Erectile Dysfunction, also referred to as Impotence, occurs when a man is unable to achieve and/or maintain a full erection, sufficient enough to sustain normal satisfying sexual intercourse. It was first thought that Erectile Dysfunction/Impotence was caused by psychological factors.
However, today we know the physiological factors involved. As much as 85% of Erectile Dysfunction is physiological, meaning something structural, something physical is just not right. This condition in men is not without it’s stigmas, myths and misconceptions. It’s not a condition that is openly discussed; As a result, some men feel isolated, as if they are the only ones with the problem.
At some point in every man’s life, we would have experienced some degree of Erectile Dysfunction. More than half of the men over 50 with Erectile Dysfunction also have cholesterol deposits inside their arteries – in particular, the blood vessels that supply blood to the penis. Approximately, twenty million men have chronic or recurring Erectile Dysfunction. Many factors contribute to Erectile Dysfunction, but most of these factors are of a physical nature. The most frequent contributing factors include:
? Persistently poor diets.
? Hormonal changes, e.g. low levels of the dominant male testosterone, critically linked to the condition.
? Hardening of the arteries, i.e. atherosclerosis is a majour contributor
? Cholesterol plaque deposits on the walls inside the arteries interfere with blood flow into the blood vessels that supply the penis; This makes it difficult to achieve & sustain the erection.
? Poor circulation and/or anything that interferes with circulation, especially of the blood supply to the penis during excitement. This negatively affects the erection mechanism, contributing heavily to Erectile Dysfunction.
? Another crucial factor is Nitric oxide, a chemical produced by the body that opens/dilates the blood vessels to encourage blood flow into the arteries of the genital area.
? Chronic illness, e.g. Hypertension.
? Smoking, alcohol and street drugs.
Erectile Dysfunction may also result following prostate surgery. A side effect of many prescription drugs is reduced blood flow; This can include the blood flow to the genital area. These medications also interfere with brain function, as in the transmission of hormones. Anyone experiencing problems with their medications, should speak with their prescribing doctor to discuss an alternative, not just because of an Erectile Dysfunction but for any adverse effects from the medication.
Here is a short list of drugs that can cause Erectile Dysfunction:
? Street drugs, alcohol, cocaine, narcotic and nicotine
? Diuretic drugs, such as dyazid and lasix.
? Antacids, such as pepcid, Tagamet and zantac
? Antidepressant and tranquilizers such as ativan, prozac, valium, paxil and xanax
? Antihistamines i.e. most cold, flu and allergy medications
? Anti-hypertensives, such as procardia, cardizem and inderal
Diets high in fat and low in fibre also cause problems, particularly in men with high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries. Ageing is NOT a cause of Erectile Dysfunction. Granted, Erectile Dysfunction affects older people more frequently, but that is more a result of illness. Also, older people tend to be on multiple medications, complicated by their interactions and adverse side effects. Illness itself is NOT necessarily an inevitable part of ageing. There is a lot of good information on living healthily and maintaining an illness free senior life. You can be sexually healthy and vigorous, well into your eighties and nineties, guys.
Dr Stan Horne, DNM, PhD Naturopath
264 582 7045 / 784 531 1150
