Causes of erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction is simply the inability of a man to obtain or sustain an erection, especially during sexual intercourse. But naturally, erections are natural and they can occur spontaneously many times during the day, even when not in the act of intimacy.

Since an average healthy man has about 11 erections on a daily basis and around 3-5 in the night. So before we look at what causes erectile dysfunction, it is safer to know how the whole mechanism works. Don’t worry! It’s not rocket science.

Majority of the people believe the penis is a bone or a muscle but it’s actually not. The penis is composed of 3 sponge-like layers, so whenever a man feels aroused, it gradually fills with blood. The accumulated blood results in increased pressure which prevent the blood from flowing out and the result leads to erection.

Sometimes sexual impotence or erectile dysfunction is an indication of a bigger issue. Some of the causes of erectile dysfunction include:

AGE

Just like how steals our youth and vigor from us, it is also one of the causes of erectile dysfunction. The risk of having erectile dysfunction does increase with age. With more than 20% of men above the age of 60 and about 30% of men above 70 years suffer from impotence (erectile dysfunction).

SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS

Heart diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and many more diseases that negatively affect the functions of smooth muscle tissue, hormonal levels, the nerves, and arteries of the penis can increase the occurrence of erectile dysfunction.

That is why it is important to discuss with your doctor if you happen to have frequent erectile dysfunction in order to ensure that it is not associated with any underlying serious health problems.

LIFESTYLE CHOICES

Unhealthy decisions such as eating an unbalanced diet, drug abuse, smoking, and many more can actually play a big role in increasing the risk of erectile dysfunction. Introducing foods rich in flavonoids increase the rate at which men exercise, it also makes men lessen smoking and drinking thereby reducing the risk of having erectile dysfunction

CERTAIN MEDICATIONS

Blood pressure medications,anti-allergy drugs, and antidepressants may make it hard for men to have an erection. Especially randomly buying over-the-counter drugs on a regular basis causes hormonal imbalance, affects the normal function of nerves and vessels of the penis which all leads to erectile dysfunction.

That’s why it is always safer and better to consult a doctor before taking any prescription or better still if after taking a prescribed drug, you notice any decrease in the strength of frequency of your erection, you should consult a doctor immediately.

STRESS

Normal everyday stress either from work or emotionally from a relationship can lead to impotency. Another factor that can increase emotional, psychological, and mental stress is as a result of a man’s inability to participate fully in bed(impotency) can also cause more stress which leads to more impotency.

Talking to a doctor or sex therapist can also help reduce stress caused by erectile dysfunction.

TAKE AWAY

After knowing the causes of erectile dysfunction, it’ll be of great help to every individual (men) to complain to his physician about any abnormality noticed. The number of people suffering from impotency is on the rise, so it’s very important for men not to take their health for granted. Erectile dysfunction has a cure especially if it’s as a result of causes other than age.