Erectile Dysfunction: Causes and Treatments

Michael Krco, M.D., Urology, Advanced Healthcare

Posted: Sept. 1, 2004

Erectile dysfunction, also referred to as ED, is affecting more and more people every day. As a man gets older, he becomes more susceptible to this rather common occurrence. It’s most commonly seen in men aged 50 and older, and becomes more prominent the older he gets.

Michael Krco, M.D., Urology, Advanced Healthcare "If you have erectile dysfunction, it’s definitely worthwhile to talk to a doctor about it because simple treatments are available."

What is Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction is a man’s inability to achieve or maintain a firm erection. ED is also commonly referred to as “impotence.” According to Michael Krco, M.D., Urology, “ED is a vascular problem. Basically it is a hardening of the arteries, causing a problem with blood flow to the penis.”

What is ED?
There are many causes of erectile dysfunction. Nearly all of them are of a physical nature that inhibits or reduces blood flow to the penis. Some of the leading causes are as follows:

• Diabetes (a leading cause of erectile dysfunction)
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Elevated cholesterol
• Smoking
• Alcoholism
• Liver failure
• Prostate cancer treatments (mainly radiation and surgery)
• Hormone imbalance
• Neurological disorders (e.g., spinal cord injuries)
• Side effects from other drug treatments
• High lipids (fats that are insoluble in water)
• Hypertension

“In the past,” Dr. Krco says, “ED was thought to be caused by psychological factors.” However, modern science has determined that the large majority of cases have physical causes rather than psychological. Regardless, Dr. Krco urges, “If you have erectile dysfunction, it’s definitely worthwhile to talk to a doctor about it because simple treatments are available.”

Treatment Options
There are several ways to combat erectile dysfunction. One of the most popular ways is through the use of medication. Using one of the many oral medications available on the market will oftentimes offer temporary relief of erectile dysfunction. But one must be careful because, “these drugs can interfere with some heart medications,” warns Dr. Krco. “It’s best to talk to a doctor first.”

Other prominent treatments include:

• Injection program, where a man injects medication directly into his penis
• Surgery, where a small medical device is placed inside the penis
• Urethral suppository, where medication is inserted into the urethra

Prevention
The best way to prevent erectile dysfunction lies in lifestyle changes that can alter the physical causes. A healthy lifestyle that includes no smoking, not drinking to excess, exercising, and proper nutrition can decrease, or eliminate completely, a majority of the determining physical factors of ED. Such a change is not a completely foolproof prevention method, but it is a step in the right direction.

Each case of ED is different because of the wide array of causes, and the environment in which a man lives, both socially and physically. The best thing to do is talk to a doctor and follow a plan of action from there.

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