What is erectile dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to achieve and maintain an erection long enough to complete the desired sexual activity.
Ongoing ED may interfere with your relationships, affect your self-esteem, and create stress or anxiety. It may also be a symptom of an underlying illness such as heart disease, diabetes, thyroid disorder, and depression.
What causes ED?
The cascade of events that allow you to get and keep an erection is much more complicated than it would seem when your body is doing it quickly and easily. Erections involve your emotions, brain, hormones, nerves, muscles, and blood vessels.
When aroused, your brain stimulates your nerves to fire signals to your vascular system. Blood then rushes into the penis, engorging and swelling the tissues until you’re fully erect.
Owing to the many steps involved in achieving an erection, numerous physical factors can lead to ED:
- Disorders and abnormalities of the heart and blood vessels
- High cholesterol levels
- Obesity
- Health conditions and the prescription medications that treat them
- Abuse of tobacco, alcohol, or certain illegal substances
- Sleep disorders
- Scar tissue in the penis
- Surgeries or injuries to the pelvis or spinal cord
Psychological and emotional causes of ED include:
- Relationship problems
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Stress
How can I prevent ED?
ED is more likely to occur with increased age and decreased health. Thus, the first step to preventing ED is to make sure you’re healthy and fit. Other prevention methods include:
- Regular annual physical examinations
- Treating underlying health conditions, including diabetes and heart disease
- Exercising regularly
- Quitting the use of tobacco, alcohol, and recreational drugs
- Using a stress-reduction program
- Addressing underlying mental health disorders
How’s ED treated?
During your ED consult with Dr. Kermani, he examines and tests you for the underlying conditions or disorders that may cause or contribute to the dysfunction. Lifestyle changes, including but not limited to relaxation techniques and therapy, may be all that’s required to resolve your ED.
Dr. Kermani may also prescribe medications that increase blood flow to the penis, such as Viagra and Cialis. If those don’t help, you may respond better to testosterone replacement therapy or could require surgery.
Whatever is causing your ED, Dr. Kermani can help you manage or resolve it. Call him today.
