Erectile dysfunction (ED), also called the “impotence”, is one of the most common health problems that affect men. Erectile dysfunction can be a total inability to achieve erection, an inconsistent ability to do so, or a tendency to keep only brief erections. Chronic ED affects approximately 5% of men in the 1940s and 15–25% of men at the age of 65. Transitional ED and inadequate erection affect as 50% of men between 40 and 70.

Causes

Erectile dysfunction has many causes physical and psychological. Most men with physical causes tend to have an associated psychological component. Erectile dysfunction underlying conditions are the following:

Physical health conditions.

Problems with the nervous system can affect the transmission of signals from the brain to the blood vessels in the penis. This happens in conditions of multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and spinal cord injuries. The nerves involved in sexual arousal in surgery to the pelvic area, such as the removal of the prostate can also be damaged.

Cardiovascular diseases account for almost half of all cases of erectile dysfunction in men older than 50 years. These include atherosclerosis, veno-Occlusive Disease, peripheral vascular disease, high blood pressure, history of heart attacks, trauma of blood vessels, high cholesterol levels.

Systemic diseases associated with erectile dysfunction: Diabetes mellitus is one of the main causes of erection problems (about 60% of men with diabetes experience erectile dysfunction), Scleroderma, kidney failure, liver cirrhosis, hemachromatosis, Dyslipidemia, hypertension.

Neurological diseases: problems with the nervous system can affect the transmission of signals from the brain to the blood vessels in the penis. Diseases affecting the nervous system and is associated with erectile dysfunction include: multiple sclerosis, spinal cord and brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

Respiratory illness associated with erectile dysfunction include: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sleep apnea

Conditions of the penis: Peyronie’s disease (a rare inflammatory state that causes the erectile tissue to heal), epispadias, priapism, infections.

Traumatic causes.

Trauma or injury to the penis, spinal cord, prostate, bladder and pelvis can lead to erectile dysfunction by damage to nerves, smooth muscles, arteries and fibrous tissues of the cavernous of corpus. Bike riding for long periods also has been implicated as a cause of erectile dysfunction.

Some types of prostate or bladder surgery.

Surgery of the colon, prostate, bladder or rectum may damage the nerves and those involved in the erection of blood vessels.

Medicines.

A variety of prescription medications are known to cause or contribute to erectile dysfunction, including medicines for blood pressure (especially beta-blockers), heart medication, antihistamines, antidepressants, tranquilizers, antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, appetite suppressors.

Psychological disorders.

Experts believe that psychological factors cause 10 to 20% of cases of erectile dysfunction. Anxiety and guilt are the most common causes of psychological erectile dysfunction. Depression, concern, stress, low self-esteem and fear of sexual failure contributed to the loss of libido and erectile dysfunction.

Substance abuse.

Alcoholism: Drinking too much alcohol interferes with the production of the male hormone testosterone, which can reduce libido.

Smoking is a risk factor important for erectile dysfunction because it is associated with poor blood circulation and its impact on the role of cavernosal.

Hormonal disorders.

Human conditions represent less than 5% of cases of erectile dysfunction. An imbalance in hormones such as testosterone, prolactin and thyroid, may cause erectile dysfunction.

Age.

Erection problems tend to be more common with age, but it can affect men at any age and at any time in their lives. Physical causes are more common in older men, while psychological causes are more common in young men.

Treatment options

Erectile dysfunction is treatable at any age. In about 95% of cases, you can find a proper treatment. There are three oral drugs for the treatment of erectile dysfunction: sildenafil (Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra) and tadalafil (cialis). All three drugs belonging to a class of drugs called Phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors. They block the enzyme Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) and this helps to maintain the levels of Guanosine cyclic monophosphate (GMP), a chemical produced at the penis during sexual arousal. Balanced levels of GMP causes smooth muscles of the penis to relax and increases the blood flow. This allows a natural sequence to occur – an erection in response to sexual stimulation. These drugs do not automatically produce an erection. In place to enable an erection to occur after the physical and psychological stimulation.

Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis vary in dose, the duration of the effectiveness and possible side effects. All three drugs are generally well tolerated. They are a good option for men at any age and at any ethnic group that are in good health and have no conditions that prevent take (such as the use of nitrates or alpha-blockers). The rates of success of all three drugs vary between 70% and 90%.