12 Common causes of erectile dysfunction
Are you facing a problem in keeping erections at bedtime? I can feel you; nothing is more scary than this worst situation in front of your partner. Imagine you are ready for the moment of intimacy on a date but feel something is not right.
It is a common issue that most people experience, but in medical terms, it is called erectile dysfunction. Don’t be scared because of its name; it’s just a condition in which men can’t keep an erection that is treatable. However, treatment depends on underlying causes because various factors cause ED. So treatment should be according to the cause.
Before its treatment, it’s essential to know the underlying causes of erectile dysfunction. Do you know the common causes of erectile dysfunction? No? Don’t fret today; we will tell you the common causes of erectile dysfunction and some tips to avoid this erectile dysfunction.
12 Causes of erectile dysfunction
Here are the following factors that contribute to poor erection:
- Unbalanced diet
An unbalanced diet that lacks essential nutrients is the sole factor in erectile dysfunction (ED) in some cases. A diet that lacks healthy nutrients negatively impacts your sexual health, including reactions. If your diet does not have sufficient amounts of zinc, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids, this food deficiency will potentially contribute to ED.
Additionally, an unbalanced diet that is high in calories, saturated fats, sugars, and processed foods can lead to obesity and metabolic syndrome. These conditions are linked with ED because they can lead to problems with blood flow, hormone imbalances, and systemic inflammation.
- Depression
Erectile dysfunction can happen because of depression because depression affects your mental and physical health. Depression and ED are interlinked. Research proved that depression increases the risk of ED and raises the risk.
If you feel the inability to achieve or maintain an erection, try to reduce your stress level through different depression therapies and couple counseling.
- Low testosterone
Testosterone is the main sex hormone that aids you in maintaining erection. If the level of testosterone hormones drops below the normal range, it results in an inability to keep an erection.
A report mentioned that it is found that ED mostly occurs in men with low chesterton levels.
- Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a major cause of ED because an unhealthy, cancerous prostate can’t produce semen, which leads to erectile dysfunction.
Additionally, the treatment of prostate cancer, like surgery, radiation, and medicine, causes severe erectile dysfunction. During the treatment process, the vein of the penis gets damaged, and inflammation occurs on the penis, which causes painful ejaculation and issue in getting an erection.
- Diabetes
The second most common cause of ED is diabetes. Yes, it is a fact. More than half of diabetes men experience erection dysfunction within 10 years after diagnosis.
In diabetes, the high blood sugar level damages the nerves; when nerves get damaged, it causes a hurdle in an erection. High blood sugar also affects the vessel which manages blood flow to the penis. So it’s better to control your sugar level because a controlled sugar level aids in lowering the symptoms of ED.
Moreover, medicine for ED doesn’t work on diabetic patients. They should choose treatment options like penile injection, vacuum erection pump, and penile implants.
- Pelvic surgery
It is found that pelvic surgery is the most common cause of ED in men. In some cases, during the surgery, the small nerves that lie near the prostate and control erection get damaged. So before going under pelvic surgery, get proper information about the doctor and treatment to avoid erectile dysfunction.
- Neurological disorder
Neurological health is vital to maintaining an erection because you can keep an erection when your nerves are working fine. However, neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s, sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease cause erectile dysfunction. People with spinal cord injury also face neurological disorders.
- Vascular diseases
In some cases, the ED occurs because of vascular diseases. During vascular issues like coronary artery diseases, blood-carrying vessels become narrow and blocked, and arteries that bring blood to the penis also become narrow. So people with vascular diseases go through ED problems.
- Weight gain
The primary reason for erectile dysfunction is executive body weight. When a person has a high BMI, it leads to erectile dysfunction. A normal BMI ranges from 20 to 25, and an alarming BMI of 30 makes erection difficult.
A recent study showed that men with a BMI above 31 are at risk of erectile dysfunction.
A report published in Jamaica showed that 31 percent of men have ED because of obesity.
- Medication
The use of different medicines to treat various diseases shows some side effects, and ED is one of them. According to the American Academy of Family Practice reports medicines like antihistamines, antidepressants, and heartburn pills cause erection problems.
So, use medicine in the recommended amount because excessive use causes serious issues.
- Tobacco
Tobacco consumption is not good for your sexual life because the smoke you inhale affects your fertility.
According to an observational study, men ages 40 to 70 who use tobacco are at a higher risk of ED than those who don’t use tobacco. That’s why quitting tobacco is important to prevent it; otherwise, you will experience this serious problem in the future.
- Inactivity
Inactivity or a sedentary lifestyle contributes to the development of erectile dysfunction. Due to inactivity, reduced blood flow to the penis does not flow properly. It does not reach all parts of the penis and causes problems with erection.
So avoid ED and become active, because physical activity promotes healthy blood circulation throughout the body, including to the genital area.
Conclusion
Factors like an unbalanced diet, inactivity, low testosterone level, vascular diseases, weight gain, use of tobacco, pelvic surgery, and neurological disorders cause erectile dysfunction.