Erectile dysfunction, also referred to as impotence, is a sexual health condition in which men are either not able to get an erection or are unable to maintain one long enough. This issue might occur in men of all ages. If the problem occurs just once or twice, it isn’t a cause of concern, but if the problem persists for long enough, then it is an indicator of the underlying health issue and is best to visit your doctor. It has been confirmed that ED occurs in men above the age of 40 normally, but might occur in men below 40 years of age as well. Though the main cause of ED is yet unknown, researchers suggest that it is the poor flow of blood to the penis which might be one of the major reasons for men to suffer from ED issues, worldwide. It is the action of the enzyme PDE5 which is responsible mainly for the poor flow of blood to the penis. When this enzyme works, it causes contraction of the arteries carrying blood to the penis which leads to the poor flow of blood, leading to ED.
A list of few surprising reasons that cause ED in men are listed below:
1. High levels of cholesterol
A man suffering from high levels of cholesterol might have an increased risk of atherosclerosis where the arteries tend to narrow and clogged, which might in turn lead to erectile dysfunction in men. When these arteries get clogged and narrow, the blood flow to the penis gets restricted which leads to less blood in the penis, thus, leading to ED.
2. Depression
It is a known fact that depression and ED go hand in hand. Men who are depressed might have low interest to indulge in sexual intercourse. This may lead to erectile dysfunction in men who are depressed.
3. Smoking and alcoholism
Smoking leads to damage of the blood vessels carrying blood to the penis due to plaque buildup. On the other hand, alcohol may also lead to poor flow of blood to the penis and act as a depressant. Therefore, smoking and alcohol are things to be avoided by men to avoid the problems such as erectile dysfunction.
4. Cycling
It has been observed that long hours of cycling could lead to compression of the perennial nerves and the blood vessels which could further lead to nerve damage and then ED.
5. Medicines
Many medicines such as that for diabetes, psychosis, depression, hypertension and cholesterol may lead to erectile dysfunction as a side effect.
6. Stress
High levels of stress may lead to psychological instability in men around the world. These problems may lead to lower levels of sex drive in men which could ultimately lead to erectile dysfunction in men.
7. Diabetes
Men who are diabetic have a higher chance to suffer from erectile dysfunction. High levels of diabetes can lead to ill-effects on the nerves and blood vessels which could restrict the flow of blood to the penis.
8. Hypertension
Hypertension is a huge health risk which could lead to ED in men. Hypertension might cause the blood vessels to be unable to flow adequate blood to the penis, leading to ED in men.
9. Peyronie’s disease
This disease in men leads to a curvature of the penis due to the hardening of scar tissue. This causes a lot of pain when a man gets an erection. Hence, this disease ensures that the ability and interest of men to indulge in sexual encounters are lowered, thus, problems such as erectile dysfunction can be caused.
10. Sedentary lifestyle
Sedentary lifestyle problems and a poor diet regime might lead to weight gain issues (obesity), diabetes, hypertension and many more health issues in men. These may lead to erectile dysfunction in men who have a sedentary lifestyle.
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