What Causes Erectile Dysfunction?

ED is almost always due to insufficient blood flow
Unclog the correct pipe or repair the right faulty valve?
Problem Solved!

The most common causes of erectile dysfunction are as follows:

• Problems that affect the flow of blood into the groin area in order to achieve an erection
• Problems that affect the flow of blood within the penis in order to achieve an erection
• Problems that affect the flow of blood within the penis in order to retain sufficient blood to maintain an erection
• Problems that mainly affect the nervous system that serves the penis: i.e. Diabetes??XXX
• Hormone insufficiency to fuel an erection?? Low Testosterone XXXX
• Severe penile area injury or trauma from accident or Peyronie’s Disease

Many factors can result in ED

All factors, even those of a strictly psychological nature, mist together and adversely affect the normal functioning of the blood supply and nervous systems. Many of the factors that affect the blood supply are also associated with cardiovascular disease and the aging process. In the case of facts that cat through the nervous system, physical injuries, alcohol, drugs and various neurological disorders can underlie an ED problem. Finally, the problem is often traced to conditions such as diabetes, and kidney disease, which may affect both the blood supply and nervous system.

ED is Often an Early Indicator of Another Health Issue

Another yet undiagnosed health issue is sometimes the cause of Erectile Dysfunction, ED. Also the presence of ED may be the symptomatic of such issues. Patients who report having ED must go through a careful examination especially for possible diabetic and cardiovascular problems. Considering how an erection takes place, logically erectile dysfunction is basically a problem caused by one or more negative factors impacting in some way on the blood supply or nerve connections to the penis.

Some of the more common non-penile health issues that will trigger ED symptoms include:

• Constriction of arteries, blockage of arteries, thickening of the blood, abnormal leakage of blood, alcohol abuse, illegal substance abuse, use of certain prescription and nonprescription drugs, surgery and physical injury, neurological disorders, diabetes, kidney disease and psychological factors.
• Vascular Disease and Diabetes
  • Vascular Disease, which includes both problems affecting the arterial blood supply to the penis and control of flow in the veins draining blood from the penis, is a consequence of the aging process as programed into our individual genes and life-style factors such as improper diet, inadequate exercise and cigarette smoking. This is one area where prevention can play a very important role.
  • Diabetes is a disease that becomes more common with increasing age, but the exact cause is still unknown. We do not as yet know how to prevent diabetes, but effective treatments do exist, including dealing with the resulting erectile dysfunction.

There are many treatments available to help combat Erectile Dysfunction but they just treat the symptoms. Your underlying cause? Its still there – setting you up for a lifetime of treatment dependance or a cumbersome penile implant.

The good news?

We’re now able to provide a non-surgical solution for chronic cases that’s a total body solution to sexual health: we not only address the immediate concern – we solve the long-term problem. Our three-step process is unique, patented and only available at Morganstern – it includes a process for improving overall circulation, revascularization and collagen care. We also provide customized hormone care and select performance enhancers as needed.

Impotence Disease Symptoms

Impotence is Caused by another Disease in your Body
It’s Not Something to Fear – its Something to Fix!

What is Impotence?

Impotence is a medical disorder characterized by the loss of bodily function. The loss of any type of bodily function is not a normal occurrence and should be regarded as a sign or symptom of some underlying and possibly very serious medical condition. For this reason, no thorough physical examination of a patient is complete without systematic inquiry into the matter of sexual performance. Unfortunately, this is not often the case.

Good medical practice mandates the careful examination of a patient reporting impotence symptoms, especially for possible diabetic and cardiovascular problems. Diabetes mellitus is a serious disease characterized by the failure of the pancreas to secrete a sufficient quantity of the hormone insulin to allow for the proper absorption of glucose, a sugar critical in providing for the body’s energy needs. Type I diabetes is largely a disease of children and has noticeable symptoms that develop over a short period of time. Obviously, impotence is rarely one of the symptoms of Type I diabetes. Type II diabetes, which may develop in men in their young and middle adult years, is another story. Often the symptoms are slow to appear and are not obvious in nature. Early treatment is important, and impotence may be the first real sign that Type II diabetes exists.

Vascular disorders are a frequent factor underlying much erectile dysfunction. Problems in the vascular system are often silent in nature and may not be apparent until there is some life-threatening event. It is reasonable to suspect that when vascular deterioration is taking place in the penis, an organ along the periphery of the body, it could also be taking place at critical points elsewhere. Promptly paying heed to the importance warning might save some patients from possible heart attack or stroke.

Even when impotence can be ultimately linked to psychological factors, prompt investigation of the initial symptoms has been well justified, since the underlying psychological causes are best identified and treated as early as possible.

What are Impotence Disease Symptoms

The word “impotence” is used very narrowly to describe only a specific and usually medically treatable condition of a physic al nature: the inability of a man to achieve and maintain an erection, adequate for vaginal penetration, to the mutual satisfaction of both parties. Impotence is completely unrelated to the character or manliness of the individual who suffers from this condition, and the suffer must not ever try to take responsibility or “blame” for it.

