Me, Myself, and ED

Are you one of 30 million men today experiencing erectile dysfunction (ED)?  If you say yes, then you probably wonder why this condition could happen to you. Could ED be a result of the health and lifestyle choices you have made? When you search about ED over the internet, doctors and medical organizations always provide information on the causes of the condition. To battle it, one must know enough about it. Keep reading to further understand your problem and the causes of ED.

It Involves My Health History

If you suffered from diseases like diabetes, kidney disease, multiple sclerosis, atherosclerosis, heart disease, and neurological disorders, you may have had damaged nerves or blood vessels. High cholesterol and high fat diets contribute to vessel blockage. These consequently affect blood flow to the penis, preventing an erection. Seventy percent of ED patients have found these out as the causes of their problem. 

It’s Because of My Habits

If you are a smoker and drinker, then these habits may have contributed to ED. Nicotine is known to be a vasoconstrictor, meaning it makes blood vessels narrower, and blood flow slower. Furthermore, many ED cases have been attributed to chronic alcoholism. Excess alcohol leads to magnesium deficiency, which affects nervous function. Obesity and lack of exercise are always big health no-no’s, and ED can be caused by them. In 2002, a study found out that ED can also happen to men who bicycle many hours a day, because of the pressure the seat creates on the penis.

It Happened After an Accident or Operation

A spinal cord injury, crotch injury, or fracture to the pelvis, such as from an accident or from sports, may result in damaged nerve and vessel function, hence ED. Men who were operated on for prostate cancer or bladder cancer also experience ED, as the surgery can affect the smooth muscles as well as blood vessels and nerves in the penis.

Is It Something I Took?

Twenty-five percent of ED cases are related to drugs or medications the patient takes. Anti-hypertensives, or drugs that prevent high-blood pressure and contain nitrates, can lead to ED by modifying the rate of blood flow. Anti-depressants, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), like Prozac, Zoloft, and Celexa, have been known to have sexual side effects, and cause ED in about 10% of users. Tranquilizers, diet pills, or cimetidine, an ulcer drug, also have ED as a side effect. Antihistamines like Benadryl and Dramamine and stomach-upset medicines like Pepcid and Zantac, are also associated with ED. Taking anabolic steroids result in hormonal imbalances and difficulty in erections. In addition to that, illegal drugs create chemical imbalance in the body, and can lead to ED.

It’s All in My Mind

Psychological factors have always been a consideration of experts when diagnosing a patient with ED. About 10 to 20% of men with ED are associated with having depression, anxiety, stress, and low-self esteem. The mind of a stressed-out man experiences a ‘fight or flight’ syndrome, in which blood supply is focused on extremities such as arms and legs in response to the stress. The blood flow to penis is channeled elsewhere, causing ED.