Psychological factors such as stress and anxiety can cause ED

There are many health issues that can cause erectile dysfunction,
but many experts believe that psychological factors such as stress, anxiety, guilt, depression, low self-esteem, and fear of sexual failure cause 10 to 20 percent of all ED cases.

Even men with a physical cause for ED frequently experience the same sort of psychological reactions such as stress, anxiety, guilt, depression. Most people don’t recognize the risk of smoking in causing ED. However, smoking affects blood flow in veins and arteries, and hormonal abnormalities, such as not enough testosterone.

Source: National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse

ED usually has a physical cause in older men

In older men, ED usually has a physical cause, such as disease, injury, or side effects of drugs. Health problems that can cause injury to the nerves or impairs blood flow in the penis can cause ED.

The older the men get, the higher the erectile dysfunction incidence. For 40 year old men, the chance of getting ED is only 5%.  But for 65 years old men, the chance of getting ED increases to 15% to 25%.

The good news is that ED now is treatable at just about any age. More research has been done, more drugs have been approved, and more men are seeking help. Urologists, who specialize in problems of the urinary tract, have traditionally treated ED.  Now family doctors and many other kinds of specialists are treating ED also.

Source: National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse

Impotence is a little different from erectile dysfunction

Many people use impotence to refer to erectile dysfunction, in fact, these two terms are quite different. ED is the repeated inability to get or keep an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse.

However, impotence may also be used to describe other problems that interfere with sexual intercourse and reproduction, such as lack of sexual desire and problems with ejaculation or orgasm. Using the term erectile dysfunction makes it clear that those other problems are not involved.

Source: National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse

Psychological factors can cause erectile dysfunction

Health problems such as heart disease and vascular problems can raise the risk of erectile dysfunction. Experts also believe that psychological factors can do the same. According to research, stress, anxiety, guilt, depression, low self-esteem, and fear of sexual failure cause 10% to 20% of ED cases.

Men with a physical cause for ED frequently experience the same sort of psychological reactions such as stress, anxiety, guilt, depression. The other surprising causes are smoking. Smoking affects blood flow in veins and arteries, and hormonal abnormalities, such as not enough testosterone which can lead to ED. If you notice any problems, the first thing to do is quit smoking and talk to your doctor.

Drugs for treating ED

Drugs for treating ED can be taken orally, injected directly into the penis, or inserted into the urethra at the tip of the penis. In March 1998, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Viagra, the first pill to treat ED. Since that time, vardenafil hydrochloride (Levitra) and tadalafil (Cialis) have also been approved. Additional oral medicines are being tested for safety and effectiveness.

Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis all belong to a class of drugs called phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors. Taken an hour before sexual activity, these drugs work by enhancing the effects of nitric oxide, a chemical that relaxes smooth muscles in the penis during sexual stimulation and allows increased blood flow.

While oral medicines improve the response to sexual stimulation, they do not trigger an automatic erection as injections do. The recommended dose for Viagra is 50 mg, and the physician may adjust this dose to 100 mg or 25 mg, depending on the patient. The recommended dose for either Levitra or Cialis is 10 mg, and the physician may adjust this dose to 20 mg if 10 mg is insufficient. A lower dose of 5 mg is available for patients who take other medicines or have conditions that may decrease the body’s ability to use the drug. Levitra is also available in a 2.5 mg dose.

None of these PDE inhibitors should be used more than once a day. Men who take nitrate-based drugs such as nitroglycerin for heart problems should not use either drug because the combination can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure. Also, tell your doctor if you take any drugs called alpha-blockers, which are used to treat prostate enlargement or high blood pressure. Your doctor may need to adjust your ED prescription. Taking a PDE inhibitor and an alpha-blocker at the same time (within 4 hours) can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure.

