What Affects Erectile Function?
Some men assume that erectile function naturally declines as they grow older. But age alone does NOT cause erection problems. The cause is usually something that interferes with normal blood flow, such as other health conditions, medicines, or lifestyle habits. Some of these health conditions occur more commonly as men age.
Health Conditions That Can Cause Erection Problems
Health conditions that affect blood flow are among the most common causes of erection problems. Conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure restrict your blood flow by causing damage to the blood vessels, nerves, or fibrous tissue involved in getting — and keeping — an erection.
Some Medicines Can Affect Erectile Function
About 25% of men who suffer from poor erectile function are experiencing these problems as a direct result of medicines they’re taking for other health problems. These include some of the medicines used to treat:
- high blood pressure
- heart disease
- allergies
- depression
- anxiety
- ulcers
It is important to follow the advice of your doctor or healthcare professional and take your medicines as directed. Talk to your healthcare professional about medicines that can affect your sexual function — sometimes he can prescribe a different medicine that may reduce or eliminate these problems. You may also want to talk to your pharmacist about how various medicines interact and which prescriptions may affect the quality of your erection.
Some Habits Can Impact Erectile Function
There are a number of habits that can either cause or contribute to a decrease in erectile function. These include:
Smoking
Smoking damages your arteries. If you smoke cigarettes, it can cause the kind of blood flow problems that make it difficult for you to get and keep an erection. Men who smoke should consider talking to their healthcare professional about ways to quit.
Too much alcohol
Drinking too much can affect erectile function.
“Recreational” drugs
Recreational drugs – such as marijuana or cocaine – have an effect on erectile function. The same is true for anabolic steroids.
Eating habits and cholesterol
A diet that is high in fatty foods can lead to clogged arteries and poor blood flow, which is a major cause of erection problems. High cholesterol levels can increase your risk for a decline in erectile function.