What's The Best Treatment For Erectile Dysfunction?
Introduction
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common condition affecting men. It can be either lifelong or acquired later in life. It’s caused by physical or psychological issues, including anxiety and depression, stress, diabetes and high blood pressure. The condition may also be related to hormone problems such as low testosterone levels or a lack of male sex hormones (androgens). If you think you have ED, it’s important to seek help from your doctor before it gets worse. He or she will be able to recommend the best treatment for you depending on your individual situation.
ED is the inability to get and keep an erection firm enough for sex. ED occurs when not enough blood flows to the penis, preventing an erection. The most common causes of ED are clogged blood vessels or a problem with the nerves that control erections.
Although erectile dysfunction can be caused by a variety of health problems, the condition is most often linked to age. As men age, they may have more trouble getting and keeping an erection firm enough for sex.
- -A common cause of ED among older men is atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries due to plaque buildup. When arteries narrow and blood flow becomes restricted, it can lead to ED.
- -Another common cause of ED among older men is low testosterone levels (hypogonadism). Testosterone is a male hormone that’s needed for normal sexual function in both men and women. Testosterone levels decline naturally as people get older; however, some medications may also lower testosterone levels and contribute to ED in some cases.
Treatment options include medications, surgery, implants, lifestyle changes and natural remedies.
- Medications: While medications can be an effective short-term solution, they don’t take the place of treating the underlying cause of erectile dysfunction. Medications are also not without side effects. They may even cause other conditions like high blood pressure or heart disease.
- Surgery: If you have been diagnosed with erectile dysfunction and your doctor recommends surgery, it’s important that you ask about all available options before deciding on one treatment method over another. There are several different types of surgery for men who experience erectile dysfunction, including injections into their penis or surgical implants in their pelvis area (called penile prostheses). The long-term success rate for most surgical procedures is low—around 50 percent—so this should be something you discuss carefully with your doctor beforehand so that you know exactly what to expect afterward
Medications used to treat impotence include oral medicines such as sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn) and avanafil (Stendra) as well as intraurethral suppositories (Muse).
Medications used to treat impotence include oral medicines such as sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn) and avanafil (Stendra). Intraurethral suppositories (Muse) are another option.
Oral medications are effective at resolving erectile dysfunction but require patients to take a pill an hour before sexual activity. For this reason, they aren’t appropriate for every patient. They can be taken with or without food and may cause side effects including headaches and indigestion in some people.
If you have an underlying medical condition such as heart disease or diabetes that is causing your erectile dysfunction, you might need more intensive treatment. For example, if your heart isn’t healthy enough for sexual activity because of heart disease, you might need to lower your blood pressure or take medications to unclog your blood vessels. Erectile dysfunction can also be caused by obesity, alcohol, tobacco use and illegal drug use. These issues can block blood flow to the penis or cause nerve damage.
- If you have an underlying medical condition such as heart disease or diabetes that is causing your erectile dysfunction, you might need more intensive treatment. For example, if your heart isn’t healthy enough for sexual activity because of heart disease, you might need to lower your blood pressure or take medications to unclog your blood vessels. Erectile dysfunction can also be caused by obesity, alcohol, tobacco use and illegal drug use. These issues can block blood flow to the penis or cause nerve damage.
- If you smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol regularly, these behaviors can lead to erectile dysfunction. Smoking reduces the amount of oxygen carried in your bloodstream due to carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke reducing capillary size in penile tissue and reducing oxygen levels available for erection strength.*
If medications fail then vacuum devices can be tried followed by other treatments until surgery is needed.
If medications fail, vacuum devices can be tried. These include the vacuum pump and artificial penile erection (APE). The APE consists of a silicone tube that is placed around the penis and then filled with an inert gas such as carbon dioxide or nitrous oxide. This causes blood to flow into the penis, achieving an erection.
These devices are usually used in combination with other treatments like additional drugs, psychological therapies, or even other types of surgery. Surgery may also be recommended if medications have not been effective in treating ED or if they are unable to control your symptoms adequately
If medication options prove unsuccessful and ED persists despite other treatments such as psychological therapies then surgery may be necessary
Impotence may be caused by a variety of factors that affect the function of the heart and vessels
Impotence may be caused by a variety of factors that affect the function of the heart and vessels. These include:
- Atherosclerosis, which is an abnormal buildup of plaque in your blood vessels. This can cause blockages that make it difficult for blood to flow through them.
- High blood pressure (hypertension), which causes plaque buildup in your arteries. The more severe the hypertension is, the more likely you are to experience erectile dysfunction as a result.
- Heart disease or cardiovascular disease, including coronary artery disease and heart failure, which can affect how well your heart pumps blood throughout your body—including to all areas involved in sexual activity.
Conclusion
In short, the best treatment for erectile dysfunction is a combination of good sexual health and a healthy lifestyle. The most important thing you can do is to cut back on smoking, alcohol consumption and drug use. Regular exercise can also make a huge difference in your life and overall wellness. Finally, make sure that you’re getting enough sleep every night because this will help improve your overall health as well!
Takeaway: The best treatment for erectile dysfunction is a combination of good sexual health and a healthy lifestyle!