Oral testosterone can reduce ED in some men with low levels of natural testosterone, but it is often ineffective and may cause liver damage. Patients also have claimed that other oral drugs—including yohimbine hydrochloride, dopamine and serotonin agonists, and trazodone—are effective, but the results of scientific studies to substantiate these claims have been inconsistent. Improvements observed following use of these drugs may be examples of the placebo effect, that is, a change that results simply from the patient’s believing that an improvement will occur.

Many men achieve stronger erections by injecting drugs into the penis, causing it to become engorged with blood. Drugs such as papaverine hydrochloride, phentolamine, and alprostadil (marketed as Caverject) widen blood vessels. These drugs may create unwanted side effects, however, including persistent erection (known as priapism) and scarring. Nitroglycerin, a muscle relaxant, can sometimes enhance erection when rubbed on the penis.

A system for inserting a pellet of alprostadil into the urethra is marketed as Muse. The system uses a prefilled applicator to deliver the pellet about an inch deep into the urethra. An erection will begin within 8 to 10 minutes and may last 30 to 60 minutes. The most common side effects are aching in the penis, testicles, and area between the penis and rectum; warmth or burning sensation in the urethra; redness from increased blood flow to the penis; and minor urethral bleeding or spotting.

Research on drugs for treating ED is expanding rapidly. Patients should ask their doctor about the latest advances.

Source: National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse

Psychotherapy to treat ED

Experts often treat psychologically based ED using techniques that decrease the anxiety associated with intercourse. The patient’s partner can help with the techniques, which include gradual development of intimacy and stimulation. Such techniques also can help relieve anxiety when ED from physical causes is being treated.

Source: National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse

Fibromyalgia and Erectile Dysfunction

By Helena Ederveen

What is Erectile Dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction is a complex disorder that can affect men of any age. It is the condition that prevents men from achieving or sustaining an erection. The term also includes other conditions which seriously inhibit sexual performance or render the patient unable to participate in sexual intercourse. In most cases, it is actually indicative of some underlying condition that can be treated quite easily. Often all that is required to correct this disorder is a general reduction of stress or a change in lifestyle. However, with the stigma and embarrassment associated with the condition, many men are reluctant to seek the necessary diagnosis and treatment. This can prove to be extremely dangerous, or even fatal depending on the nature of the primary disorder of which erectile dysfunction is merely a symptom.

Causes of Erectile Dysfunction

On a higher level, the causes of Erectile Dysfunction can be either physical or psychological. Physically, a variety of conditions such as high blood pressure, heart problems and diabetes have been known to cause impotence. Emotional issues such as mental stress or a general lack of sexual confidence are also equally likely to cause the same effect. One such common culprit of Erectile Dysfunction is Fibromyalgia.

What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia, formerly known as Fibrositis is a chronic condition causing pain, tenderness and stiffness of the muscles, joints, and tendons. The condition is also characterized by fatigue, restless sleep, depression, anxiety and irregular bowel function. The pain caused by Fibromyalgia is not accompanied by inflammation of the tissues (which is the common cause of pain in most diseases). Consequently, despite the acute pain, the patient does not develop any kind of bodily damage or deformity. Fibromyalgia also does not damage internal organs of the body. In this respect, Fibromyalgia differs from many other rheumatic conditions such as arthritis or systemic lupus.

Causes of Fibromyalgia

Although Fibromyalgia is becoming increasingly common, its causes remain largely unknown. Patients suffering from the condition experience pain in response to stimuli that would not usually be perceived as painful. Recent findings point to elevated levels of substance P, a nerve chemical signal as a possible cause of Fibromyalgia. Reduced levels of the brain nerve chemical serotonin have also been mentioned in connection with the causes of Fibromyalgia. Detailed analysis of pain in Fibromyalgia patients has revealed the super sensitivity of the central nervous system of such patients. This, coupled with a diffuse disturbance of pain perception could also be a cause of Fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia and Erectile Dysfunction

In recent times, as the understanding about Fibromyalgia has increased, a definite correlation between Fibromyalgia and Erectile Dysfunction has been documented. It must also be pointed out that the number of reported cases of Fibromyalgia and associated Erectile problems has been on the rise.

