Penile dysfunction is something that affects many people across the globe. But it doesn’t have to be the end of the world. There are ways to treat it, as well as things you can do to lower the chances of experiencing something like dysfunction.
What Exactly Is an Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile Dysfunction ED is an inability to have (or maintain) an erection. Whether a person is unable to have an erection or if the penis is not firm enough to have sex, it all falls into the ED category. The common term for ED is impotence. However, it is less used in the past couple of years.
Of course, experiencing problems with an erection every now and then is not a problem. If it happens to you, it doesn’t mean that you have health problems or ED. The problem is when the situation repeats over and over again.
We should also mention that older men have a lower sex drive. As they age, their sexual activity starts declining. So, experiencing ED to a degree can be considered normal. However, if it causes problems to one’s relationship and sexual performance, it can be a sign of a serious health problem.
Stress can have a significant impact on sexual dysfunction. If a person is under a lot of stress, it might affect their ability to have sexual intercourse. Once again, if it happens once, it doesn’t mean that the person has ED and that there are any other problems with their health.
The Possible Causes
Problems can happen at any point or stage of erection. Since erection is caused by increased blood flow in the penis, high blood pressure can affect it as well. Besides, hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney, heart disease, and many other conditions can play a role in erectile dysfunction.
We already mentioned stress, and if you combine it with anxiety or depression, it can also act as a trigger for ED. Furthermore, using the medication can affect sexual function, and you should always talk to your doctor to see if there are any potential side effects.
While ED can act on its own, it is also possible for it to be a sign of an underlying condition. If you have problems achieving an erection, and it is something that keeps happening, the best course of action would be to talk to your doctor. That way, you will be able to determine the real cause of the problem and then work with your doctor towards solving it. Don’t be afraid of what the doctor might think. It isn’t smart to try and solve the problem on your own.
Is There a Way to Prevent It?
Saying that there is a way to prevent it would be wrong. There are so many different reasons why someone might experience ED. Preventing it means that someone would need to eliminate stress, anxiety, medication, health problems, and anything else that they might be going through.
However, there is a way to lower the chances of it happening in the first place. The first thing people should do is focus on their diet. Eating healthy can do wonders for the body, and it will help them avoid ED, among numerous other conditions. It is especially important for those who are overweight since it can also affect their blood pressure.
The next step on the list is exercising regularly. That doesn’t mean that they need to go to the gym every day and work their asses out. It is more than enough to dedicate twenty minutes or half an hour each day to stay in form and lower the chances of health issues.
Lowering the amount of stress is always a good idea. If there is a chance to live in healthier conditions, then that’s something you need to do. Finally, there are numerous options if you already have problems with ED. You can talk to your doctor to see which type of medications they would recommend.
There are also vacuum pumps that can be helpful too. But, you shouldn’t do anything on your own before talking to a professional.
When to See a Doctor
We already mentioned that you should talk to your doctor if you have any questions. Most importantly, before you start any type of treatment. But let’s see some of the signs that you might want to visit a doctor.
If you are having concerns about your erections, or any other type of sexual problems, talking to the doctor is the best option. That includes premature ejaculations, painful erections, or anything else that might cause you problems.
For those that have any condition that might be linked to ED like diabetes, heart conditions, and so on, the doctor will be able to give you something that will keep you healthy and won’t intervene with other medications.