5 Things I Wish I Knew About Erectile Dysfunction

Regrets are bad. It is better to know about your body before it starts to decline. Erectile dysfunction is something that scares most men. We listed five things that every man should know about ED.

1. It’s common

Erectile Dysfunction is the inability to have and hold an erection firm enough for satisfying sexual activity.

Now, before you wreck your head thinking Erectile Dysfunction is a rare condition the bubble should be broken:

It is not. In fact, it's more common than you would think.

As the likelihood of having erectile dysfunction increases with age, numerous men who age between 40-70 have had erectile dysfunction all over the world.

According to a 2019 review global prevalence of this condition range from 3% to 76.5%.

And even though ED becomes more prevalent amongst men of 40-70 age, there still remains a possibility that young men too may be facing it.

According to a study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, Erectile Dysfunction affects 26% of men under the age of 40.

As per the observations made by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, it has come to light that Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is a remarkably prevalent condition that affects a substantial population. It has been estimated that approximately 30 million men presently residing in the United States are impacted by this condition.

That being said, occasionally having erectile dysfunction is normal and should not be a matter of concern. But if you have it frequently, it would be wise to get yourself a medical check. 

2. Cardiovascular problems might be a reason

When a man is experiencing erectile dysfunction it doesn't necessarily mean that he is disinterested in the sexual activity.

More often than not it becomes a source of embarrassment for a man when cannot perform in bed, but he could never guess that the problem might actually be with his heart.

There is an important connection between cardiovascular diseases and erectile dysfunction.

These diseases include a range of conditions which include the health of the heart itself and the blood vessels.

A blog post on Lancaster General Hospital's website discussed a study from Australia involving 95,000 men. The study found that men who had difficulties with getting or maintaining erections, also known as erectile dysfunction (ED), had a higher likelihood of experiencing heart problems like heart failure, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. The editor of a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School mentioned that erections can be used as an indicator of a person's overall health, and ED could potentially serve as an early warning sign of issues in the heart or other areas of the body.

Some people are born with heart defects but mostly one develops it over time.

Some major factors which might contribute to developing heart disease are- high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.

Heart diseases can block the blood flow in the blood vessels in your penis which in turn might make you it difficult for you to get and maintain an erection, even though you might feel aroused.

Therefore, having an ED frequently might be a sign that you might have an underlying heart condition. 

3. There might be a Psychological issue

While low testosterone levels are often a cause of erectile dysfunction, it isn't always the case.

Sometimes you might fail to gain and hold an erection for a satisfying sexual experience, because of high mental stress which might stem from various reasons, for example- extreme work pressure, career conflicts, conflicts in personal relationships, etc.

People with clinical depression, anxiety, trauma, might have their erectile functions affected.

Sometimes it's also performance anxiety, in other words, the stress about whether or not you'll be able to perform in bed increases the adrenaline levels which make it extremely difficult to get aroused.

The embarrassment that comes with having experienced erectile dysfunction badly affects one self-esteem.

This low self-esteem is also the cause sometimes why you might not feel aroused easily, because you become overly conscious about your performance and what your partner might be thinking.

With issues like this, visiting a therapist is recommended. 

4. Smoking and Drinking might affect your performance

Alcohol addiction and chain-smoking are detrimental not only to your sexual health but also to your health as a whole including mental and physical.

Smoking tobacco damages the blood vessels in your body which in turn hinders the arterial blood flow in them, which leads to erectile dysfunction during sexual activity.

Sadly, chain-smoking can cause erectile dysfunction in men who are as young as 20 years of age. Smoking causes other heart diseases like heart attack, stroke, etc. which in turn affect men's sexual health.

Regular smoking can leave you with a weak erection or no physical response at all to sexual arousal.

Alcohol might be considered as an aphrodisiac to get people in the mood, but it doesn't help much in the execution.

Overconsumption of alcohol causes the blood vessels in the penis to expand, thereby allowing the blood to backflow, which is why a man might find it hard to hold the erection for not long enough. 

According to a recent article in Everyday Health, consistent and excessive alcohol consumption over an extended period of time can increase the risk of experiencing long-term erectile dysfunction. Numerous research studies have shown that men who have a dependence on alcohol face a 60 to 70 percent likelihood of encountering sexual difficulties, with erectile dysfunction being the most common issue.

5. It can be treated in various ways

Usually, the problem of erectile dysfunction, if it's occasional tends to go away on its own. But when it is frequent, it is best to visit the doctor, and take medications if necessary and as prescribed.

Exercising regularly, losing weight in case of obesity, quitting smoking, and overconsumption of alcohol, eating healthier, in general, are some of the ways by which erectile dysfunction can be cured. Increasing physical activity is highly recommended.

According to a 2011 study, the results might be visible in just 8 weeks of increased physical activity. Prescribed doses of Viagra, Cialis, Levitra Spedra, and Staxyn can also be used to treat the problem.

Eating plenty of fruits and veggies also helps in reducing fatigue which thereby improves your performance in bed.

When the issue is stress-related, it's recommended that one should take some time off work, or approach a therapist in case of anxiety and depression.

Having a healthy sleep schedule too is highly recommended. 

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6. ED medications don't promise results

Erectile dysfunction may seem like a simple occurrence: men can't maintain or even get an erection. But in reality, the disease itself is not so straightforward, after all.

It is quite a complex medical condition in which there could be many different factors that contribute to the manifestation of erectile dysfunction in a man's life.

With that said, not all ED medications can work to treat issues with erectile dysfunction.

Your doctor may prescribe you a certain type of medication, only to find later on that the meds don't work because your underlying cause is different from what was primarily diagnosed.

That's why, for some men, ED treatment can be a bit like exploration. You have got to keep trying to find the right medication that cures your symptoms.

But the best approach yet? Quit the behaviours that are known to contribute to erectile dysfunction in the first place.

7. Older men who think they have ED, actually don't

Erectile dysfunction is most often associated with older men.

After all, after so many years of bad lifestyle habits, it is indeed common for older men to experience difficulty in achieving or maintaining an erection.

But recent studies have shown that a lot of men who are beyond the age of 50 may think they are dealing with erectile dysfunction when they can't get it up, but actually, don't have issues with ED.

Instead, what they do have is erectile dissatisfaction. This is totally different from erectile dysfunction in which the latter almost makes an older man unable to have an erection.

Erectile dissatisfaction simply means it now takes them longer to get an erection and requires more effort to get there due to age.

But, in most cases, they eventually get their erection. Patience for these older men is a virtue in this case.