{"id":7990,"date":"2015-04-15T19:18:27","date_gmt":"2015-04-15T19:18:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.edrugstore.md\/blog\/?p=7990"},"modified":"2015-04-17T18:15:51","modified_gmt":"2015-04-17T18:15:51","slug":"separating-erection-health-facts-from-myths","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.edrugstore.com\/blog\/erectile-dysfunction\/separating-erection-health-facts-from-myths\/","title":{"rendered":"Separating Erection Health Facts from Myths"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Although
Although the incidence of impotence is higher among older men, erection problems need not be an inevitable consequence of aging.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The 1998 introduction of a revolutionary new drug for the treatment of erection problems helped to bring the topic of impotence out of the darkness and into the light. In the wake of Viagra\u2019s introduction, grandfatherly U.S. Senator Bob Dole of Kansas appeared in TV commercials for the little blue pill, thus signaling to the American public that the time had come for frank discussions about this health issue.<\/p>\n

Despite the growing candor about the topic after Viagra\u2019s debut, many myths persist about the nature of impotence and how it can be treated. What follows are some of those myths and the actual facts behind them.<\/p>\n

Myth #1: <\/b>Impotence is just a natural consequence of getting old.<\/p>\n

Fact: <\/b>While erection problems tend to increase and worsen with advancing age, they are not inevitable for older men, many of whom continue to lead fulfilling sex lives well into their golden years. A diagnosis of impotence usually reflects underlying health problems, such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, high blood pressure, and depression, or unwise lifestyle choices, such as smoking and lack of exercise. Since such problems tend to worsen over time, it\u2019s only natural that the incidence of erection problems is higher among older men.<\/p>\n

Interviewed for an article posted at EverydayHealth.com, Alan W. Shindel, M.D., clinical instructor of andrology at the University of California, San Francisco, says, \u00a8Like arthritis and heart disease, erectile dysfunction is just more common in older men. Certain health conditions increase in likelihood with age,\u00a8 as do erection problems. But Dr. Shindel dismisses as fiction the notion that impotence is an inevitable consequence of aging.<\/p>\n

\"Viagra
Viagra and other impotence medications, such as Levitra and Cialis, have been clinically proven to be safe and effective in treating erection problems caused by insufficient blood flow to the penis.<\/figcaption><\/figure> Myth #2:<\/b> Most erection problems can be traced to psychological causes.<\/p>\n

Fact: <\/b>Although this was a widely held belief for decades, experts today estimate that only 10 to 20 percent of all impotence is caused by psychological factors, such as depression, performance anxiety, relationship problems, stress, and other mental and\/or emotional issues. Among younger men who are experiencing erection problems, impotence of psychological origin is more common.<\/p>\n

Myth #3:<\/b> Erection problems aren\u2019t dangerous; they\u2019re merely a personal problem.<\/p>\n

Fact: <\/b>While impotence in and of itself may not be dangerous, it certainly is frustrating and embarrassing to men who consider sex an integral part of their lives. However, the root causes of many erection problems can be very dangerous indeed. It has often been observed that what\u2019s good for your heart is good for your penis, and vice versa. By the same token, what\u2019s bad for your penis is bad for your heart. Erection problems are Nature\u2019s way of telling you that you may have underlying health problems that could eventually lead to a heart attack or stroke. Because the vast majority of all erection problems can be traced to insufficient blood flow to the penis, symptoms of impotence should be regarded as an early warning of more serious cardiovascular health issues down the road. Your heart, brain, and penis all depend on strong blood flow to function normally. Since the blood vessels supplying the penis are much smaller than those that feed the brain and heart, erection problems are likely to show up earlier. Heed those warnings and seek the counsel of your primary physician or other health professional to see what can be done to overcome your erection problems and avoid other cardiovascular health issues.<\/p>\n

Myth #4:<\/b> Oral impotence medications are the only effective way to treat erection problems.<\/p>\n

