Men's Health: Erectile Dysfunction (ED)

The term erectile dysfunction covers a range of disorders, but usually refers to
the inability to obtain an adequate erection for satisfactory sexual activity.

More common in men older than 65, it can occur at any age. As men age, it is
normal to experience changes in erectile function. Erections may take longer to
develop, may not be as rigid or may require more direct stimulation to be
achieved. An occasional episode of erectile dysfunction happens to most men and
is normal. Men may also notice that orgasms are less intense, the volume of
semen is reduced and recovery time takes longer.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) may not only be a sign of a physical problems but
there is often an emotional problem that must be addressed. Symptoms for ED
include: occasional inability to obtain a full erection, inability to maintain
an erection throughout intercourse and/or complete inability to achieve an
erection.

When ED proves to be a pattern or a persistent problem, it can interfere with a
man's self-image as well as his and his partner's sexual life. Stress is a major
player that can knock you down a few notches and ways of managing that stress
must be taken seriously. Making sure you maintain good blood flow is one of the
most important things you should be aware of as you age. Therefore, ED is
categorized into two separate root causes:

Physical causes for ED may include:
1. Nerve damage from longstanding diabetes (diabetic neuropathy)
2. Cardiovascular disorders affecting the blood supply to the pelvis
3. Certain prescription medications
4. Operations for cancer of the prostate
5. Fractures that injure the spinal cord
6. Multiple sclerosis
7. Hormonal disorders
8. Alcoholism and other forms of drug abuse
9. The first signs of an underlying medical problem.

Long term diseases of the lungs, liver, kidneys, heart, nerves, arteries or
veins can lead to impotence. So can endocrine system disorders, particularly
diabetes. In some men, erectile dysfunction may be caused by low levels of the
hormone testosterone (male hypogonadism).The accumulation of deposits (plaques)
in the arteries (atherosclerosis) also can prevent adequate blood from entering
the penis. In fact, the penis and the strength of the erection is the male
barometer of his overall health.

Psychological causes for ED may include:
1. Stress, anxiety and fatigue.
2. Impotence is also an occasional side effect of psychological problems such as
depression.
3. Negative feelings such as feelings that you express toward your sexual
partner or that are expressed by your sexual partner (resentment, hostility or
lack of interest) also can be a factor in erectile dysfunction.
4. Low self-esteem, a feeling of inadequacy or insecurity about a situation.

The physical and nonphysical causes of erectile dysfunction commonly interact.
For instance, a minor physical problem that slows sexual response may cause
anxiety about attaining an erection. Then the anxiety can worsen your erectile
dysfunction.

There are three steps to a normal erection:
1. Arousal is the first step, which men achieve from the senses of sight, touch,
hearing and smell, and from thoughts themselves.
2. The Nervous System Response occurs when the brain communicates the sexual
excitement to the body's nervous system, which activates increased blood flow to
the penis.
3. The Blood Vessel Response is an actual relaxing action that occurs in the
blood vessels that supply the penis, (not excitement) allowing more blood to
flow into the urethra, which produces the erection. If something affects any of
these factors or the delicate balance among them, erectile dysfunction can
result.

Top 10 Ways to Keep It Up

1. Limit or avoid the use of alcohol and other similar drugs.

2. Stop smoking.

3. Exercise regularly. Do both muscle strengthening and cardio.

4. Reduce stress.

5. Get enough sleep.

6. Deal with anxiety or depression.

7. Loss Weight. Avoid fatty foods and cut back on portion size.

8. Follow the guidelines for good arterial health.

9. Seek counseling for yourself or with your partner.

10. See your doctor for regular checkups and medical screening tests.


Andrew Pacholyk, MS. L.Ac
https://peacefulmind.com/articlesm.htm

__________________
"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." ~Immanual Kant~

NatMedTalk and Beyond
PetForums

Under 3 of three steps to a normal erection.

" The blood vessel response.............. allowing more blood to flow into the urethra"

The urethra is a vessel that supplies the penis with blood?

What about the corpora cavernosa, the main suppliers of blood to the penis?

Hi Cedy! The only thing I can figure, is that the Author of this article was using the older terminology of corpus cavernosum urethrae.

The author seems to be contradicting himself. During a normal erection the corpora cavernosa contain most of the blood in the penis, The corpus spongiosum contains a lesser amount of blood.This is so whether old or new terminology is used. Would an erection be considered normal if the spongiosum contained more blood than it usually has?

Cedy,

This was an article I came across, and thought it would be beneficial to some. I have no expertise or personal experience on the subject at hand.

You obviously are more knowledgeable than myself, and it's unfortunate if the article is erroneous in certain areas.

I know that not all the information I read online is completely accurate, but I'm always willing to explore and make my own decisions on the validity of the content of subjects that I'm interested in, or affect me personally.

Thanks for pointing out the statements that may be incorrect, surely it will help someone down the line

The private secondary school I attended in my teens did not teach natural sciences. I studied Maths, History, Scripture and languages. I have never received any sort of training in natural sciences. I worked in a hospital once but in a clerical capacity.
I got my first computer in 2003. Since then I have been gathering information from several health fora. That is all the knowledge I have about those sciences, nutrition, diseases,etc.
Knowledge should be shared. Misinformation should not be. Think about the children! My limited knowledge does not allow me to agree with what the author has written. For the sake of others who may read your post, let us hope that the author is right and I am wrong.

HEY! There is a chinese herbal supplement drink called shou wu chih. You can find it in chinese herbal stores (do not pay more than 5 bucks a bottle). If you take a dose (a shot glass) a day, after a week you are continuously horny (no offense intended)

Do you know what are the ingredients in this drink?

The main one is Ho Shou Wu (Polygonum Multiflorum)