does increase with age, it isn’t as inevitable as you may think and it’s treatable regardless of how old you are.
In fact, erectile dysfunction can have many causes that aren’t related to getting older. Any one of these physical causes can disrupt the sequence of physiological changes that allow you to get an erection:
- Diabetes – this can damage the nerves that signal the increased blood flow to the penis and surrounding area. Men with type 2 diabetes are also 50% more likely to have lower testosterone than men who don’t have diabetes.
- Obesity.
- Hypertension (high blood pressure).
- Heart disease.
- Enlarged prostate.
- Low testosterone – testosterone can affect a person’s energy levels and sex drive. This can have an impact on the arousal impulses in the brain.
- Sleep apnoea or other sleep disorders.
- Parkinson’s disease.
- Multiple sclerosis.
Erectile dysfunction can also be caused by:
- Anxiety.
- Depression.
- Prescription medications – including calcium channel blockers, antihistamines, hormone therapy, high blood pressure medications and antidepressants.
- Consuming large amounts of alcohol – alcohol can slow the nerve communications within your body. This can affect physical coordination and arousal signals.
- Smoking tobacco – tobacco not only impairs sexual function, but it can also restrict blood flow and cause other serious diseases.
Treatments for Erectile Dysfunction
In order to reduce your chances of suffering with erectile dysfunction there are some simple changes you could make to your lifestyle. For example, you could:
- Stop smoking
- Lose weight
- Improve your relationships
- Learn how to better deal with stress
But these aren’t the only options available. If you’re suffering with erectile dysfunction then you could consider taking an oral medication like Sildenafil, Tadalafil, Viagra or Finasteride. These medications from a reputable site like Chemist Click can help you achieve and maintain an erection so that you can engage in sexual intercourse. If you’re interested in learning about the different types of medication available, then you can read more here.
The chances of suffering with erectile dysfunction can increase with age thanks to the naturally decreasing levels of testosterone in the body. Still, age and testosterone aren’t the only factors in achieving an erection. In actual fact, the majority of people who suffer with this condition don’t suffer with it because of their age; instead, it’s a consequence of their other underlying medical issues. Once you’ve identified what’s causing your erectile dysfunction, you’ll be able to treat it more effectively and get back to being a healthier, happier you.