When your car fails to start on a cold winter morning, you may become angry, and you may even blame yourself for not having had the car properly tuned in warmer weather, but to remedy the situation, you seek a mechanical solution; you do not blame the car! Similarly, this book emphasizes the physical nature of impotence and other problems of male sexual dysfunction and gives you scientific methods of diagnosis and treatment.

Impotence occurs in all men at one time or another. If the condition is experienced on a regular and persistent basis, it is referred to as chronic impotence and represents a medical problem that should never be ignored.

Impotence Becomes Erectile Dysfunction

It is worth noting that in December 1992, a panel of experts convened under the auspices of the National Institutes of Health, a U.S government entity in the medical field, recommended that the term “erectile dysfunction” be used in place of “impotence.” The panel reasoned that the ward “impotence” had serious negative implications; was used in an ambiguous manner; and, as a consequence, has contributed to confusing and interpretable results in both clinical and basic scientific investigations. There is much to be said for this recommendation. Nevertheless, throughout this we have in most instances continued to use the word “impotence,” despite its sometimes pejorative implications, reasoning that this is the term that is best known to the general public and, therefore, would be less confusing to our readers at the present time. In subsequent editions of this book, this usage could change.

It is not certain how many American males suffer from impotence and other forms of sexual dysfunction. Impotence is not a contagious disease required by law to be reported to public health authorities. Part of the problem, as suggested already, is the ambiguous nature of the term and the difficulty of defining exactly when occasional impotence becomes regular and persistent. Another reason is that impotence victims have generally been “in the closet,” usually too embarrassed to discuss their problems, even with their own physicians. Until quite recently, most American medical school have regarded human sexuality in general, and especially male sexual dysfunction, as a taboo subject. In the past, the occasional researcher expressing interest in the field has often been viewed suspiciously by professional colleagues.

When was the last time, during an annual physical examination, that your doctor asked if you were experiencing any form of sexual dysfunction? If he or she has never asked you such a question, you have reason for concern. Bear in mind that sexual dysfunction is not only a problem in its own right, but can all be symptomatic of several serious underlying diseases.

The following list summarizes the important factors of your medical history that you should consider when per-forming a self-evaluation in connection with possible erectile dysfunction:

• Cardiovascular diseases
• Diabetes mellitus
• Endocrine (glandular) problems, other than diabetes
• Neurological disorders
• Pelvic surgery and radiation therapy
• Accidents to the head, spinal cord, and pelvic area
• Exposure to known environmental hazards

Men with a history that includes some type of cardiovascular disease should definitely be aware of a possible link with impotence. This is especially true for individuals with heart disease, blood vessel disease, or hypertension or those who have experienced coronary artery bypass surgery. A history of any of these problems, combined with frequent impotence episodes and any possible symptoms observed in the simple vascular tests, strongly indicates the need to seek professional assistance.

Given the strong link between impotence and diabetes, any man with a known case of diabetes should be on the lookout for impotence symptoms, and should be prepared to seek assistance, even if such symptoms have not yet appeared. It is a primary responsibility of any physician treating a diabetes patient to explain the possible sexual ramifications of the disease and to encourage consultation with specialists on sexual dysfunction when indicated. All older men should be on the lookout for possible diabetes symptoms, as the disease often occurs later in life in marginal form and may take a while to be detected. A real warning sign would be a combination of impotence, renal (kidney), and retinal (eye) problems.

Individuals with known glandular disorders, other than diabetes, should consider the possibility of a connection with any impotence symptoms that are being experienced. This is particularly true should you have a history of pituitary and adrenal gland disorders. Men with known problems of the testicles, particularly those associated with inadequate testosterone production, should also be prepared to seek professional attention when impotence symptoms are noted. The same advice applies to men with known problems of the thyroid. When there are no known glandular problems, the presence of extreme obesity chronic fatigue, breast enlargement and other feminine characteristics, and erectile dysfunction can be an indication that such problems may very well exist.

Neurological disorders are generally believed to be of lesser importance as underlying causes of impotence than cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Men with known nervous system disorders, including epilepsy, Parkinson’s dis-ease, and multiple sclerosis, however, should be aware of the possible connection, and are advised to seek professional help when experiencing impotence symptoms. Impotence is also linked to various types of brain tumors, which is another good reason not to neglect the presence of persistent impotence symptoms.

Any man who has experienced major surgery or radiation therapy- in time pelvic region, especially procedures involving the prostate gland, anus, rectum, bladder, and colon, should seek professional help if impotence symptoms are experienced. Usually, impotence shows -up fairly soon after such procedures, although the onset of the problem can be delayed. Men scheduled for such surgery should always discuss the possibility of impotence in advance with their physician, in the hope that a problem can be avoided or at least minimized.

