Feb. 26, 2025 | Erectile dysfunction, or ED, can result from health problems, emotional issues or from both. ED happens when there is not enough blood flowing into the penis or if the blood leaves the penis too quickly. If blood does not stay in the penis, a man cannot keep an erection. This issue can happen at any age. Diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and high cholesterol are all contributing factors to ED, as are smoking, obesity and a lack of exercise. The brain plays a key role in triggering the series of physical events that cause an erection, starting with feelings of sexual excitement. A number of things, such as depression, stress or relationship problems, can interfere with sexual feelings and cause or worsen ED. Surgery and or radiation for cancers in the lower abdomen or pelvis can cause ED. Treating prostate, colon-rectal or bladder cancer often leaves men with ED. Cancer survivors should see a urologist about any sexual health concerns.

Feb. 26, 2025 | Erectile dysfunction is one of the most prominent and least discussed problems facing men in this country. An estimated 30 million men in the U.S. have experienced issues with erectile dysfunction, or ED. ED is defined as the inability to get and keep an erection firm enough for sex. Having erection trouble from time to time isn’t necessarily a cause for concern. If erectile dysfunction is an ongoing issue, however, it can cause stress, affect your self-confidence and contribute to relationship problems. Problems getting or keeping an erection can also be a sign of an underlying health condition that needs treatment and a risk factor for heart disease. If you’re concerned about erectile dysfunction, you should talk to a health care professional, even if you’re embarrassed. Sometimes, treating an underlying condition is enough to reverse erectile dysfunction. In other cases, medications or other direct treatments might be needed.

Feb. 26, 2025 | There are certain changes that you can make in your lifestyle to prevent many of the causes of erectile dysfunction. If you smoke, get help to quit. Smoking is linked to heart and blood vessel disease, which can lead to ED. To help maintain erectile function, choose whole-grain foods, low-fat dairy foods, fruits and vegetables, and lean meats. Avoid foods high in fat, especially saturated fat, and sodium. Following a healthy eating plan can lead to a healthy weight and control your blood pressure and diabetes, which may help prevent ED. Physical activity increases blood flow through your body, including the penis. You should always talk with a health care professional before starting new activities. Beginners should start slow, with easier activities such as walking at a normal pace or gardening. You can gradually work up to harder activities, such as walking briskly or swimming. A good goal is at least 30 minutes of activity most days of the week.

Feb. 26, 2025 | Oral medications known as PDE type-5 inhibitors are prescribed for erectile dysfunction because of their ability to increase penile blood flow. For best results, men with ED take these pills about an hour or two before having sex. The drugs require normal nerve function to the penis. PDE5 inhibitors improve on normal erectile responses by helping blood flow into the penis, although the response rates are lower for diabetics and cancer patients. Patients taking PDE5 inhibitors, which include Viagra, Cialis and Levitra, often suffer side effects but they are usually mild and last for a short period of time. The side effects can range from headache and a stuffy nose to facial flushing and indigestion. In most cases, the side effects are linked to PDE5 inhibitor effects on other tissues in the body, meaning they are working to increase blood flow to your penis and at the same time impacting other vascular tissues in your body and thus are not “allergic reactions.”

Feb. 26, 2025 | There are a number of treatment options available to men dealing with erectile dysfunction, or ED. One of the most successful means used when more conservative efforts have failed involves surgically implanting an inflatable penile prosthesis. Dr. Brian Langford of the UAMS Department of Urology, says the procedure can not only allow patients to be intimate with their partners but can also help them regain their quality of life. The procedure, which takes less than two hours to perform, involves implanting the device into the penis through two small incisions while the patient is sedated. The implant has an antibiotic coating and is entirely concealed within the body. The patient activates it by squeezing and releasing the pump, located in the scrotum. Dr. Langford says that patients typically return to his office four to six weeks after the procedure to learn how to use the device and that by that time, most are able to resume sexual activity.