While you can’t control age and family history, you can take charge of other risk factors to lower your chances of developing heart disease in the future.
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common problem that men face, and the risk increases with age. In fact, age is one of the primary risk factors for ED. Treatment is targeted at the underlying cause.
While erectile dysfunction is not life-threatening, it can have a major impact on your overall well-being, self-image, and quality of life. There are many factors that can contribute to ED. Occasionally experiencing problems with erection isn't always a cause for concern.
However, regularly having problems getting and maintaining an erection requires further evaluation by a medical professional. Board-certified internal medicine and primary care physician Corey Howard, MD, and the team at Howard Health and Wellness offer comprehensive care for men with erectile dysfunction.
Erectile dysfunction is the most common sexual problem men encounter. Several body systems work together in order to achieve and maintain an erection. A deficit in any of these coordinated systems can lead to ED. Here are some of the most common issues that contribute to erectile problems.
A problem with your vascular system due to underlying cardiovascular, kidney, or liver disease can affect the quality of your erections. You need adequate blood flow in order to get and maintain an erection. Any health condition that restricts blood flow or results in poor circulation may contribute to ED.
A number of lifestyle factors contribute to ED, including:
All of these factors affect the function of your blood vessels, contributing to low-grade inflammation and decreasing nitric oxide, a gas that plays an important role in erections. Fortunately, these lifestyle factors are within your control to change.
Thyroid hormones and the hormone testosterone have been implicated in the ED. Too little thyroid hormone can not only affect your sex drive, it can also impact your ability to achieve and maintain an erection. When you consult with Dr. Howard, he will perform a comprehensive hormone work up to check your levels of thyroid hormone, as well as testosterone.
For men with hormone imbalance, hormone replacement therapy addresses the root cause of ED. Additionally, low testosterone can cause other overlapping symptoms, such as low libido and lack of sexual stamina.
Dr. Howard offers bioidentical hormone replacement pellets that provide a unique form of hormone replacement. The pellets are placed under the skin and are very small -- about the size of a grain of rice.
Instead of releasing all the hormones at once, hormone therapy delivers a consistent level of hormones so that you get just the right amount to restore your hormone levels. This natural, plant-derived form of hormone replacement lasts about 3-4 months before you'll need to have a new pallet placed. While it can take several weeks to restore your hormone levels, many patients report improvements in symptoms in as few as two weeks.
If ED is affecting your life and relationship, we can help. For a comprehensive evaluation, give us a call to schedule a visit with Dr. Howard at our Naples, Florida office, or book online today.
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