What Is Impotence?
Impotence is also known as erectile dysfunction and is defined as a man’s inability to maintain an erect penis. This is a distressing condition for men as it adversely affects their sexual performance which in turn erodes their confidence. As it is a topic seldom talked about, men often withdraw into a shell of depression without realising that it is an extremely common problem. In fact, it is believed that well over 2 million men in the United Kingdom alone suffer from this problem which can be relieved somewhat with Sildenafil Citrate, a drug which treats erectile dysfunction. Approximately half of the male population over the age of 40 will experience some form of impotence at one time or another. Yet because of the embarrassment factor, only about 10% of those suffering from this problem seek help. This lack of information prevents them from knowing the causes of impotence.
Psychological Impotence
Though often discussed, the role of psychological factors in impotence are sometimes misunderstood. The primary piece of misinformation concerns the number of men who cannot achieve an erection because of mental factors alone. Various studies have shown that less than 20% of impotence in men is caused directly by psychological factors such as performance anxiety. It is the feelings of frustration and depression which come after one incident of impotence which can exacerbate any existing medical problem and this worsens the condition.
Impotence On The Brain
The brain plays a major role in achieving and preventing an erection. There is a part of the brain which sends impulses to the penis which should cause an erection. If it sends negative messages instead, chemicals will be released which will inhibit the erection process. What happens next is known as psychogenic impotence which basically means that feelings of inadequacy and guilt manifest themselves. At this point, it is important to note that psychological impotence happens to a very high percentage of men at least once in their life. Therefore, men who experience a case of impotence must not panic because there is a strong possibility that it is only an isolated case.
Depression
There are a range of factors which contribute to psychological impotence. Possibly the most common of these are a combination of depression and anxiety. It is however, difficult to differentiate between them at times and there are cases when either or both of them are responsible for the causes of impotence or merely the consequences. Clinical depression has been proven to cause psychological impotence because of the aforementioned negative effect it has on the brain. Depression is also known to completely suppress any positive feelings which has a devastating effect on the libido.
Stress
Stress and fatigue are also chief culprits when it comes to psychological impotence. Though a tiny bit of stress can drive a person, too much can consume them. Stress comes in many forms: work, family, sexual, financial and it inhibits men from achieving an erection. Yet stress related impotence should only last for as long as the person is tackling this mental strain. Fatigue is often a consequence of stress and can drain an individual’s mental and physical energy. Just like stress, as soon as this condition is dealt with, normal sexual activity should be resumed.
Help Is At Hand
It is unhealthy to allow yourself to be overcome by the psychological factors which lead to impotence. Losing your sexual drive is not something to be ashamed of because it is a common phenomenon. Regardless of whether the impotence is just a temporary problem or if it’s more permanent, help is at hand in the form of medication such as Revatio and Viagra. These are both created from Sildenafil Citrate and are designed to beat erectile dysfunction.
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Impotence Is A Result Of Another Condition
When the topic of impotence is brought up by virile young men, they laugh at the notion of it ever happening to them. Yet it is a condition that can be brought on or worsened due to a large number of reasons. The mind can play a part though this is only responsible for 10-20% of cases. In actual fact, impotence is not an illness but a symptom. Acne is often mistaken as an illness when it is a symptom of underlying problems. Impotence is exactly the same. While Viagra and Revatio are popular choices when it comes to dealing with the issue of impotence, it is necessary to see what the physical problems could be and how they can be treated.
High Blood Pressure
There are a number of physical problems that could end up leading to impotence. For example, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels lead to increased levels of impotence. Though there is currently no definite medical research which proves the reason, it is believed that excess pressure in the blood vessels causes damage to small arteries in the penis. Normally, the arteries should dilate upon sexual stimulation which allows blood to flow into the penis causing an erection. The rate of impotence amongst men suffering from hypertension is more than double that of a man with normal blood pressure levels. If impotence is caused in an individual due to high blood pressure, lowering it to more acceptable levels should work wonders.
Obesity
Obesity is also cited as a major cause of impotence. A recent survey in Italy found that impotence in obese men is 30% greater than in men who were in the desired weight range. It was also discovered that 80% of men who suffer from impotence were obese. The Italian research team took two groups of obese men and placed one of them on a exercise regime and diet. More than 30% of the group who improved their diet and fitness level had successfully battled impotence whereas a tiny percentage of the obese group achieved the same result. Obesity clogs the arteries and inhibits blood flow to the penis.