Fact: <\/b>Viagra and other similar drugs, such as Levitra and Cialis, have proven extremely successful in treating erection problems caused by compromised blood flow to the penis. However, these drugs are not the only game in town and, in fact, are probably of little help to men whose impotence is psychological in origin and could be downright dangerous for those who are taking nitrate-based drugs to treat angina. Other options for the treatment of impotence include penile implants, intracavernous drug injections, vacuum pumps for the penis, and surgery in cases where traumatic injury has caused erection problems. For those whose impotence appears to be psychological in origin, psychotherapy and\/or antidepressants could be helpful. It should be noted, however, that some antidepressants interfere with erectile function, so you should ask your doctor to prescribe a drug that is unlikely to exacerbate your problem.<\/p>\n

Myth #5:<\/b> If you\u2019re having trouble getting and keeping an erection, you are almost certainly suffering from impotence.<\/p>\n

Fact:<\/b> Popular culture would lead us to believe that men can be ready for sex at the drop of a hat — or a bra. Sadly, this is far from the truth. And isolated instances of difficulty in getting an erection can be caused by a host of factors, including fatigue, stress, personal problems, and anxiety. If a consistent pattern of erection problems develops, that\u2019s another matter altogether and one that should be brought to the attention of your personal physician.<\/p>\n

Myth #6:<\/b> Tight underwear can cause erection problems.<\/p>\n

Fact: <\/b>Not so, says Dr. Shindel. He told EverdayHealth.com: \u00a8There is no research showing that wearing tight underwear can lead\u00a8 to impotence. However, a handful of studies have shown the wearing tight underwear can have an adverse effect on a man\u2019s fertility. Such studies indicate that keeping the testicles close to the body increases their temperature enough to significantly reduce sperm production and motility.<\/p>\n

\"Spending
Spending too much time on a bicycle can contribute to erection problems.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Myth #7:<\/b> Riding a bicycle in no way affects a man\u2019s ability to get and keep an erection.<\/p>\n

Fact: <\/b>Wrong, says Irwin Goldstein, M.D., clinical professor of surgery at the University of California, San Diego. Interviewed by EverydayHealth.com, Dr. Goldstein said that frequent bike riding can contribute to erection problems. \u00a8If you fell asleep in a very awkward position in a chair, you\u2019d get pins and needles in a part of the body to which the blood wasn\u2019t flowing properly.\u00a8 He said the same sort of thing can occur if a man spends too much time riding a bicycle. \u00a8When you ride a bike, most of your body weight is on the crotch, causing damage by crushing endothelial cells.\u00a8 Endothelial cells line the interior surface of blood vessels, which must relax to facilitate a rush of blood into the penis to create an erection.<\/p>\n

Myth #8:<\/b> A healthy lifestyle can help to reverse some erection problems.<\/p>\n

Fact:<\/b> This one turns out to be true. If you pay heed to early signs of impotence, you may very well be able to regain healthy erectile function by swapping out some of your unhealthy habits for ones that will promote good overall health. If you\u2019re a smoker, stop smoking, and if you don\u2019t smoke, don\u2019t be tempted to start. If you\u2019re a couch potato in good standing, it\u2019s time to get up and start exercising. And if your idea of a good meal is fast-food fare, you need to make some dietary changes that can promote erection health as well as heart health.<\/p>\n

Don Amerman<\/i><\/a> is a freelance author who writes extensively about a wide array of nutrition and health-related topics. <\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The 1998 introduction of a revolutionary new drug for the treatment of erection problems helped to bring the topic of impotence out of the darkness and into the light. In the wake of Viagra\u2019s introduction, grandfatherly U.S. Senator Bob Dole of Kansas appeared in TV commercials for the little blue pill, thus signaling to the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7986,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_autoblog_aioseo_focus_keyphrase":"","_autoblog_aioseo_title":"","_autoblog_aioseo_description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7990","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-erectile-dysfunction"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t