Practical steps to overcome erectile dysfunction

When you can't get or maintain a satisfactory erection to have sex the condition experienced is called erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction (sometimes called impotence) can occur at any age, but it is more common in men older than 75 years of age.
The causes of erectile dysfunction:ED can be influenced by psychological, lifestyle and physical factors.

Physical causes can range from narrowing of the arteries feeding the penis - commonly associated with diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.  Physical injury and hormonal imbalances are less common causes however these are equally damaging.

Psychological causes such as stress, anxiety or depression can exacerbate matters and on their own can cause erectile dysfunction. Lifestyle factors and the use of legal and recreational drugs can have a significant effect on performance.

Treating erectile dysfunction:

The first step is to identify  general health  and lifestyle factors that could be causing  erectile dysfunction in the patient and prescribing appropriate treatment.

1. Lifestyle changes:   A change in lifestyle such as quitting smoking, drinking less alcohol, increasing physical activity and stopping illegal drug use has been shown to be highly effective in overall wellbeing and consequently sexual performance.
2. Changing medicines:  Consult with your doctor about all the medicines you are taking to treat general health issues to ensure that the medicine you are taking is causing your erectile dysfunction.  Your doctor may be able to give you an alternative medicine that works in a different way, or your doctor may advise you to try a lower dose.
3. Counseling:  Counseling can help you men to deal with the emotional effects of Erectile Dysfunction. Some couples find that counseling adds to the medical treatment by making their relationship stronger.

Your doctor may prescribe medicines to treat erectile dysfunction either as complement to the classic treatments above or as an alternative treatment.  The most commonly prescribed medicines are sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra), vardenafil (the active ingredient in Levitra) or avavanafil (the active ingredient in Spedra)

All four medications work in much the same way. If your health is generally good, your doctor may prescribe one of these medicines. These prescription medicines work by increasing blood flow to the penis causing an erection in response to sexual stimulation. Although these medications are effective not all men should take them to treat erectile dysfunction.

Its best to visit your doctor as ED could be caused by a more serious underlying condition. Even though it may seem awkward to talk with your doctor about erectile dysfunction, go in for a full evaluation.