Impotence can interfere with a healthy relationship. This problem can also affect your self-esteem and mental health. However, if you understand the causes and recognize that an impotence specialist can help by ordering an erectile dysfunction test, you’re taking the first steps to receive the care you deserve.
Heart Disease
A link exists between erectile dysfunction and heart disease. Several recent studies show that your risk of ED increases if you have heart disease. One study showed that 67 percent of men who got hospitalized for a heart attack suffered from ED at one point in their lives. Another study indicated that 57 percent of men who received bypass surgery also had ED at some time during their lives.
Your penis requires an adequate supply of blood. Unfortunately, your penis may not receive adequate blood flow to achieve an erection if you have heart disease.
Obesity
Obesity can cause impotence and comorbidities, such as diabetes and hypertension. Both diabetes and hypertension can damage your blood vessels and prohibit proper blood flow, causing the penis not to achieve erection.
When you contend with obesity, you may also have an increase in inflammation, which in return, damages your blood vessels and leads to erectile dysfunction.
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure decreases your blood flow, which interferes with blood reaching the penis normally and adequately.
It can also make it more difficult to ejaculate, in which can lower sexual desires. The drugs prescribed to patients with hypertension can cause these same effects.
Diabetes
Diabetes not thoroughly regulated through medication and diet increases your risk for nerve damage. This damage can even affect the nerves in the penis, which makes it harder for a man to achieve an erection.
You might also have erectile dysfunction from diabetes because the condition, particularly when not well controlled, will damage your blood vessels as well.
Peyronie’s Disease
Peyronie’s disease causes scar tissue to develop under the skin of the penis. Ultimately, the scar tissue causes the penis to curve and will cause it to shorten. This condition can also cause painful erections, particularly as the penis swells. With Peyronie’s disease, achieving an erection is more difficult for some men.
The irregular curvature may be so severe that it makes sexual intercourse impossible. For some men, the connection between ED and Peyronie’s is mental due to embarrassment.
Alcoholism
During an erectile dysfunction test, a specialist will want to know the patient’s drinking habits. If there is excessive drinking, the risk for impotence is greater. For one, alcohol suppresses nerve sensitivity, making it more difficult to feel pleasure during sex.
Drinking excessively causes frequent dehydration. Ultimately, the dehydration reduces your blood volume, so less blood reaches the penis. Dehydration elevates the amount of angiotensin – a hormone that may induce erectile dysfunction.
Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease affects the nervous system. As a result, men who have Parkinson’s can’t always obtain an erection.
It also can cause issues with circulation to the penis as well as issues with the pelvic muscles.
Treatment for Physical Causes of Impotence in Edmonds and Seattle, WA
The problems mentioned above can lead to struggles with achieving an erection. Fortunately, these health issues can be treated, and medications exist that can help restore a dynamic sex life. The Affirm Clinic is here to assist! At Affirm Clinic, serving Edmonds and the nearby Washington region, we address the frustration and can target the root cause of your sexual dysfunction.
Contact us today for an appointment at 203-231-6000 or by using our contact form because we’re ready and waiting to assist you in getting your life back.
