Jun 142019
 

As men become more aware of and open to discussing serious health issues one condition that afflicts almost 45% of men remains taboo.  That topic is erectile dysfunction.

Few men are able to talk about this condition that is ongoing, causes stress, affects self-confidence and contributes to multiple relationship issues.

Men need to be aware that they are not alone, and need not suffer in silence.  Treatments are available, and more importantly, erectile dysfunction is often an underlying symptom of a far more serious condition including diabetes, cancer or serious nerve deterioration.

The symptoms of erectile dysfunction typically include trouble getting an erection, trouble keeping an erection and reduced sexual desire.

You should be contacting your family health team if you have concerns about your erection or you are experiencing other sexual problems such as premature or delayed ejaculation.  If you have diabetes, have heart disease or other conditions linked to erectile dysfunction, a phone call to your family caregiver is very advisable.

Mayoclinic.org says there are many physical causes of erectile dysfunction and they include:

  1. Heart disease
  2. Clogged blood vessels
  3. High cholesterol
  4. High blood pressure
  5. Diabetes
  6. Obesity
  7. Parkinson’s disease
  8. Multiple sclerosis
  9. Treatments for prostate cancer
  10. Surgeries or injuries that affect the pelvis or spinal cord
  • Tobacco use
  • Alcoholism
  • Sleep disorders
  • Peyronie’s disease where scar tissue builds up inside the penis

Mayoclinic.org continues by stating that the brain also plays a key role in triggering a series of physical events that cause an erection starting with the feelings of sexual excitement.  A number of things can interfere with sexual feelings and cause erectile dysfunction to worsen.  These include:

  1. Depression, anxiety, or any number of other mental health conditions
  2. Stress
  3. Relationship issues due to stress or poor communication

Mayonclinic.org also cautions that there are risk factors and expectations that only increase with age.  As men age, erections may take longer to develop and might not be as firm.  Medications for depression, allergies or ones that treat high blood pressure, pain or prostate conditions have also been tied to erectile dysfunction.

Complications from this condition are commonly reported by family health teams and they include an unsatisfactory sex life, stress, anxiety, embarrassment, low self-esteem, relationship problems and the inability to impregnate your partner.

Mayoclinic.org reports that treatment of this condition requires a multi-step approach, but if followed many men report an uptick in their health and sexual health.  The six steps include:

  1. Work with your doctor to manage diabetes, heart disease and other chronic health conditions
  2. See your doctor for regular checkups and medical screening tests
  3. Stop smoking, limit or avoid alcohol consumption and don’t use illegal drugs
  4. Exercise regularly
  5. Take steps to reduce stress
  6. Get help with anxiety, depression and other mental health concerns

Men looking for prescription medicine online should also be forewarned that one of the leading Internet scams listed by Google in 2018 was the selling of phony Viagra, Cialis or other brand name ED drugs.  Thousands of complaints have flooded into Google regarding false advertising, unsatisfactory experiences with products bought or money sent and no product delivered.  These online criminals rely on a man’s embarrassment with his condition making him unwilling or unable to report to authorities when he has been ripped off.

The best way for a man to take control of his sexual health is to make an appointment with his health team and to discuss honestly and thoroughly what his issues are.  You may not only get the prescription that you require, but you may be sent for tests that in the long run may save your life.  Make that phone call now.

 Posted by at 8:52 am