Erectile Dysfunction
by: Amy Otis, RN
Erectile
Dysfunction
Erectile
dysfunction (ED) or male impotence is a very common situation
for men. About thirty million men in the United States suffer
from erectile dysfunction. Of those 30 million, only one in
twenty seek any treatment. Often the initial treatment that
many men try is Viagra ®.
Approximately one million men a month receive a prescription
of Viagra ®. That's a lot of blue pills. What
does Viagra actually do? Viagra works by blocking the enzyme
that takes away an erection. If a man is unable to start an
erection or to initiate an erection, Viagra will not work
for him. However, Viagra will improve an erection. It's particularly
important for people to realize that you need direct stimulation
to the penis in order to be able to obtain and maintain your
erection.
ED
can be a physical problem. Normally, when a man is sexually
excited, his penis fills with more blood than usual and
it becomes erect or hard. When a man has ED, his penis does
not fill with enough blood to get erect or hard. Or it may
not stay erect long enough to complete the act of sex. Many
men have this health problem as stated earlier. Studies
show that about half of the men between the ages of 40 and
70 have ED to some degree.
What
causes Erectile Dysfunction?
There are many reasons why a man may develop ED. Despite the
common myth, ED is not simply a result of aging. It is more
likely to be caused by an underlying health problem.
Some
causes of ED can be:
Diabetes
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Depression
Heart disease
Stress
Cigarette smoking
Injuries,or surgery
Certain medications
Too much alcohol
Here’s
what usually happens when a man is sexually excited:
1. The arteries in the penis relax and widen (this allows
more blood to flow into the penis).
2. These arteries then expand and harden.
3. The veins that normally carry blood away from the penis
get compressed (this restricts the blood flow out of the penis).
4. More blood begins flowing in and less flows out, making
the penis larger; this causes an erection.
How
Viagra or other erectile dysfunction drugs work:
Viagra
works by increasing blood flow where you need it. With Viagra,
you must be sexually excited to get an erection. If you take
Viagra and are not sexually stimulated, nothing will happen.
You won’t get an erection just by taking the pill. Viagra
is not an aphrodisiac or hormone.
For most men, the nerves or blood vessels that play a part
in this process work properly. For other men, this may not
be true. In these cases, the man may not be able to get an
erection. Viagra works by increasing blood flow to the penis.
This way, when a man is sexually excited, he can get and keep
an erection.
Yes, there
are side effects as there are with any medication a person
takes. Talk to your doctor. Don't be embarrassed. There’s
only one way to know for sure any ED drug is right for you.
You have to visit your physician. It’s important you
see your doctor for a physical exam and a face to face conversation
about ED. Don't use an Internet service that offers an online
diagnosis and don't take someone else's medication.
It’s
important to know that Viagra or other ED medication isn't
for everyone. If you use nitrate drugs, often used to control
chest pain (also known as angina), don’t take Viagra.
Make sure to ask your physician if your heart is healthy enough
for sexual activity. Always
tell your doctor about any medicines you take, both prescription
and nonprescription. A medicine you are taking for another
health problem might be causing your ED. Talk with your doctor
about the medicines you are taking. And never stop taking
any medicine before talking to your physician.
Remember, you work together with your health care provider.
Make sure you have one that you can talk to openly.
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