Fibromyalgia can be a direct, as well as an indirect, cause of this disorder. The pain caused by Fibromyalgia, particularly in the testicle and penis area, is the most direct and immediate cause of Erectile Dysfunction. Many sufferers of Fibromyalgia (both male and female) also report reduced sexual drive. This leads to performance anxiety, depression and ultimately impotence in the male patients. Excessive physical and mental fatigue caused by Sleep deprivation and muscle and joint pains are also instrumental in reducing the libido and rendering the patient unable to perform sexually.

In general cases of Erectile Dysfunction, an effective treatment is physical exercise. However, the pain associated with Fibromyalgia makes strenuous exercise extremely difficult. As a result, the lack of sustaining an erection and the probability of its occurrence are increased in patients of Fibromyalgia. Erectile Dysfunction can be directly combated with a variety of drugs that are available on prescription. In some cases where the causes of impotence are chiefly emotional, psychotherapy can be a very effective treatment as well as Neurolinguistic programming techniques. And to explore the underlying causes in comprehensive biochemical screening, which has a foundation in nutritional and environmental influences.

Snoring Remedies are provided based upon your unique situation. For more in-depth information about snoring remedies you can find out a lot more on my site. Helena Ederveen, Clinical Nutritionist is an expert in her field for many years.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Which Erectile Dysfunction Treatment Should You Choose? Discover Your Options

By Paulus Wideman

If you’re a man suffering from erectile dysfunction, chances are at one point or another, you’ve been looking for a cure. Unfortunately, unless it’s caused by underlying issues and other physiological problems, erectile dysfunction is usually a permanent condition which comes about naturally as the body wears down from age and other diseases.

While there’s no cure for erectile dysfunction, it can be treated. The various proven treatments allow men suffering from male impotence to achieve and maintain erections long enough to perform sexual intercourse, and range from easy-to-take pills to surgical procedures. The two most common forms of treatment for erection dysfunction are oral tablets and Alprostadil.

Alprostadil is the granddaddy of all ED treatments, and also the most effective in clinical trials. So why do so few men use it, or have never heard of it? The answer is simple: its delivery method. Originally it was a penile suppository, requiring men to deposit the medicine directly into their urethra. Not surprisingly, when pills treating erection dysfunction came about most men gladly tossed out their suppositories. To combat the dropping number of users, scientists have begun work on creating a cream out of the medication. Known as Befar, the topical treatment has already passed clinical tests in the East (and is available online); no word yet on when it will be tested by the USFDA.

The most common (and most asked for) treatments for this sexual condition are pills. Serving as PDE5 inhibitors, pills treating ED (Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis) work by blocking the PDE5 enzyme, and long story short, allows more sustained blood flow to the walls of the penis.

Since Viagra shook the world in 1998, PDE5 inhibitor pills have become (by far) the most used and trusted form of treatment for male impotence.

Of course, there are other options available. One option isn’t an option so much as a requirement for certain causes of ED: hormone treatments. If the causes of your impotence are hormonal in nature, simple hormone treatments will correct the problem both short- and long-term.

So what happens if Alprostadil and PDE5 inhibitors don’t work for you, and your underlying cause isn’t hormonal? These days men who find the usual treatments ineffective are opting for surgery to fix their problems. Doctors can insert prosthetic implants into your penis, giving it support to help maintain erections longer. Surgery is a costly and irreversible treatment with several possible side effects, however, so it’s usually a last resort used by men willing to risk more to treat their ED.

