Risk Factors For Erectile Dysfunction

Male impotence is something which is experienced by men where in they face difficulty in getting and maintaining the erection. It’s been reported that almost men in the age group of 40-70 face erectile dysfunction.  

Erectile dysfunction is most common in men and it effects as more as 30 million men. 

Even though it’s common for men to experience occasional erection issues, ED that progresses or occurs frequently during sexual activity is abnormal and has to be treated.

ED can occur most frequently when nerves are damaged or penis blood flow is restricted due to emotional or stressful factors as a precursor to a more serious condition, such as atherosclerosis (hardening or clogged arteries), heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes-related high blood sugar. Additionally, many risk factors are associated with erectile dysfunction, which can negatively impact men’s quality of life. Therefore, Erectile Dysfunction Prevention is preferable to treatment. Your general health and the treatment of your ED will benefit from determining the cause(s) of the condition. Generally speaking, whatever is good for your heart is also good for your sex health.

Let us have a Gist of How Erections Work!

Chemicals released by nerves during sexual stimulation enhance blood flow to the penis. Two chambers of spongy muscular tissue (the corpus cavernosum) in the penis receive blood and are used to achieve an erection. There is no lack of solidity in the corpus cavernosum chambers.

The soft tissues relax and trap blood during an erection. An erection is brought on by the chambers’ high blood pressure, which causes the penis to tighten. When a man has an orgasmic experience, his penile muscles contract in response to a second set of nerve signals, sending blood back into his body’s circulatory system and bringing down the erection.

A soft, limp penis is a sign that you are not sexually stimulated. It is typical for men to experience changes in penis size in response to changes in body temperature, including stress. 

Let us go through the prevalence and the proportion of Erectile Dysfunction……

Experts widely say that ED is really very common and also the risk of ED with age. 

But there are a lot of different ideas about how common ED is. One 2018 review from a trusted source said that about a third of men have ED. A 2019 review from Trusted Source found that the number of people with ED around the world goes from 3% to 76.5 %.

The Massachusetts Male Aging Study Trusted Source, which was completed in 1994, experts often talk about it when talking about how common something is. This study found that about 52% of men have some kind of ED and that the number of men with all kinds of ED goes up from about 5% to 15% between the ages of 40 and 70.

Even though the chance of having ED goes up with age, young guys can still have it. Besides this, a study that was released in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that about 26% of men under the age of 40 had Erectile Dysfunction.

Even though experts agree that ED is common, it can be hard to figure out how common it is in big groups of people, as all of this research shows. This could be because doctors and experts have different ideas about how often problems with getting an erection are enough to be called ED.

Researchers also use a wide range of screening tools and surveys, which are not all the same.   

Erectile Dysfunction (Risk Factors)

When looking at the potential Risk Factors of Erectile Dysfunction, it is very much important to understand that more than one factor is being involved. 

Erectile performance is the result of a complicated interaction between vascular, neurological, hormonal, and psychological factors.

Keep this in mind as you read the long list of reasons and risk factors for ED, which includes medications, health conditions, injuries, smoking, and more. 

Rarely, a person may have ED as their main problem. This is when someone has never been able to get an erection. Primary ED can be caused by a mental issue or a physical problem.

If a person has trouble getting or keeping an erection for a long time, they should see a doctor because the problem could be caused by an underlying medical condition. A correct diagnosis can help treat any physical problems that may be causing sexual problems and help solve them. 

Let’s Focus on Physical Causes of Erectile Dysfunction

Most ED is caused by something else. This means that the ability to get an erection has been fine, but now it’s a problem. Usually, a new problem that keeps coming back is caused by something physical.

Rarely, a person may have ED as their main problem. This is when someone has never been able to get an erection. Primary ED can be caused by a mental issue or a physical problem.

If a person has trouble getting or keeping an erection for a long time, they should see a doctor because the problem could be caused by an underlying medical condition. A correct diagnosis can help treat any physical problems that may be causing sexual problems and help solve them.  

Physical Causes Which Leads a Way to Erectile Dysfunction

• • Heart disease and narrowing of blood vessels

• • Diabetes 

• • High blood pressure

• • High cholesterol

• • Obesity

• • Parkinson’s disease

• • Multiple schlerosis

• • Hormonal disorders, including testosterone deficiency

• • Structural or anatomical disorder of the penis

• • Smoking. Alcohol use disorder

• • Treatments for prostrate disease

• • Surgical complications

• • Injuries in the spinal cord

Artherosclerosis is a disease where where there is narrowing and clogging of veins in the penile region, preventing the necessary blood flow to produce an erection. 

