ED-Man's Most Dreaded Problem (extracts)

   If you think you could be having a problem, don't hesitate to get professional help. WHAT IS IT? Erections start in the brain. Yes, the brain! When sights, sounds, smells. Sensations or thoughts make a man sexually aroused, his central nervous system signals the arteries in his penis to relax. Blood flow to his penis then increases 16 times the normal rate, while the veins that carry blood away from the penis are blocked - hence, an erection. The extra blood stays in the penis as long as the man remains aroused or until he ejaculates. Sometimes, however, there's a breakdown in the process. If the brain doesn't send the right signals, if the nerves that pass the signals from the brain to the penis are damaged, or if the arteries can't respond to those signals, a man will be unable to have an erection. Contrary to popular belief, erectile dysfunction (ED) sometimes called impotence - is not inevitable with age (although it is more common in older men).   POSSIBLE CAUSES OF ED Many things can interfere with one or more of the steps necessary to achieve an erection, but medically speaking, it usually boils down to a problem of blood flow. If you suffer from ED, one of the following factors is probably to blame: 1. Cardiovascular disease: High blood pressure, atherosclerosis (narrowing or hardening of the arteries), and other disorders of the heart and blood vessels can hamper the flow of blood to the penis. 2. Medications: Many commonly used drugs can short-circuit the process that lead to erections by interrupting nerve impulses or blood flow to the penis. Some examples: antihistamines, antidepressants, tranquilisers, appetite suppressants, and blood pressure medications like beta-blockers and diuretics. If you develop erection difficulties while taking antidepressants or blood pressure medicines, remember the reasons you're taking them. Stopping them isn't necessarily the answer. Always get your doctor's advice before you stop taking any prescription medicine. 3. Diabetes: Because this disease can damage nerves that control blood flow and blood vessels themselves, blood flow to the penis can be impaired. 4. Prostate surgery: Not long ago, almost all men had problems achieving erections after undergoing surgery for prostate cancer. Such problems are still a common side effect of prostate surgery, as well as radiation treatment for prostate or colorectal cancer. But new surgical techniques can often spare the nerves to the penis, so sexual function need not be a problem for these patients. 5. Smoking: Cigarette smoking constricts and damages blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the penis. Research suggests that men who smoke and have other health problems, such as heart disease, are more likely to have trouble with erections. 6. Psychological factors: It's no secret that relationship problems have a direct effect on a couple’s sex life. Feeling or resentment or hostility harbored by either partner can derail intimacy. Stress, anxiety, guilt feeling, depression, and low self-esteem can all trigger or compound ED. 7. Other factors: Alcoholism, pelvic injuries (such as fractures), damage to the nerves that control blood flow to the penis, multiple sclerosis and below normal levels of testosterone can all lead to ED.