FirstMed Consulting Blog

Some people assume that erectile dysfunction (impotence) is a part of aging. However this isn’t true. Most cases of erectile dysfunction are usually a result of other factors such as certain health conditions, medicines, or habits that interfere with blood flow around the body and penis, these factors are discussed in more detail below. However some of these health conditions are more common in men as they age leading to the misconception that erectile dysfunction occurs due to old age; age itself does not cause erectile dysfunction.

Health
A good lifestyle can help improve male sexual health, for example a good diet, exercise, not smoking and drinking in moderation can all help improve erectile problems. Your health is of great significance because it is your health which affects the blood flow around the body (including to the penis), problems with blood flow are among the most common causes of erectile dysfunction.

Certain conditions can affect your health such as heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. Conditions such as these can cause damage to blood vessels (resulting in a restriction to blood flow), nerves, smooth muscle, or fibrous tissue involved in achieving and maintaining an erection. So to help yourself to a healthy sex life you should keep your heart and blood vessels in good order.

Diabetes
Diabetes is a life-long disease marked by high levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood. There are two main types of diabetes, Type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 can be caused by too little insulin (a hormone produced by the pancreas to regulate blood sugar) and type 2 by resistance to insulin, or both.
Diabetes is a common risk factor for erectile dysfunction, and men with diabetes are up to four times as likely as other men to develop Erectile Dysfunction. They also tend to get it at a younger age than other men.

High blood pressure
High blood pressure (also called hypertension) can cause changes in your blood vessels leading to them stiffen or narrow. This can restrict the blood flow to your penis, leading to erectile problems. Some medicines used to treat high blood pressure can also contribute to erectile dysfunction, you should be aware of any medications with such side affects.

Heart disease and high cholesterol
Heart disease and high cholesterol levels can affect the flow of blood to your penis, leading to erectile dysfunction. High cholesterol levels are responsible for a build up in fatty deposits in the blood vessels leading to disturbances in the flow or a complete block in blood flow. Men with heart disease are twice as likely as other men to develop erectile problems.

Depression
Depression, stress, anxiety, and fear of failure can all affect the erectile capability of a man. However men who experience erectile dysfunction because of physical causes much as prostrate surgery (mentioned below) may also feel depressed, stressed, or anxious this is depression due to erectile dysfunction and is different form erectile dysfunction due to depression, stress etc.

Prostate surgery
Surgery for prostate cancer can cause erectile dysfunction by unintentionally injuring nerves and arteries that run near the prostate and act upon the penis.

Other risk factors
Other things that may lead to erectile dysfunction include:

* Kidney disease
* Chronic alcoholism
* Multiple sclerosis