What is the first image that comes to mind when you hear the words “erectile dysfunction”? If your answer is “old men”, then don’t worry for you are not alone! This is one of the most common misbeliefs as commercials for erectile dysfunction (ED) medications often paint this image. In fact, erectile dysfunction affects men of all ages. So the real question is: how can you identify erectile dysfunction?
Age is certainly a prominent risk factor for men who suffer from ED. While ED is a difficult topic to address, it actually affects more men in the prime of their lives than might actually think. So what are the steps you should take to avoid becoming a victim of this condition yourself, you may ask? Well, you have to first identify the risk factors for ED. Only then will you be able to incorporate prevention and treat the condition effectively. In that regard, let’s deep dive into the top ten risk factors for ED in men, shall we?
The Top 10 Risk Factors for ED
Take some time to identify and understand the risks of ED. Doing so will allow you to make the necessary changes needed to prevent ED, or naturally reverse it. These risk factors include:
1) Obesity
Obesity is one of the strongest risk factors for ED. Apart from ED, obesity can also increase your risk of other health problems as well. Statistically, a large number of men who suffer from ED have a BMI of 25 or higher. Additionally, a BMI of 25 or higher may also put you at risk of being affected by debilitating diseases. These include type 2 diabetes mellitus, ischemic stroke, or coronary heart disease. Yikes!
2) The Use of Mediatications
Some medications may cause a number of side effects. It is important to be aware of the medications that you are using to ensure they are not causing ED. Some of the medications that may cause ED include antidepressants, blood pressure medications, antihistamines, chemotherapy drugs, and synthetic hormones.
3) A Hormone Imbalance in your Body
Hormones are responsible for many of the bodily functions that help to keep you healthy. A minor imbalance in your hormones can affect your sexual desire, and your ability to achieve or maintain an erection. For instance, irregularities in your hormone levels affect your testosterone levels. Additionally, a thyroid condition or any problems that affect your pituitary gland could put you at an increased risk of ED.
4) A Health Disorder or Disease
Another cause of erectile dysfunction could be an underlying health disorder or disease. Suffering from a health problem that disrupts blood circulation in your body puts you at a higher risk for ED. Some of these health conditions include diabetes, heart disease and hypertension. However, there are also other common health issues that increase your risk of ED. These include metabolic syndromes, high cholesterol, or even a neurological disorder such as Parkinson’s disease.
5) Poor Blood Circulation in your Body
There are a few reasons for ED that pertain to poor blood circulation. The first is that ED may be caused by a health problem that directly impacts your body’s blood circulation. The other reasons include the consumption of an unhealthy diet or vascular damage due to diabetes. If your penis does not receive adequate blood flow, you will not be able to achieve or maintain an erection.
6) Psychological Conditions
Sex and intimacy are both equal parts physical and psychological in nature. In that regard, mental health problems such as anxiety and depression are two of the main culprits for ED. They can cause you to suffer a reduced sex drive, or an inability to perform sexually. Stress, too, can increase your proneness to ED, as it promotes the production of hormones such as adrenaline, which diverts blood flow away from the penis, and channels it to the heart and lungs instead.
7) Use of Recreational Drugs, or Consumption of Alcohol
It goes without saying that recreational drugs are bad for you. Like the consumption of alcohol, the abuse of drugs can also put a damper on physical sensation, and heighten the emotions that are typically triggered during bouts of depression and anxiety. And you know what happens when that happens.
8) Consumption of an Unhealthy Diet
Interestingly, some identify the occurrence of erectile dysfunction with the consumption of unhealthy foods. Some of these foods include processed carbohydrates (think pizzas and doughnuts), refined sugars and unhealthy fats. These foods can not only affect your health negatively but can also contribute to obesity and cause your once healthy vascular function to go topsy-turvy. In fact, the chemicals, preservatives and artificial additives in these foods can also impact testosterone levels in your body, subsequently putting you at a higher risk of suffering from ED.
9) Use of Tobacco
It is a given that cigarette smoking is bad for your health. It is, after all, the leading cause of fatalities due to pneumonia, emphysema and lung cancer. At the same time, the chemicals which can be found in cigarette smoke can also damage the lining of your blood vessels. This prevents healthy blood circulation, which in turn, reduces the occurrence of achieving an erection.
10) A Sedentary Lifestyle
The more sedentary your lifestyle, the higher the likelihood of your waistline increasing. A daily routine that includes little to no exercise can also contribute to poor cardiovascular health, as well as an increased risk of health disorders such as diabetes and ED.
It is important to note, however, that just because you can relate to any one of the risk factors listed above, it does not necessarily mean that you are going to suffer from ED. But it would be wise for you to be aware of what these risk factors may be, and take positive steps which could help to decrease your risk of suffering from this problem. Alternatively, if you have already started to experience early signs of ED, it is advisable for you to talk to a medical professional about treatment options, and the steps you can take to manage or reverse the condition.
Alas, ED is a condition that no man would even wish on his worst enemy (a man, of course). And if it does happen, do not ignore it as you will not be able to do away with its accompanying symptoms unless you take action. So be a man, do the right thing, and make positive changes to help yourself achieve sexual confidence once again, starting today!
