What Is Erectile Dysfunction And Why Knowing It At Early Stage Could Save A Life

Erectile dysfunction is commonly known as impotence affecting 15 to 30 million men in America, plus over 140 million men globally.

In the past, it was estimated that only 10% of men who suffered ED seek medical treatment while the vast majority of other men simply live with it. Perhaps, they keep in silent due to embarrassment, fear or because of a mistaken belief that ED cannot be treated.

ED (Erectile Dysfunction)
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At present, it estimated that around 60% of men who are affected with erectile dysfunction seek medical treatment. Those who simply live with it experience boring and unhealthy sexual relationships and diminished self-esteem.

Erectile dysfunction is a health problem and treatable. Therefore, seeking medical help or treatment is crucial to more than just one’s sex life.

Erectile dysfunction is characterized by the inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis during a sexual performance, and can be caused by either physical or psychological factors, or could be the result of certain combinations of the two.

Symptoms To Look For When Diagnosing ED

Difficulty developing or maintaining an erection 1 in every 4 times during sexual during sexual contact, or a problem persisting for over a period of one month.

A longer than normal time in achieving an erection or difficulty maintaining an erection in certain positions. Erections becoming weaker or less rigid. Maintaining an erection becomes a conscious effort. Morning erections become less frequent or less rigid.

Symptoms Linked With Erectile Dysfunction
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The most common causes of erectile dysfunction are attributed to physical factors. The majority of all ED cases about 80% can be traced to physical problems with over half of those being vascular and non-vascular diseases.

Vascular diseases inhibit healthy blood flow causing the condition known as vascular insufficiency, and the most common causes of vascular insufficiency are;

  • Diabetes
  • Hypertension
  • High blood cholesterol
  • Cardiac diseases
  • Smoking or chewing tobacco
  • Poor overall circulation

Certain medications can also exacerbate the condition. Consult your doctor before the use of any medications that you believed that could be a possibility. There are also less common physical causes or factors that can be attributed to erectile dysfunctions such as;

  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Stroke
  • Parkinson’s Disease

A physician will be able to help the patient pinpoint what could be causing difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection.

Psychological Erectile Dysfunction

Twenty percent(20%) of erectile dysfunction cases are psychological in nature. A surge of adrenaline in the body, which reduces blood flow to the penile area caused by nervousness, performance anxiety, and fear of failure during sexual performance can result in erectile difficulty.

Psychological Factors Causing Erectile Dysfunction
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This condition can be so perpetuating after several episodes of repeated failure. The body associates adrenaline with sexual arousal, which produces a difficult cycle to break without treatment.

Psychological ED happens when you have difficulty maintaining an erection with one partner and not another, or if you are able to maintain an erection in the morning or during masturbation but not with a partner. This can also be seen on younger patients with the history of unstable relationships or traumatic experiences in the past.

While the majority of people who suffered from erectile dysfunctions can be attributed to physical or psychological factors, there is a small percentage of patients who are otherwise healthy.

As men aged, their circulation diminishes due to partial blockage of arteries. The penis is an end artery and the diminished circulation could be the possible cause of ED in certain cases.

ED Treatments/Medications
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Treatments and Prevention

There are many different treatments for patients with ED based on the initial cause of the problem, such as;

  • Live a healthier lifestyle simply by;
    • Quitting smoking
    • Exercising regularly
    • Reducing stress
    • TRT, or testosterone replacement therapy
    • Erectile dysfunction medications
  • Combination drug therapy
  • Penile pumps like Bathmate and Penomet
  • Penile implant surgery
  • Psychotherapy

A physician will be able to discuss treatment with the patient during the scheduled appointment. It is very important just like with any medical condition that erectile dysfunction is treated properly. The sooner the condition is diagnosed, the better the outcome and more efficient the treatment is.

Risks Of Erectile Dysfunction Medications

ED can also be the first warning sign of heart disease. Making an appointment with a local physician could possibly help catch heart disease in the early and easier to treat stages while also treating ED.

Early treatment can help in fixing the underlying problem before it can be exacerbated. Another effect of ED if left untreated is that a penis can develop a condition known as Disuse Atrophy. This occurs when the organ has a progressive loss of function via the loss of healthy tissue due to the lack of use.

Moreover, ED if left untreated can have adverse effects not only on physical health but mental health, as well. A fulfilling sex life can lead to high satisfaction and other aspects of life including social, family, and work environments.

Detailed Video Explaining ED

Can Penis Pumps Help Men With ED?

One of the treatments for ED that can be done at home is through the use of penis pumps. There are two types of penis pumps; one is the air vacuum penis pumps. Air vacuum pumps are the original vacuum erection aid device.

The second one, which is first popularized by Bathmate(mentioned earlier) is the water-based vacuum pressure pump also known as hydro penis pumps.

The water-based or hydro pumps are primarily designed for penis enlargement purposes, but can also be used as an erection aid device, just like the air vacuum pumps.

However, whether you choose pump or medications, it is vital to consult your doctor in order to diagnose the underlying causes of the problem.

Also, check out and listen to an interview with a Urologist about how hydro pump like Bathmate can be useful to penile health maintenance.

It is also worth noting, when a penis pump(air or hydro) is used as an erection aid for the purpose of sexual intercourse on men with ED, constriction or penis ring is required in order to keep the blood inside the penis for sustaining erection throughout the duration of the intercourse.

Why Addressing ED Early Saves Lives?

In an interview with Terry Mason, M.D. on Fork Over Knives documentary, he says that erectile dysfunction is first clinical indicator generalized cardiovascular disease. Dr. Mason added that the risk factors for erectile dysfunction are the same with heart disease.

This because inside the penis has the highest per cross-section area of specialized cells called endothelial cells. These cells are responsible for the initiation of increased blood flow and storage of blood in the penis to create an erection.

The diseases that damaged the endothelial cells include diabetes, high blood pressure, elevated bad cholesterol and things of that nature. If you want to decrease the bad cholesterol level, it is vital to do total healthy lifestyle changes prior to getting on medicine.

According to Terry Mason, the guidelines on this is clear. He also mentioned that when vascular disease is found in one area of the body, it means it is on the entire body.

Normally, what happens is that we wait for symptoms. Unfortunately, symptoms don’t occur until a severe vascular disease is already there.

Therefore, erectile dysfunction is the first sign that a person has a significant endothelial, vascular or blood vessel disease much earlier than a heart attack or something like that will occur. Oftentimes, the first sign of a heart problem might be a fatal heart attack.

When it comes to total lifestyle changes, he recommends along with other doctors in that documentary is to go on a plan-based diet. But, of course, as we know, adding healthy fats can be helpful on one’s overall lifestyle eating habits.

The key is “healthy fats and oils” and not just any kind of oils especially vegetable or even worse hydrogenated oils. And, don’t forget exercise as part of the total healthy lifestyle change.

Additional Resources On ED

Physician Lecture On Erectile Dysfunction

Disclaimer: The information in this article is provided for information purposes and not a substitute for medical advice from a professional medical practitioner. Any questions or concerns regarding the condition see or consult a physician/urologist.

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Readers Comments, Discussions and Questions

  1. Good putting!
    Indeed, natural alternatives are very effective for the treatment of ED. Before you commence your herbal remedies for erectile dysfunction, it is advisable to visit your doctor for consultation. He or she is in the best position to let you know the extent of the condition and how quickly it will be to rectify it if a strict instruction of your doctor is adhered to.

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