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Men's Health >
Libido > Penis Medical Conditions > Erectile Dysfunction/ Impotence
Is the regular
or irregular inability to achieve and/
or maintain an erect penis for sufficient time to complete
intercourse to satisfaction for either man and woman.
This is a common
problem affecting as many as 10 million men in the United States. By
the time most men are 40 they have already experienced impotence at
some time in their lives.
It has been reported in medical journals that
impotence affects between 10 - 20 percent of all men
in Western countries and 20 percent of these may be
considered chronic with about half of all adult men
in the world experiencing occasional impotence. ED or impotence
affects older men more than younger men.
When just a
single incident occurs, the best thing to do is forget about it.
Problems arise when this difficulty starts occurring regularly. According to an
article published in early 1993 (review: Morley, 1993),
approximately 10 million men in the U.S.
have problems with impotence.
Men afflicted
with repeated impotence tend to be middle-aged and older, with such
a condition most common in men 60 years of age and older. Regardless
of the age, however, many men who have this problem can be treated
successfully.
Impotence can
result from a wide variety of problems. As with any other ailment,
when a person begins having this problem repeatedly, he needs to see
a doctor. The doctor will want to rule out the possibility of
disease, injury, or side effects from medicine.
For example,
cardiovascular problems, diabetes, injuries to the spinal column,
and side effects from high blood pressure medicine are among the
physical conditions that can lead to impotence. An erection occurs
when the nervous system activates a rapid increase in blood flow.
The vascular muscle in the spongy area becomes engorged with blood
and outflow of blood is cutoff. Erection can be elicited by the
so-called reflex erection as we see in spinal cord patients, or can
be caused by psychogenic stimulation. Numerous sexual stimuli are
processed by the brain and transmitted to the penis via the nervous
system. In order to get an erection, the blood flow must increase
and, at the same time, the blood has to be prevented from leaving
the penis.
Note that impotence should not be
confused with male infertility. They are two totally
different conditions; a man unable to maintain an
erection may be perfectly normal in every other way
including the fathering children.
SYMPTOMS
Some
of the symptoms are:
- A
lack in sexual confidence or interest in sex
- A
change in the quality of erections.
- The
inability to have or maintain an erection
- Failure to have an erection upon waking up in the morning.
- Persistence
of the disorder for more than three months.
CAUSES
The
most common causes are:
- Any Stress factors such as performance anxiety, boredom,
depression, low self-esteem.
- Difficulties
and unresolved tensions within relationships.
- Processed
and convenience foods are a major cause of a
great many health disorders.
- Diseases
like diabetes, kidney disease, chronic
alcoholism, multiple sclerosis,
atherosclerosis and vascular disease.
- Cardiovascular problems and side
effects from high blood pressure medicine.
- Injuries to the spinal column
- Surgery
(prostatectomy, orchiectomy, radiation
therapy or penile implants) which may have
damaged nerves and arteries near the penis.
- Medications
like antihistamines,
antidepressants, tranquillisers and appetite
suppressants.
- Smoking and drug use
- Hormonal deficiencies.
- Excessive
consumption of alcohol.
- Neurological
problems (injury, trauma or disease)
PREVENTION
Erectile
Dysfunction often increases progressively with age
and yet it is not an inevitable consequence of aging.
The following steps can be taken to minimise the
risks of erectile dysfunction:
- Learn to manage the stresses in life.
- Keep
your relationships healthy and vibrant in
every way.
- Eat
well and take regular exercise
- Exercise and massages to help keep the whole body in tune.
- Sex
education, understanding your body and
sexuality will assist.
- Avoid
excessive smoking and alcohol consumption.
DIAGNOSIS
There
are numerous methods of diagnosing this condition
which differ around the world:
Typically
a doctor will question you about your sexual history
including the nature and onset of problems,
frequency, quality and duration of erections, past
and present medical problems, medications,
psychological history, current stresses, anxieties or
problems and about how your relationships are.
This
consultation will typically include an examination of
the genital area and a digital rectal examination to
check for prostate abnormalities. Blood tests will be
taken to check testosterone and prolactin levels,
thyroid and adrenal gland dysfunction and other
conditions like hypertension, diabetes,
atherosclerosis, and nerve damage.
CURES
Medically speaking, there is no cure for
anything, however there are many things which can
have a positive effect and help to restore normal
function:
- Counselling
and meditation can reveal the root causes of
this problem.
- Changing
any medications which may cause erectile
dysfunction as a side effect.
- Diet
and exercise
- Dietary
supplements
-
Understanding your Penis
- While Viagra, Cialis & Levitra have become popularized,
they are expensive options we list and review some of the
popular herbal remedies.
NATURAL
SUPPLEMENTS
A healthy diet is often difficult to achieve and can
be supplemented with.
- Multi -
Vitamins and minerals
- Products that help in getting and keeping an erection
DIETARY
GUIDELINES
Most
impotence originates from poor diet and nutrition.
- If
you are over weight, the first step is to
lose weight.
- Improving
diet can reduce and even improve this problem
tremendously.
- Eat
a fresh, organic, high vegetable diet, which
should include green, leafy vegetables.
- Reduce
red meat consumption.
- Avoid
smoking and alcohol.
HOME
CARE SUGGESTIONS
- A
key factor in impotence is life style; try
not smoking or drinking alcohol.
- Take
alternating hot and cold showers to improve
your circulation.
- Massages
and aromatherapy help the body and the body
system to relax.
- Learn
massage so that you and your partner can
massage each other.
- Learn
about tantric sex and experiment with out
being fixed on any goals.
SUMMARY
Take an active interest in your life,
relationships and your body, especially your penis
and sexuality. Usually any problem in life, once you
identify the cause, the problem is solved and steps
can be taken to make good.
And as much as there is a mass of medical knowledge,
with all its diagnostic equipment and massive array
of drugs, they will never match the advantages of a
healthy diet and lifestyle. The products here
offer a
temporary solution.
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