What Causes ED?: 5 Possible Causes Of Erectile Dysfunction In Men

ED is a condition where a man fails to achieve or maintain an erection that is effective in producing and maintaining sexual intercourse. It affects a man’s self-image, his relationships, and life quality. Erectile dysfunction is one of the most intimate, humiliating topics for men to get up and down about. In this article, we will be discussing five possible reasons for erectile dysfunction in men.

1. Physical Health Conditions:

Physical ailments account for 70-80 percent of all ED. Physical causes of ED include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurological disorders and hormonal disturbances.

Heart disease, for example, increases ED risk by clogging blood vessels and cutting off blood supply to the penis. This is because the very same pathogens that lead to cardiovascular disease like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity can also damage the blood vessels that provide blood to the penis. That means men with cardiovascular disease are more likely to suffer from ED than men without it.

The other most prevalent physical cause of ED is diabetes, which affects up to one-third of all men who develop the condition. Diabetes can inflame the nerves and vessels that feed the penis and induce ED. Diabetic men also tend to have additional health issues including cardiovascular diseases and high blood pressure, which can make them more susceptible to ED.

ED is also associated with neurological conditions including multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s. These disorders can wreak havoc on nerves that govern erectile function, and men can struggle to form or sustain an erection. ED can also result from hormonal imbalances, including low testosterone levels. Testosterone is a key hormone that regulates desire and erectile function. Low testosterone can dampen libido and make it more challenging to form and maintain an erection.

2. Psychological Factors:

Beyond physical ailments, ED can also be caused by psychological disorders. These include stress, anxiety, depression, and marital issues.

Both stress and anxiety compromise sexual function, making it challenging to get or maintain an erection. This is because stress and anxiety can activate the body’s ‘fight or flight’ mechanism, decreasing blood flow to the penis and making it harder to get an erection. Depressive disorders can also trigger ED because they dampen sexual attraction and stunt erectile function.

ED isn’t limited to relationship issues. Men who suffer from relationship problems, like communication difficulties or disagreements with their spouse, might have a harder time getting or maintaining an erection. This is because relationship challenges can create anxiety and stress that can affect sexual functioning.

3. Lifestyle Choices

Lifestyle choices can play a significant role in the development of ED.

Smoking: Indeed, smoking is one of the most widely studied risk factors for ED. It is believed that smoking impairs blood vessels and reduces blood flow to the penis, which is essential for erections. The chemicals in cigarettes – including nicotine – narrow blood vessels, reducing the flow and amount of oxygen reaching the penis. This devastation in the long term can cause ED. Giving up smoking boosts the flow of blood to the penis, which lowers ED.

Consumption of Excessive Alcohol: Consuming excessive alcohol is also a factor in ED. Alcohol is a depressant and in extreme doses, it changes the nervous system- a reduction in sexual desire and in the capacity to develop and maintain an erection. Also, it damages blood vessels and decreases testosterone levels, both of which are associated with ED. Alcohol must be consumed sparingly, and overdosing is not a possibility in order to minimize the chances of ED.

Harmful Drugs: There is also a role for illegal drugs, particularly ones that are toxic to the nervous system. These drugs (cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine) can swell blood vessels and limit the flow of blood to the penis. These medications can also interfere with the brain’s capacity to communicate with the genitals in order to cause an erection. The rest of our illnesses can also result from long term use of drugs, including cardiovascular problems and neurological harms that may eventually give rise to ED.

Adequate Exercise: Adequate exercise is another risk factor and a totally different way of living that will lead to ED. Exercise would increase blood circulation, reduce CVD risk and weight gain, and even increase testosterone levels, all critical to sexual health. Men who regularly get active appear to be less susceptible to ED than sedentary men.

Bad Diet: Containing more saturated fats than usual, a bad diet causes ED. High-fat diets are the cause of cardiovascular disease and obesity, both of which are related to ED. A low-fat, low-carb diet has also been blamed for ED, because they contain many of the nutrients needed for healthy sexual functioning.

4. Hormonal Imbalances

Even hormonal imbalances are responsible for erectile dysfunction. Testosterone is the main male sex hormone, and testosterone deficiency impacts a man’s desire for erections and his motivation to have one. Testosterone naturally declines with age, but low testosterone can be caused by obesity, diabetes, and drinking alcohol. In some instances, hormonal imbalances can arise due to medical conditions such as thyroid or pituitary dysfunction.

a. Testosterone Deficiency:

Testosterone is the key hormone that determines and sustains male sexual traits, such as erectile function. Low testosterone can cause ED, decreased libido, and orgasms.

b. Thyroid Disorders:

Erectile function is affected by both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Hyperthyroidism can make your heartbeat faster, shake your body, and sweat more, and hypothyroidism makes you tired, swollen, and overweight. Both conditions can impact erectile function.

c. Other Hormonal Disorders:

There are other hormonal imbalances that can lead to ED, including growth hormone deficiency, prolactinoma and Cushing’s syndrome.

5. Injury or Trauma

Another reason for erectile dysfunction is physical injury or damage to the pelvis. Injury to nerves, blood vessels or other tissues of the penis prevents an individual from having an erection. ED will also be triggered by spinal cord, prostate and bladder injuries. In addition, surgeries, particularly prostate surgery and colon or rectal cancer surgery, can destroy nerves and blood vessels that regulate erection.

a. Body Trauma:

Trauma to the pelvis, including damage to the spinal cord, nerves and blood vessels, is another potential source of ED. It is a consequence of an accident, sports injury, or any other kind of trauma. Trauma could very well have the effect on nerves and vessels supplying blood to the penis; ED outcomes.

b. Surgery

Some surgeries (radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer, for instance, or bowel or bladder cancer surgery) can cause ED as well. In such surgeries, nerves and blood vessels essential for erection may be eliminated.

c. Pelvic Irradiation:

Even radiation therapy for pelvic cancer may cause ED. Radiation can destroy the blood vessels and nerves involved in erection.

Conclusion: What Causes ED?: 5 Possible Causes Of Erectile Dysfunction In Men

Erectile dysfunction can be secondary to a physical, mental or lifestyle problem. It is by pinpointing the cause that we can identify the type of therapy that will suit a particular episode of ED. In this way, if you are experiencing ED symptoms, you need to consult your physician for proper diagnosis and treatment. Many men can overcome ED with the right treatment and regain their sexual ability and self-esteem. ED is treatable by medication, therapy, lifestyle adjustments, or a combination of the two.