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Learn To Tackle Impotence

Posted by on Friday, June 13, 2008, 0:32
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Learn To Tackle Impotence (Erectile Dysfunction)

Erectile dysfunction (ED), also known as impotence, is the inability to achieve or sustain an erection for attaining Sexual pleasure. It is also known as an inability to achieve or maintain erection with sufficient rigidity and duration to permit satisfactory sexual performance is an age dependent disorder. Erectile dysfunction is different from other conditions that interfere with sexual intercourse, such as lack of sexual desire and problems with ejaculation and orgasm.

The word “impotence” may also be used to describe other problems that interfere with sexual intercourse and reproduction, such as:

  • Lack of sexual desire
  • Problems with ejaculation or orgasm.

erectile dysfunctionOccurrence Rate of Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction varies from people to people; some men have a total inability to achieve an erection, others have an inconsistent ability to achieve an erection, and still others can sustain only brief erections. The prevalence of complete ED in healthy men triples from 5% at 40 years to 15% at 70. ED is more prevalent in patients with other associated medical conditions such as diabetes mellitus, heart disease, hypertension and cigarette smoking. The variations in severity of erectile dysfunction make estimating its frequency difficult. Many men also are reluctant to discuss erectile dysfunction with their doctors, and thus the condition is under-diagnosed. Nevertheless, experts have estimated that erectile dysfunction affects 30 million men in the Untied States.

While erectile dysfunction can occur at any age, it is uncommon among young men and more common in the elderly. By age 45, most men have experienced erectile dysfunction at least some of the time.

Main causes of erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction due to a number of reasons. They may include Aging, Cigarette Smoking and Diabetes etc. A brief description about these points follows-

  • Aging: Older men are more likely to develop diseases that are associated with erectile dysfunction. The aging process alone can cause erectile dysfunction in some men; primarily by decreasing the compliance of the tissues in the corpora cavernosa.
  • Cigarette smoking: Cigarette smoking aggravates atherosclerosis and thereby increases the risk for erectile dysfunction
  • Diabetes mellitus: Erectile dysfunction tends to develop 10-15 years earlier in diabetic men than among non-diabetic men. Diabetes mellitus also causes erectile dysfunction by damaging both sensory and autonomic nerves, a condition called diabetic neuropathy. Smoking cigarettes, obesity, poor control of blood glucose levels, and having diabetes mellitus for a long time further increases the risk of erectile dysfunction in diabetes.
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure): People with hypertension have an increased risk of developing erectile dysfunction. Patients with essential hypertension have been found to have low production of nitric oxide by the arteries of the body, including the arteries in the penis.
  • Cardiovascular diseases: The most common cause of cardiovascular diseases in the United States is atherosclerosis, the narrowing and hardening of arteries that reduces blood flow. There is a close correlation between the severity of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries and erectile dysfunction. Some doctors suggest that men with new onset erectile dysfunction should be evaluated for silent coronary artery diseases.
  • Nerve or spinal cord damage: Nerve damage can be due to disease, trauma, or surgical procedures. Damage to the spinal cord and nerves in the pelvis can cause erectile dysfunction.
  • Substance abuse: Drugs such Marijuana, heroin, cocaine, and alcohol abuse contribute to erectile dysfunction. Alcoholism, in addition to causing nerve damage, can lead to atrophy of the testicles and lower testosterone levels
  • Low testosterone levels: Testosterone (the primary sex hormone in men) is not only necessary for sex drive (libido) but also is necessary to maintain nitric oxide levels in the penis. Therefore, men with hypogonadism can have low sex drive and erectile dysfunction.
  • Medications: Many common medicines produce erectile dysfunction as a side effect. Medicines that can cause erectile dysfunction include many used to treat high blood pressure, antihistamines, antidepressants, tranquilizers, and appetite suppressants.
  • Depression and anxiety: Psychological factors may be responsible for erectile dysfunction. These factors include stress, anxiety, guilt, depression, low self-esteem, and fear of sexual failure.

Treatments for erectile dysfunction

Working with doctors to select medications that do not impair erectile function,

  • Making life style improvements (for example; quitting smoking, and exercising more),
  • Drugs such as Kamagra, Sildenafil Citrate, Generic Viagra.
  • Inserting medications into the urethra.
  • medications into the corpora cavernosae
  • Vacuum constrictive devices for the penis
  • Penile prostheses, and
  • Psychotherapy.

Adjusting medications

Many common medications for treating hypertension, depression, and high blood lipids can contribute to erectile dysfunction (see above). Treatment of hypertension is an example. There are many different types (classes) of anti-hypertensive medications (medications that lower blood pressure); these include beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, diuretics (medications that increase urine volume), angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors), and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). Anti-hypertensives and. Different classes of anti-hypertensives have different effects on erectile function. Inderal (a beta blocker) and hydrochlorothiazide (a diuretic) are known to cause erectile dysfunction, while calcium channel blockers and ACE inhibitors do not seem to affect erectile function.Choosing an optimal anti-hypertensive combination is an important part of treating erectile dysfunction.

Lifestyle improvements

Quitting smoking, exercising regularly, losing excess weight, curtailing excessive alcohol consumption, controlling hypertension, and optimizing blood glucose levels in patients with diabetes are not only important for maintaining good health but also may improve erectile function. Some studies suggest that men who have made lifestyle improvements experience increased rates of success with oral medications.