The Basics of Erectile Dysfunction

You may not know this but it is common for men to occasionally experience erectile dysfunction, especially when under a lot of stress, with the overconsumption of alcohol, or due to fatigue. By definition, erectile dysfunction is when a man is unable to maintain a firm enough erection to engage in sexual intercourse with his partner. Men experience erectile dysfunction more often as they get older because of decreased testosterone levels associated with age. Lower testosterone causes changes in sexual function such as impotence or decreased sex drive.

While erectile dysfunction most commonly affects middle-aged to older men, it can affect younger men as well. If men suffer from erectile dysfunction often or on a regular basis, it can be a sign of an underlying health condition.  There are plenty of risk factors for erectile dysfunction, but one of the most prominent is chronic disease. Here is a detailed look at some of the biggest risk factors of erectile dysfunction and how they can lead to impotence:

1.     High Blood Pressure:

This can directly lead to erectile dysfunction, as can the medicines used to treat it.  These medications act by lowering the pressure inside blood vessels, in order to decrease the strain on the heart.  In men, this decreased blood flow can interfere with erections, ejaculation and sexual desire.

2.     Diabetes:

This condition can damage blood vessels and nerves, two big components of sexual function.  As with high blood pressure, the reduced blood flow resulting from damaged vessels can contribute to erectile dysfunction.

3.     High Cholesterol:

Statins and other drugs used to treat high cholesterol, act by restricting the amount of cholesterol.  Cholesterol is an essential building block of hormones, including sex hormones like testosterone.  A reduction in cholesterol can lead to reduced production of these hormones, and effect a man’s ability to maintain an erection.

4.     Depression/Anxiety:

Antidepressants act by blocking chemicals in the brain, particularly chemicals that relay signals between nerve cells: serotonin, norepinephrine and acetylcholine.  It is well documented that decreased libido, diminished ability to orgasm, impotence and ejaculation are associated with antidepressant usage.  Performance anxiety, or work related stress can also hinder erectile function.

5.     Alcohol:

Alcohol can inhibit erectile functioning by causing a restriction in blood flow to the penis and can affect production of the male hormone testosterone, affecting sex drive and erections.  Furthermore, alcohol is a depressant, and using it heavily can dampen mood, decrease sexual desire, and make it difficult for a man to achieve erections or reach an orgasm while under the influence.

6.     Smoking:

Smoking cigarettes increases the risk of atherosclerosis, which can reduce blood flow throughout the body, including to the penis, impairing a man's ability to get erection. Quitting smoking can help some men partly or fully restore erectile function.  There are also some studies that show smoking marijuana impairs smooth muscle function, affecting the penis which is 70-80% smooth muscle.

7.     Cocaine:

In men, chronic cocaine use can cause delayed or impaired ejaculation.  Furthermore, cocaine is a vasoconstrictor, meaning that it causes blood vessels to constrict, and blood vessels in the penis need to be dilated in order for an erection to occur.

Over 40 and overweight? Take this test

According to a new recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, people 40 or older who are overweight or obese should be tested for abnormal blood sugar levels.

What does having abnormal blood sugar mean? Having abnormal blood sugar means that your body is not breaking down and using sugar the way that it should. This can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Having an abnormal blood sugar doesn’t mean you have diabetes, but it does mean you are on your way to developing it. There are three tests your doctor can do to test your blood sugar levels:  hemoglobin A1C, fasting plasma glucose, or the oral glucose tolerance test. If your levels come back abnormal on one of them, that may indicate you are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

Abnormal levels are between 5.7 and 6.5 percent on the hemoglobin A1C test, between 100 and 125 mg/dL on the fasting plasma glucose test, or between 140 and 199 mg/dL on the oral glucose tolerance test.

This new recommendation is an update of the USPSTF’s 2008 recommendation, which suggested only screening adults with high blood pressure for type 2 diabetes. Now, the organization has reason to believe that people who are overweight (having a BMI of 25 or above) should be screened for abnormal blood sugar levels. They say that this raises the risk of blood sugar problems and heart issues, even if those people are not experiencing any symptoms.