Erectile Dysfunction: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment
Studies show that about one in two men over 50 experience erectile dysfunction to some degree. Healthcare providers used to think that the leading causes of erectile dysfunction were anxiety and stress, but studies have now revealed that underlying health conditions could often be the cause.
Erectile dysfunction could be a warning sign of a more severe condition, and sometimes just treating the underlying disease will reverse erectile dysfunction. In other cases, medications and other treatments may be needed.
Today it is possible to get erectile dysfunction prescription online by consulting with a certified telemedicine doctor. This is a convenient and discreet way to obtain medication for erectile dysfunction. Viagra and Cialis are some commonly prescribed drugs available with a prescription. With diagnosis and treatment, men can enjoy good health and sexual activity well into old age.
What is erectile dysfunction (ED)?
Like the brain, hormones, nerves, muscles, blood vessels, and emotions are all involved; male sexual arousal is complicated. Erectile dysfunction means trouble getting or keeping an erection that is firm enough to have sex. Many men have such a problem from time to time, but it is not normal if it occurs regularly and needs to be treated. It can cause stress, relationship difficulties, and low self-confidence if it is not treated.
How do erections work?
When a man is aroused, the brain signals nerves to release chemicals that increase blood flow to the penis. The blood flows into spongy, muscle tissue chambers that relax and trap it. The blood pressure in these chambers makes the penis erect. The drug stimulates blood flow to the penis. A Viagra prescription, for instance, can be of help to someone with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction.
When a man has had an orgasm, more nerve signals reach the penis and the muscular tissue contracts. Blood goes back into circulation, and the erection comes down.
What are the symptoms of erectile dysfunction?
ED symptoms include getting an erection that does not last long enough to have sex or not getting an erection at all. It may also mean a man gets an erection but not when he wants to have sex. There are often emotional symptoms, such as shame, anxiety, embarrassment, and a reduced interest in sexual intercourse.
What are the causes of erectile dysfunction?
Finding the cause of the ED is essential, as this will help to define the treatment. It may be caused by health and emotional problems. For instance, a physical problem that slows sexual response can cause anxiety, leading to or worsening erectile dysfunction.
Erectile dysfunction that occurs gradually over time could point to causes that involve the nerves or blood flow. A sudden loss of sexual desire or the ability to have erections could be due to psychological difficulties or a medication.
Some known risk factors for ED are:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Obesity
- Peripheral artery disease (narrowing of arteries)
- Surgery from various cancers, such as prostate or rectal cancer
- Injury to the pelvis
- Multiple medications, including drugs for high blood pressure, some heart medications, antidepressants, prostate treatment drugs, and hormone drugs.
- Alcohol use
- Drug use
- Smoking or vaping
- Emotional stress like depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions
Diagnosis of erectile dysfunction
Medical history and emotional health: Diagnosing erectile dysfunction usually begins with a conversation with a healthcare provider who will ask questions and conduct a physical exam and order tests. A patient's health history, lifestyle, medications, and emotional stress will be discussed.
Some of the questions may be awkward to answer, but answers are necessary to determine cause and treatment. Someone worried about the awkwardness of a conversation with a regular doctor may want to get a prescription for Viagra online as a safe, comfortable alternative.
Questionnaires: Some health care providers use questionnaires to rate an ED problem. Patients answer questions about their ability to keep erections, sexual satisfaction, and problems with having an orgasm.
A physical health exam: This may begin with an examination of the penis and testicles. Based on age and risk factors, the exam may focus on the heart and circulatory system. Based on age and family history, the healthcare provider may do a prostate exam.
Laboratory tests: The healthcare provider may order blood tests and collect a urine sample to look for problems that do not show up through a physical exam.
A simple test for nocturnal erections can determine if the cause is physical rather than psychological because men usually have about three to five erections a night.
Advanced ED tests: Some men may need further tests, including:
- A blood test to determine testosterone levels
- A blood test to measure sugar levels
- A penile doppler (ultrasonography) to check blood flow
Preventing ED with lifestyle choices
A healthy lifestyle and management of existing health problems can help to prevent erectile dysfunction. Treatment for ED starts with taking care of heart and vascular health. Patients will be encouraged to:
- Improve eating habits by eating more plant-based foods and limiting processed and high- fat foods.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Obesity is a common factor related to ED.
- Exercise. Cardiovascular exercises such as running, swimming, and cycling help keep weight down and increase oxygen and blood flow to all areas of the body, including the penis.
- Stop smoking.
- Limit alcohol and drugs.
- Get enough sleep.
- See a healthcare provider regularly for checkups and medical screening tests.
A healthcare provider may suggest changing certain prescription drugs. Patients should not stop or change medications without consulting with a healthcare provider.
