{"id":8427,"date":"2015-09-17T21:17:24","date_gmt":"2015-09-17T21:17:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.edrugstore.md\/blog\/?p=8427"},"modified":"2018-11-01T17:07:38","modified_gmt":"2018-11-01T17:07:38","slug":"what-interferes-with-blood-flow-to-the-penis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.edrugstore.com\/blog\/erectile-dysfunction\/what-interferes-with-blood-flow-to-the-penis\/","title":{"rendered":"What Interferes with Blood Flow to the Penis?"},"content":{"rendered":"

I<\/span>nsufficient blood flow to the penis, the primary cause of erectile dysfunction, can be caused by a variety of factors. And these very same factors can eventually lead to more serious health issues, including heart attack and stroke.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Although erection problems can be caused by a variety of factors — both physiological and psychological — the vast majority of cases are traceable to compromised blood flow to the penis. And without strong and uninterrupted blood flow to the penis, impotence is virtually inevitable.<\/p>\n

To truly understand the importance of strong blood flow, it is helpful to know a little bit about the basics of erectile function. Erections almost invariably begin in the brain as feelings of sexual desire, whether stirred up by sexually provocative images or physical stimulation of the penis.<\/p>\n

Nitric Oxide Released<\/h3>\n

The brain\u2019s response to such feelings or stimuli is the release of a flood of nitric oxide to the pelvic region. As it travels to the penis, this nitric oxide sets off secondary chemical reactions, one of which creates a substance known as cyclic guanosine monophosphate, or cGMP.<\/p>\n

It is this cGMP that relaxes the smooth muscles lining the blood vessels that supply the penis, thus facilitating the erection process. As these blood vessels expand, fresh blood rushes in, filling the spongy erectile tissue of the penis and creating an erection.<\/p>\n

Veins Narrow<\/h3>\n

At the same time the veins that carry blood away from the penis temporarily narrow, serving to keep that fresh rush of blood trapped within the penis, maintaining erection until sexual activity is completed.<\/p>\n

As previously noted, most erection problems arise because blood flow to the penis is somehow decreased. Here are some of the primary causes of reduced blood flow to the penis:<\/p>\n

Endothelial Dysfunction:<\/b> The thin layer of squamous cells that lines the interior surface of blood vessels is known as the endothelium. Damage to the endothelium means that blood vessels supplying the penis cannot expand as widely as they should to accommodate the rush of blood needed to create and sustain an erection. Among the many possible causes of damage to the endothelium are atherosclerosis, smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, and elevated blood levels of cholesterol.<\/p>\n

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A buildup of fatty plaques causes atherosclerosis.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Atherosclerosis: <\/b>The buildup of plaque on the inner walls of the blood vessels is both a cause and a consequence of endothelial damage. When the endothelium is in good working order, it helps to prevent the buildup of plaque on artery walls. As damage to the endothelium continues, atherosclerosis becomes steadily more pronounced, seriously compromising blood flow to the penis, as well as other major organs, including the brain and heart.<\/p>\n

Smoking: <\/b>While it\u2019s widely recognized that smoking is bad for our overall health, many men fail to appreciate the degree of damage it can cause to erectile function, according to WebMD.com<\/a>. An eye-opening study that was presented at the American Heart Association\u2019s 2003 Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention clearly established the link between smoking and ED.<\/p>\n

Smoking speeds the atherosclerotic process that coats artery walls with plaque, thus reducing blood flow. This is bad news for smokers who would like to enjoy a healthy love life, as well as those who would like to prevent a heart attack or stroke.<\/p>\n

The study presented at the AHA conference analyzed health data from 4,764 Chinese men with an average age of 47. The data was collected by way of a health questionnaire filled out by these men, and smoking history and satisfaction with sexual relations were among the topics covered. Among the study\u2019s findings:<\/p>\n