What Is Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction or impotence is a persistent inability to achieve or maintain penile erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance.
There can be several contributing factors to impotence. These include both emotional and physical disorders. Understanding the most common potential causes can help a man identify why he may be experiencing the condition.
1. Endocrine Diseases
The body’s endocrine system produces hormones that regulate metabolism, sexual function, reproduction, mood, and much more. Hypogonadism from testicular or pituitary dysfunction may lead to impotence from a deficient secretion of androgens ( primarily testosterone ). Thyroid dysfunction may also cause impotence because this organ plays an important role in regulating the sex hormone.
Diabetes is a condition that is caused by too much glucose (sugar) in the blood. It can affect the nerve endings and blood supply in the penis, making it difficult to get an erection.
2. Neurological and Nerve Disorders
Several neurologic conditions can increase the risk for impotence. Nerve conditions affect the brain’s ability to communicate with the reproductive system. This can prevent a man from achieving an erection.
Neurological disorders associated with impotence include:
stroke
temporal lobe epilepsy
Alzheimer’s disease
brain or spinal tumors
multiple sclerosis
Men who have undergone prostate gland surgery can also experience nerve damage that causes impotence.
3. Medicinal Causes
In some men, taking certain medicines can affect blood flow, causing ED. Examples of medications known to cause impotence include:
central nervous system stimulants, such as cocaine or amphetamines
diuretics, such as furosemide (Lasix) and spironolactone (Aldactone)
synthetic hormones, such as leuprolide (Eligard)
alpha-adrenergic blockers, including tamsulosin (Flomax)
beta-blockers, such as carvedilol (Coreg) and metoprolol (Lopressor)
cancer chemotherapy medications, and more.
It is important to talk to your doctor if you are concerned about a prescribed medicine causing ED. However, it is also important that you never stop taking a prescribed medicine unless you are advised to do so by your doctor who is responsible for your care.
4. Cardiac-Related Conditions
ED is strongly associated with cardiovascular disease. Conditions that affect the heart and its ability to pump blood well can cause impotence. A man cannot achieve an erection without enough blood flow to the penis. This may be one of the first causes that your doctor considers while making a diagnosis and planning your treatment.
Atherosclerosis is a condition that clogs the blood vessels, thus causing impotence. High cholesterol and high blood pressure (hypertension) are also associated with increased risks for impotence. High cholesterol or high blood pressure can damage the blood vessels, including those that supply blood to the penis.
5. Lifestyle Factors and Emotional Disorders
For many men, it is a few poor habits that are responsible. For a man, it is important first to go through the excitement phase to achieve an erection. This phase can be an emotional response. If a man suffers from any emotional disorder, it can affect his ability to become sexually excited.
There are several psychological causes of ED, which can be harder to detect, diagnose and treat. Anxiety, a feeling of unease, like worry or fear, is one of the main psychological causes of ED. It can lead to increased heart rate, blood pressure, and fatigue. Combined with anxiety, it can affect sexual functioning. Stress can also cause ED. Work pressure or relationship problems can all lead to ED. Emotional problems, related to relationship difficulties can affect the sexual relationship of the couple. Depression can be linked to both of these problems and also cause ED. Depression is usually caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. It can affect not just sexual function but also sexual desire. Combinations of physical and psychological conditions are often the culprits for ED. Having one episode where you are unable to get or maintain an erection can hugely increase the stress and anxiety you feel, and lower self-esteem, and so can lead to a vicious circle.
Drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines can also cause impotence. Alcohol abuse and alcoholism can also affect a man’s ability to achieve or maintain an erection. It is necessary to see a doctor if you suspect you may have a substance abuse problem.
Impotence can change a man’s life and affect his self-esteem. However, many interventions exist that can help a man regain his sexual function. Many ed pills online can help treat the problem. You can buy suhagra online, which is a drug that helps relax muscles and increase blood supply to specific areas of the body. It is effective in treating erectile dysfunction or impotence in men. You can buy suhagra online easily, saving yourself the trouble of having to ask it over the counter from a local pharmacy.