The author specializes in sexual health topics and is a regular contributor to online and offline columns and publications. The majority of erectile dysfunction treatments involve doctors consultations or surgery, however now you can put an end to your sexual misery with a completely natural sexual enhancement formula that doesn’t require a doctors visit or prescription by visiting prosolutiondirect.com. Also learn how cheaply you can end ED by checking out how to obtain discount prosolution pills.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Erectile Dysfunction Being Punched by Viagra Blues

by: David Turner

Nothing in the world excites you better than sex…it’s an irrepressible desire…you can not run away from sex by any means. Sex is an ultimate enhancer as well as a drastic depressor; sexual dissatisfaction leaves you in vulnerable position.

A good sex is a sensational experience; it rejuvenates your mind and body and increases your self-belief. But there are times when little Johnny does not supports you, you desperately want it but you can’t have it, and this is the time when manhood is at stake.

In medical terms the problem is christened as Erectile Dysfunction, it is defined as the inability to keep up erection essential for sexual gratification, to be a bit more precise, it can be categorized as temporary or short term erectile dysfunction or permanent erectile dysfunction. About 150 million men around the world are under its grasp, its thoroughly different form other sexual problems related to orgasm or reluctance towards sex.

Some vital factors contributing to erectile dysfunction are-

  • Diabetes, high cholesterol, and early stages of heart disease can cause erectile dysfunction.
  • Emotional disorder, problem in relationship. .
  • Socioeconomic issues.
  • Smoking and alcoholism.
  • Lack of frequent erection.

Taking impotence on your self esteem can hamper your professional as well as personal lives, it may not have a permanent cure but it is easily treatable. Online prescription pill such as Viagra is remarkably successful in the treatment of ED.

The miraculous blue pills (Viagra) hit the market hit the market in 1998 and since then it has dominated the global male impotence market. Viagra has been successful in treating 65%to 70% cases of impotence; this fact has further enhanced its popularity.

Viagra belongs to a group of drugs that contain PDE-5 inhibitors, which work by relaxing the blood vessels and allowing blood to flow into the penis. The result is a natural erection.

Viagra is available in 25mg, 50mg and 100mg tablets, to be taken as per recommended by the doctor. Take Viagra 30 minutes before sex and enjoy its effect for the next five hours. A heavy meal and alcohol consumption can increase the time taken for Viagra to effect.

Viagra can lead to serious side effects such as headache, mild facial flushes and upset stomach. Other effects noted are a bluish tinge to vision, blurred vision and light sensitivity, although these are far less common.

Viagra is strictly restricted for women and children. Adolescents who are not suffering from erectile dysfunction should not go for Viagra as it can lead to dangerous adverse effects.

Kill erectile dysfunction before it kills yours and your partners flourishing relationship, take the magical blue pills and enjoy the sexciting consequences.

About The Author

David Turner is the contributing editor to http://www.epharma.md. It is dedicated to provide clients seeking information about pills and products related to erectile dysfunction such as Viagra , Cialis and Levitra .Please send feedback at david.turner001@gmail.com

How do doctors find the cause of erectile dysfunction?

Medical History

Your doctor will ask general questions about your health, as well as specific questions about your erection problems and your relationship with your partner. Bring a list of all the medications you take, or bring them with you to show to your doctor. Tell your doctor about any surgery you have had.

Your doctor will ask about habits like alcohol use, smoking, and exercise.

Your doctor might ask you questions like

  • How do you rate your confidence that you can get and keep an erection?
  • When you have erections with sexual stimulation, how often are your erections hard enough for penetration?
  • During sexual intercourse, how often are you able to maintain your erection after you have penetrated (entered) your partner?
  • When you attempt sexual intercourse, how often is it satisfactory for you?
  • How would you rate your level of sexual desire?
  • How often are you able to reach climax and have an ejaculation?
  • Do you have an erection when you wake up in the morning?

The answers to these questions will help your doctor understand the problem.

Physical Exam

A physical exam can help your doctor find the cause of your ED. As part of the exam, the doctor will examine your testes and penis, take your blood pressure, and check your reflexes. A blood sample will be taken to test for diabetes, cholesterol level, and other conditions that may be associated with ED.

Source: National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse