Is Erectile Dysfuction Preventable
Erectile Dysfunction: Can It Be Prevented?
As the old adage says, “An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.” For medical experts, erectile dysfunction (ED) cannot accurately be predicted, but the causes have been documented. Changes in the lifestyle choices of the man may reduce his risk of ED. If prevention is not completely possible, then diagnoses at an early stage, coupled with the proper treatment, can win the battle against ED.
A Look into the Past
The patient’s medical history is an important database that helps doctors find out causes for a man’s ED. Impotence is linked to many other health problems, especially that of the cardiovascular system and nervous system. The doctor examines the list of medications previously or currently taken by the patient, as many drugs are known to have ED as a side effect. Alcoholism and substance abuse in a patient’s history can tell a lot to a practitioner as to why ED is experienced.
Let’s Get Physical
Physical tests are performed to know the overall health of the patient. Observation of the hair and balding patterns can indicate if he has a hormonal imbalance or not, as low testosterone levels contribute to ED. Checking the blood pressure and pulse rate tells if the patient has a problem with his blood flow, which consequently decreases supply to the penis during an erection. Read more
ED Therapy Without Drugs
Beyond the Drugs: Is there Therapy for ED?
In the United States, over 30 million men experience erectile dysfunction (ED). Medical experts say that ED is a combination of many physical as well as psychological factors. Most of the drugs available commercially, like Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra, are made to target the physical hurdle of ED. But for some men, the drugs just don’t seem to work for them. So the question is: Is there therapy for ED?
The answer is yes. If physical elements of ED can’t be solved, then the mental causes can. A survey done in 2001 by the Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization which provides reviews and information on healthcare interventions, found out that about 43% of the studied men had ED because of physical factors, 43% had ED due to psychological factors, and the rest attribute their ED to both.
In some cases, doctors recommend a patient to undergo psychotherapy, when a patient experiences ED because of anxiety or low self-esteem towards sex. This is done to relieve the stress associated with ED or when undergoing other treatments for ED. Other times, the man’s partner undergoes psychotherapy as well, so both can benefit from techniques to improve their lovemaking and overcome ED. Read more