Erectile Dysfunction Causes
Nearly 30 million men
experience ED. The degree of dysfunction varies among those who experience it, as some have a more difficult time than others. Erectile dysfunction can refer to any of the following: the ability to get an erection sometimes but not consistently; the inability to maintain an erection; an inability to get an erection at all.
ED is most often a symptom of a separate
underlying health condition or factor. This is very important to keep in mind. Various conditions and diseases that affect the vascular, nervous, or endocrine systems can lead to erectile dysfunction. These include: diabetes, atherosclerosis, heart disease, high blood pressure, and kidney disease.
Certain medications such as antidepressants, prescription sedatives, and appetite suppressants can cause ED as well. If you experience ED and take one of those types of medications, bring it up with your doctor. Additionally, mental health factors such as stress, depression, anxiety, and guilt or fear in regard to sexual activity can also cause erectile dysfunction.
Lifestyle Factors and ED
Aside from the possibility of erectile dysfunction being the result of a health condition, there are other factors that cause ED, such as lifestyle factors that are usually within one's control.
Factors having to do with
diet, sleep and overall lifestyle can cause ED. One factor is poor sleep habits: A man who doesn't get enough sleep on a regular basis is more liable to experience erectile dysfunction. A sedentary lifestyle can also contribute to ED, because it can contribute to less-than-ideal circulatory function.
A diet that is either heavy in junk food, light in heart-healthy foods, or both, can contribute to ED. Alcohol and tobacco use can also inhibit the occurrence of healthy erections, especially while under the influence.
Natural Remedies for ED
The following supplements are touted for their potential to help treat ED. While addressing the conditions or lifestyle factors that can cause ED should be your foremost priority, using these in tandem might be beneficial. Discuss this with your doctor before incorporating a new supplement into your routine.
L-arginine is an amino acid that contributes to the production of nitric oxide, which is a neurotransmitter that helps
blood vessels relax and expand. Correspondingly, it plays a critical role in erections because it helps promote healthy blood flow throughout the body.
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is a hormone that the male body naturally uses to create testosterone, which contributes to over-all male sexual functioning, including healthy erections. Taking DHEA has the potential to help treat ED by
raising testosterone levels. This is helpful specifically to men who have lower testosterone levels, usually a result of lifestyle factors or a medical condition.
Ginkgo Biloba is a plant with a range of touted benefits. One of these is the ability to help dilate blood vessels, which stimulates blood flow and might help
treat sexual dysfunction in men. There is science which suggests that it can be specifically and especially beneficial to men experiencing ED as a result of taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, a common type of medication for depression.
Horny goat weed is an herb which has long been used as an
ED treatment in Chinese traditional medicine. It is generally recommended for more general uses other than treating ED, but it is well worth a try. Horny goat weed has also been linked to lower blood pressure.
Ginseng has been shown to
improve sexual functioning in men with ED in at least one study. Ginseng is a root that is ground up and converted into supplement form.
