Erectile dysfunction, or ED, is a common problem. It affects over 18 million men in the United States. Most men will experience an episode or two of erectile dysfunction in their lifetime. It is entirely normal. However, prolonged erectile dysfunction might be a sign of an underlying problem. There are many different causes of erectile dysfunction, but these can be roughly divided into two types of causes: psychological and physical.
Psychological Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
10-20% of cases of erectile dysfunction are caused by psychological issues.
Stress: Stress has been known to cause erectile dysfunction. If your ED is caused by stress, try to reduce your stress levels and learn some stress management techniques.
Anxiety: Anxiety also can cause ED. Often, this takes the form of worrying about ED, which causes it to manifest.
Fatigue: Fatigue causes ED as well. Getting enough rest can help alleviate this problem.
Negative feelings or bad relationships: If you have problems in your relationship with your partner, you may experience ED.
Physical Causes of Erectile Dysfunction: 80-90% of erectile dysfunction cases are caused by underlying medical issues.
Diseases
There are many diseases that can cause ED. These include but are not limited to:
- Diabetes
- Kidney disease
- Neurological diseases
- Vascular diseases
- Prostate problems
- Multiple sclerosis
Bad Habits
Smoking, drug use, and excessive alcohol consumption can cause erectile dysfunction.
Injuries
Nerve damage to the pelvis can cause ED. Surgery, accidents, or even excessive bicycle riding can all cause ED.
Treatments
- There is a vast range of treatments for ED, ranging from surgery to pills and creams.
- Treatment methods will be determined by what is causing your erectile dysfunction.
- It is important to seek the advice of your health practitioner before beginning any treatment for erectile dysfunction.
- Your health practitioner will examine you and perform tests to determine the cause of your problem.
Prevention
Of course, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Here are some simple things you can do to prevent erectile dysfunction:
- Stop smoking
- Exercise regularly
- Don’t be overweight
- Talk to your medical practitioner and discuss medications you are on that might cause ED. See if some could be replaced with drugs that do not put you at risk for ED.
- Avoid drinking more than two alcoholic drinks per day.
- Do not take illegal drugs.
- If you have a disease that may cause ED, talk to your health practitioner about preventing ED and be sure to follow all directions correctly.
Look for Disease Causes of Erectile Dysfunction: Diabetes on 10/12/2007.
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Sources:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/erectile-dysfunction/DS00162/DSECTION=5
http://www.webmd.com/erectile-dysfunction/default.ht
