Erectile dysfunction (ED) is common. It affects about 30 million men in the United States across all ages and will affect every man at some point.

As common as ED is, it may come and go. Yet, it can remain an ongoing problem, especially as we age, when blood flow issues become more prevalent.

Fortunately, there are things you can do to treat impotence and have a fulfilling sex life.

In this article, we’ll explore what ED is, its causes, and treatments to improve men’s sexual health.

What Is Erectile Dysfunction?
ED is defined as difficulty in getting or maintaining an erection for satisfying sexual intercourse. This includes:

• Getting an erection at times, but not when you want to be intimate
• Getting an erection, but not long enough for fulfilling sex
• Unable to get an erection when desired

Any one of these issues can be a short-term or long-term issue.

What Causes Erectile Dysfunction?
An erection is a complex process. It involves the brain, emotions, hormones, blood vessels, and nerves. Therefore, an issue in one area can cause ED.

Common causes of ED include:

• Vascular disease: Blood flow to the penis is disrupted due to narrowed blood vessels.
• The penis cannot trap blood: The penile erection chambers—made of spongy muscle tissue—lose their elasticity over time and cannot trap blood to create an erection.
• Diabetes: Can damage nerves and blood vessels, preventing penile blood flow.
• Lack of Exercise: Physical inactivity doesn’t allow the heart to pump effectively, impacting blood flow.
• Depression: The mind is preoccupied, making it difficult to emotionally and physically connect with your partner.
• Stress: The body releases cortisol when stressed, constricting blood vessels and blood flow.
• Smoking: Restricts blood circulation and pressure.

Age of Erectile Dysfunction Onset
ED can affect a man at any age. You may be surprised to learn that 8% of men in their twenties have experienced ED and 11% of men in their thirties.

With increasing age, ED causes become more prevalent. This may be undesirable, but completely normal as ED affects men as follows:

• By age 40, 40% of men
• By age 50, 50% of men
• By age 60, 60% of men
• By age 70, 70% of men

The Complications of Erectile Dysfunction
Unfortunately, ED can impact your life in ways you may not have considered. This includes:

• An unfulfilling sex life
• A strained relationship with your significant other
• Depression and low self-esteem
• Issues trying to conceive

Erectile Dysfunction Treatments
Thankfully, ED is treatable no matter your age. Simple lifestyle and diet changes can be impactful, as well as medications and treatments. Let’s take a closer look.

Lifestyle Changes
There are risk factors for ED that we do have control over. These include:

• Exercising
• Reducing Stress
• Seeking professional help for psycho-social issues
• Quitting Smoking

Diet Changes
Since ED is tied to blood flow and circulation, heart health is critical. And our diet can play a role. Specifically, a Mediterranean diet full of vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, and omega-3 fatty acids has been linked to a lower incidence of heart disease and ED.

Medications
Oral medications are regularly used to treat ED. They help relax the penile muscles to increase blood flow but do not address the underlying physical condition. These temporary solutions include:

• Sildenafil (Viagra)
• Tadalafil (Cialis)
• Avanafil (Stendra)
• Vardenafil

Physical Treatments
There are treatment options, varying in effectiveness, based on whether they’re treating symptoms or the root cause.

ViaSure Treatment
This is the only men’s sexual health device that uses soundwave technology to form new blood vessels to increase blood flow and restore smooth muscle cells to enhance tissue elasticity in the penis.

Vacuum Erection Device
This battery-powered vacuum pulls blood into the penis to create an erection.

Self-Injection Therapy
This process involves injecting a small syringe containing medication into the penis before sexual intercourse. However, a possible side effect is a prolonged erection.

How Longevity Medical Clinic Is Here for You
If you’re experiencing ED, know that you’re not alone. We’re here to help.

Every day, we treat patients using the only men’s sexual health device—ViaSure—to improve blood flow and retention in the penis. ViaSure’s game-changing technology delivers acoustic waves to stimulate physical healing that:

• Increases blood flow (without drugs or surgery)
• Forms new blood vessels to increase blood flow into the penis
• Restores smooth muscle cells to keep penile blood from flowing out
• Modulates inflammation to improve blood circulation

ViaSure treatment benefits include:

• Quick, 15-minute in-office treatments
• Minimal to no pain
• A non-invasive treatment with no downtime
• Easy application
• Ensures optimal, consistent coverage and deep tissue penetration
• Safe to use on delicate areas
• Experience results in only 4 – 6 sessions
• Improve your sexual confidence and intimate relationship

We’re here for you. Contact us if you’d like to schedule an appointment.