Lifestyle Factors Associated with Erectile Dysfunction

There are many such lifestyle factors which can cause and contribute to erectile dysfunction

Numerous lifestyle choices might either cause or contribute to ED. In general, any behaviour that endangers the health of the nervous system or the heart increases the risk of developing ED. Among the risk elements are:

• • alcohol consumption

• • cocaine use

• • smoking

• • obesity

• • having diabetes you can’t control 

• • lack of exercise 

Physical trauma to the blood vessels or nerves at the penile base might also increase the likelihood of developing erectile dysfunction. Long-term cycling, for instance, has been linked to ED, albeit this kind of ED typically subsides after stopping. 

It all depends on you how you maintain your lifestyle so that you don’t suffer from something this serious. These also include giving up smoking and any kind of illegal drugs, reducing your alcohol intake.

Physical trauma to the blood vessels or nerves at the penile base might also increase the likelihood of developing erectile dysfunction. Long-term cycling, for instance, has been linked to ED, although this kind of ED typically subsides after stopping. 

Psychological Risk Factors

Ten percent to twenty percent of men who experience ED can attribute it to a mental or emotional cause. It usually occurs as a result of some primary physical problem. Sexual or physical abuse in childhood has been linked to the psychological impacts of eating disorders. However, the most common underlying mental factors in ED are:

There are many potential sources of stress, including difficulties at work, financial difficulties, or marital conflict.

Anxiety: A man who has experienced ED may worry excessively that it will recur. This is a major contributor to both “performance anxiety,” or the dread of sexual failure, and ED.

A man could feel guilty if he is unable to make his partner happy.

Depression is a significant contributor to ED because of the emotional and physiological toll it takes on sufferers. Even if a man is normally confident in sexual encounters, depression can still trigger ED. Some antidepressants have been linked to sexual dysfunction in men. 

Depression, anxiety, and PTSD can all contribute to low self-esteem, as can previous episodes of ED (leading to feelings of inadequacy).

Medications, interpersonal issues, or simply the passage of time can all contribute to a lack of interest in sexual activity, often known as lethargy. 

Inevitably, every man will struggle with erectile dysfunction. You should be concerned and think about getting medical counsel and treatment only if the condition becomes chronic, meaning it occurs more than half of the time, or if it causes you or your spouse discomfort. Men whose erectile dysfunction stems from emotional or psychological issues may benefit from psychotherapy in addition to medical care. 

Medical Conditions and Treatment

Taking care of your heart and vascular health is the first step in treating ED. Your doctor may identify ‘risk factors’ that can be modified or enhanced.

Non-invasive treatments are frequently attempted first. The majority of the most well-known ED therapies are effective and safe. Still, it’s a good idea to consult your doctor about the potential adverse effects of each option:

Most of the time, phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors like Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, and Stendra are given by mouth to treat ED in the U.S.

Testosterone therapy (when blood tests show a low level of testosterone)

Penile Injections (ICI, intracavernosal Alprostadil)

Intraurethral medicine (IU, Alprostadil)

Vacuum-based erection aids

Penile Implants

Oral drugs (PDE5 inhibitors):

Drugs called PDE type-5 inhibitors make more blood move to the penile area. In the U.S., these are the only oral treatments for ED that have been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration.

Viagra ® (sildenafil citrate)

Levitra ® (vardenafil HCl)

Cialis ® (tadalafil) 

Stendra ® (avanafil)

Learn more: The Role of Oral Medications in Erectile Dysfunction Treatment

Choose the Lifestyle Changes That can Bring a Difference

There are many lifestyle changes that you can accept in order to avoid erectile dysfunction. Some reduce the risk of erectile dysfunction and can reverse the condition effectively and effective steps can be taken to improve men’s health..

• Choose walking daily – It has been studied that almost 30 minutes of walk per day will lead to decrease in the risk of ED. 

• Exercise – General exercise from swimming to playing tennis, also reduces ED and can help to reverse it. Exercise increases blood circulation and also the blood flow which is very much necessary for erection. Also in addition there is an an added advantage.  Weight lifting exercises anyways helps to increase the testosterone levels in men which also benefits sex drive, and erection strength.

• Weight management– Men with thinner waistlines are substantially less likely to Suffer from Erectile Dysfunction. Losing weight can also help to reverse erectile dysfunction while also providing other health benefits. 

• Eating a healthy diet– A diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and seafood reduced the risk of ED. Unfortunately, this necessitates a reduction in the consumption of red meat, processed meat, and refined cereals. 

• Stop smoking – Smoking results in damaging the blood vessels which makes it harder for blood to distribute throughout the body. 

• Quality sleep – Lack of deep restless sleep has a major effect on how men perform sexually. Using a sleep apnea machine has been demonstrated to be beneficial for males with sleep apnea.

Conclusion: 

Most of the time, you can get better from ED. There are a lot of medicines and cures available. Some tools, like vacuum pumps, can also help you briefly deal with your symptoms so you can keep having sexual relations. Your treatment plan will depend on several things, such as how bad your ED is and whether or not a certain health problem causes it. Your doctor will work with you closely to explain the pros and cons of each kind of treatment.