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is yet another illness with can have a severe impact on a person’s health. This is a disease which can affect any part of a person’s nervous system. It can lead to a marked slowdown in arousal as well as a loss of sexual desire. Multiple sclerosis can also cause impotence through psychological means because of the depression the illness causes. It is also a fact that medication taken to fight the ravages of the disease could also negatively affect sexual drive.
Strokes
Men who suffer strokes also report incidences of impotence. Stroke sufferers continually report a major loss of sexual desire with weak erections a common issue. Those who suffer from this problem after a stroke should contact a doctor who will be able to prescribe medication such as Sildenafil Citrate which is known to greatly assist those suffering from erectile dysfunction. The most important thing for stroke victims to remember is that their impotence is not necessarily a permanent condition. In fact, as their confidence returns, it is likely they will be able to enjoy an active sex life.
Seeking Treatment
As you can plainly see, impotence often comes as a result of an illness. This means that it is sometimes unavoidable and is not a sign of a man somehow being less ‘masculine’. If you feel that an existing medical problem could be causing impotence, contact your doctor to find out if medication such as Viagra should be taken to combat the problem and help you enjoy a better sex life.
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Analyze Your Lifestyle
All sorts of explanations are offered for impotence but sometimes, men cannot look at themselves in the mirror and ask if it is their lifestyle that is the issue. They like to blame other factors such as stress or a medical condition. Though these are possible reasons, it is unwise to lay the blame at the door of something else when it is you that could be responsible for you own erectile downfall. Men who smoke and drink too much as well as failing to get adequate exercise are riding for a fall when it comes to maintaining erections as they get older. Various studies have shown that about 50% of men between the ages of 40 and 70 suffer from a case of impotence at some point in their life. About 5% of men aged 40 suffer from erectile dysfunction with this figure increasing dramatically as they get older.
Smoking
Everyone knows that smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer but the fact that it is also the leading cause of impotence is a lesser known fact. People who smoke will experience a buildup of plaque in their blood vessels (atherosclerosis). Smoking also damages nitric oxide production in the body. Nitric oxide is important because it signals to the inside of blood vessels that blood flow to the organs should be increased. It relaxes the organs and keeps arteries clear. By blocking this process, smoking causes these blood vessels to narrow which restricts blood flow to the penis. Impotence is believed to be twice as common in smokers as in non-smokers. Even worse news for smokers comes from research which suggests that impotence caused by smoking cannot be solved by Viagra or Revatio. However, a small study showed that men who quit smoking for just 24 hours were able to experience erections at night.
Effects of Alcohol
It is common knowledge that excess alcohol consumption can cause problems when it comes to achieving an erection. This effect even has a nickname: ‘brewer’s droop’. Why alcohol causes impotence is not as well known. Alcohol slows down the body’s nervous system which affects all bodily functions. This includes the speed of blood flow. Arousal is controlled by a number of things including the brain, nerves and blood vessels with alcohol hindering all of these things. Your body’s reaction time is also slowed down so any sexual thoughts emanating from the brain take longer to manifest themselves in physical form. As little as one drink can slow down a person’s reaction time which is why there is such a strict drink driving limit.
The Benefits of Exercise
Men who exercise for between 3-5 hours a week are 30% less likely to be hit by the curse of impotency. It is important not to over exercise however as the natural endorphin high that appears after a proper workout disappears. Always stay at about three-quarters of your maximum fitness threshold when exercising. Regular exercise strengthens your heart and improves blood flow. This makes it easier for the blood to flow to the penis during arousal. Exercising on a regular basis also helps fight obesity and medical conditions like high blood pressure which restricts blood flow. A warning to cyclists however: excessive bike riding can cause impotence with genital discomfort a common complaint.
Health and Impotence
If you ever needed a reason to get healthier, avoiding impotence is it. If you suffer from this problem, visit your doctor. When he/she prescribes Sildenafil Citrate to fight impotence, discuss your lifestyle also. Smokers must be aware that their habit is likely to be the chief cause while those who consume even a moderate amount of alcohol should perhaps put a lid on what they drink. Finally, if you are not exercising regularly, do so now to significantly reduce your chances of becoming impotent.
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