What about over-the-counter supplements for ED?
Most over-the-counter products are supplements that have not been tested or approved by the FDA. In most cases, there is no real proof that they offer any real benefits for sexual performance or work as a treatment for erectile dysfunction.
Some of them even contain "hidden ingredients" like those found in the prescription drugs used for erectile dysfunction but in unsafe doses or combinations. Rather than use over-the-counter medications, if you are embarrassed about seeing your regular doctor, get the script for erectile dysfunction medication online.
Emotional health care for patients with ED
Emotional stress could come from relationship conflicts, depression, anxiety, etc. A sexual health counselor or mental health counselor may be able to help.
Medical treatments for ED
If making lifestyle changes and treating underlying conditions does not help, treatment with medication may be necessary. Treatment is essential if ED is affecting well-being or relationships.
Medication: Non-invasive treatment is usually tried first. Most medications for treating ED are safe and work well, but they typically have some side effects. Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra are some of the more common medications. These drugs are known as PDE type-5 inhibitors. A natural chemical called nitric oxide relaxes the penis muscles, and these drugs enhance this effect and increase blood flow.
Get a prescription for erectile dysfunction online and take it an hour or two before having sex for the best results. These drugs only work if there is normal nerve function to the penis. Response to this type of medication is slower for men with cancer or diabetes. Viagra is sufficient for four to five hours or more for someone with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction.
As the drugs are all useful, choosing which one to take is usually based on personal preferences, including cost, long-term effects, and side effects. There are also generic versions available.
Side effects of taking the medication are usually mild and last only a short term but may include headaches, muscle aches, facial flushing, visual changes, indigestion, or a stuffy nose.
Men taking nitrates for the heart and commonly prescribed for chest pain should not take PDE-5 inhibitors. These medications may also be dangerous for someone with very low blood pressure or uncontrolled high blood pressure.
If someone wants to get an erectile dysfunction prescription, a certified doctor ensures a prescription is only given when it is safe. Do not order medications online if prices seem too good to be true or told that you do not need a prescription.
Get an erectile dysfunction prescription: Men may think it is challenging to get a Viagra prescription. However, it is possible to get an erectile dysfunction prescription line by completing an online questionnaire reviewed by a registered doctor, especially if it is merely refilling a prescription.
A vacuum erection device: A vacuum erection device is a plastic tube that slips over the penis. Pressure from a pump at the end of the tube causes an erection. An elastic ring slipped over the base of the penis holds in the blood, and the erection lasts for up to 30 minutes. With proper training, most men can get an erection when using such a device. However, the lack of spontaneity when using a vacuum erection device means many men find other treatments preferable.
Testosterone therapy: In cases where testosterone levels in the blood are low, testosterone therapy may increase sex drive.
ICI and IU therapy: If oral drugs don't work, the drug Alprostadil is approved for men with ED. This drug can be injected into the penis side with a very fine needle (ICI). The success rate for getting an erection firm enough to have sex with ICI is high.
The most common side effect is a prolonged erection, which is painful and can damage penile tissue. If an erection lasts longer than two to four hours, a man should go to the emergency room.
Alprostadil can also be administered through a medicated pellet placed in the urethra (IU). Using the drug this way means the patient does not have to administer an injection, but it does not work and ICI. The most common side effect is a burning feeling in the penis.
Surgical treatments for ED
Surgery is a last resort and is usually only done in cases where drug treatment and other non- invasive options have been exhausted. The primary surgical treatment for ED involves inserting a penile implant.
For men who have ED as a result of prostate cancer, a penile implant can be an excellent next step. Penile implant surgery carries some risks, but it has a high success rate. The simplest implant is a semi-rigid one made from metal and silicone bendable rods. The rods give the penis the firmness needed for penetration.
The other type of implant is an inflatable implant consisting of cylinders filled with fluid and placed lengthwise in the penis. A pump between the testicles inflates the cylinders and makes the penis stiff.
A patient may go home the same day as the surgery or spend a night in the hospital. Discomfort, swelling, and bruising from the surgery usually last a few weeks. Most men can start having sex about eight weeks after surgery.
Medicines, like Viagra, are used for sex and then wear off. If there are underlying problems that have not been sorted out, they could become more serious. Medications for erectile dysfunction may sort out the problem, but it is essential to make sure that any underlying health issue is diagnosed and treated.
A final word
It is essential to learn about the underlying problems causing erectile dysfunction to treat it. These problems can be medical or emotional or a combination of both. The good news is that ED can be prevented or treated safely. Apart from making lifestyle changes and treating underlying conditions, it is possible to get a prescription for Viagra online or for another medication to help with erectile dysfunction by consulting with a certified doctor.
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