Hard Realities of Living with Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction is the inability to sustain an erection to achieve sexual performance or satisfaction. Erectile dysfunction not only affects men but also has a significant impact on their romantic relationships. This issue is more common in men aged between 40 and 70 years. They experience anger, lack confidence, sadness, and frustration. Fortunately, the condition is treatable if you are honest with your doctor, partner, and yourself.  

Changes to your diet and lifestyle can help ease the symptoms of erectile dysfunction. Lifestyle changes that may help enhance your sexual function include losing weight, stopping smoking, reducing your alcohol intake, and exercising. You can also perform exercises for ed, which can help improve your sexual performance. Checking online will give an idea of how to do it. These exercises are effective in treating erectile dysfunction and can enable you to enjoy permanent results and improve your health. Your diet can also have an impact on your sexual performance. 

Therefore, you can take time to learn about the foods that can be of benefit to you.

Causes of Erectile Dysfunction

Many factors cause ED, but medical conditions like the following are the primary cause of ED:

• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• High cholesterol
• Metabolic syndrome and obesity
• Atherosclerosis

The challenges of living with Erectile Dysfunction 

Men usually feel frustrated when they cannot achieve an erection. They may feel that they are not men enough and experience some challenges, such as:

• Relationship Problems

It isn’t easy to cultivate and maintain a healthy relationship. If you are having issues with your partner in your relationship, chances are your sex life is the primary source. Your erectile dysfunction could bring up issues in your relationship. The critical step in resolving problems caused by erectile dysfunction in your relationship is communication, although it is a challenging step to take.  

• Performance Anxiety

Performance anxiety can affect your thinking process and make you nervous about satisfying your partner. The brain takes that information to the nerves, and this can lead to erectile dysfunction. In most cases, negative self-talk triggers anxiety, which leads to worries of not being able to please your partner, achieve an erection, or ejaculate too early.   If you have suffered from erectile problems in the past, these experiences can worsen performance anxiety.

• Depression

Depression may cause a sad feeling which goes deeper and lingers beyond any trigger or cause. It acts more like an anchor that weighs you down both in mind and body, affecting your life physically and mentally. Its symptoms can make it impossible to take pleasure in anything.

• Stress and Anxiety

These are two different things that are linked with erectile dysfunction issues. In most cases, stress is the primary factor that causes anxiety, which triggers intense stress. Stress and anxiety affect specific body systems that include emotions, hormones, blood vessels, muscles, and the nervous system. Once any of these systems fail, it can cause ED. Once you get stress and anxiety, your brain cannot send necessary signals that stimulate the desired physical response, which in this case, is an erection. 

• Low Self-esteem

Most men who have erectile dysfunction end up feeling guilty after not being able to satisfy their partners. Once the issue persists, guilt becomes more intense and can significantly contribute to an active cycle of ED. Guilt and shame are linked to mental health problems like depression. It can affect not only your sexual performance but also your self-esteem.  

There are also temporary ways to achieve and maintain an erection to maintain a healthy and happy sex life even with ED. These include using a penis pump or vacuum constriction device, and medication like sildenafil, which is sold under the brand name Viagra. 

Erectile Dysfunction is a significant issue that affects many men and can significantly impact their relationships. Fortunately, it is not a permanent condition. Many medical conditions can cause it, but once diagnosed, it is treatable through natural methods, including exercising. It is essential to note that everybody is different and treatment can work fast for one person but slowly for another.