Individuals who have experienced accidental injuries to time head, spinal cord, and pelvic area are also advised to obtain professional help -whenever frequent impotence episodes are noted_ It would be helpful to ask the parents or other relatives of a patient about his past injuries or accidents because major childhood injuries, which the patient may have completely- forgotten, can be a cause of adult impotence. This can be the case especially- with injuries that took place to young boys while they were in a straddle position, such as when riding a bicycle_ Straddle injuries can be particularly serious as sharp blows to the perineum (crotch) and the pelvic bone may result in damage to the arteries supplying blood to the penis or scar erectile tissues in that portion of the penis inside the body.

Environmental health is an increasingly important medical specialty. If you were exposed to any known environmental hazard as a child or have worked in occupations where there has been a chance of exposure to toxic chemicals or radiation, you should note this in your self-evaluation. A partial list of hazardous materials that may be encountered on the job include lead, mercury, cadmium, beryllium, pesticides, and industrial solvents. Exposure to hazardous materials and radiation can result in impotence due to nerve damage, although the possibility does exist of damage to internal organs, which, in turn, may contribute to erectile dysfunction. Lead poisoning can be particularly damaging to the peripheral nervous system. Lead-based paints are no longer permitted for inside use, but the possibility exists for exposure, especially to children raised in older homes.

Review Your Use of Prescription and Nonprescription Drugs

The link between impotence and many frequently used medications is discussed, along with a listing of many of the problem drugs currently in use today. It is important to recognize that because new drugs are constantly being introduced in the pharmaceutical field, no listing of problem drugs will ever be complete. Fortunately, many newer drugs are much improved with respect to impotence and other side effects, but that is not always the case. If information on any drug that you are taking or will be taking has not been provided by your regular physician, you would be well advised to consult the latest edition of the Physicians’ Desk Reference published annually by Medical Economics Company, Oradell, New Jersey. This book, commonly known as the “PDR,” is usually found at better public libraries. The contents of the PDR are now also on computer and your physician may have access through a data network. The Physicians’ Desk Reference for Nonprescription Drugs, by the same publisher, provides information on the side effects of over-the-counter products.

The American Urological Association (AUA) has in the past published a listing of drugs linked to sexual dysfunction.

Any man who has been using a prescription drug linked to impotence should not immediately discontinue its use upon becoming aware of that fact. This sometimes happens, particularly in the case of men using medications for high blood pressure. Such men, of course, subject themselves to the long-term danger of strokes, heart attacks, and other problems. With some drugs, precipitous withdrawal can present a very real and immediate danger. The best course of action is to first talk with the physician who has prescribed the suspected drug. Some-times an alternative medication is available, with lesser side effects. Should your physician be unresponsive, get a second opinion before discontinuing the drug.

The Mechanics of an Erection

If you view an erection like the mechanics of your car?
You’ll understand more – and won’t feel intimidated

How does an erection occur?

How does an erection actually occur? It’s a common question and a good understanding of the process will make you a smarter more well-informed patient – increasing the likelihood for success with any ED therapy.

In humans, erection is achieved by a hydraulic mechanism. Hydraulic systems are based on the inherent difficulty of compressing any kind liquid. As a result, when a force is applies to a liquid confined within a limited area, a buildup of pressure occurs, and the liquid will press against its physical boundaries.

The brake system found in modern automobiles are hydraulic in nature. When the driver presses the brake pedal, the considerable pressure buildup activates the braking process. Hydraulic brake systems normally work very well and, for this reason, were adopted many years ago for use in automobiles in preference to simple mechanical braking systems. As every driver knows, hydraulic brakes sometimes fail, particularly when leaks occur in the vicinity of the seals. With the penis, leakage of hydraulic fluid, in this case, blood, is one of the possible causes of loss of an erection.

Incidentally, some types of whales do not employ the hydraulic approach for the formidable task of coitus on the high seas. Instead, such whales are equipped with a penile bone. Many men are now employing something very similar, in the form of a penile implant.

Parts and Functions Within the Penis

The penis has a variety of interdepend, functional parts. The “corpus cavernosum” (plural, “corpora cavernosa”) tissue, shaped into two long cylinders, parallels the shaft of the penis and the urethral channel over most of their respective lengths. Surrounding, and protecting the corpora cavernosa is a strong fibrous tissue layer known as the tunica albuginea. When conditions call for an erection, the tissues of the corpora cavernosa absorb large quantities of the hydraulic fluid (blood), resulting in the expansion of penis length, diameter, and needed rigidity.

Within the corpus cavernosum are thousands of expandable saclike structures, known as sinuses, each capable of storing very large quantities of blood. The sinuses are surrounded by “smooth” muscle tissue. Smooth muscles are one of the three types of muscles, a familiar example being the bicep muscles that control motion in our forearms, and the cardiac muscles that control motion in our forearms, and the cardiac muscles that make up the tissue of our hearts. In addition to the functioning of the penis, smooth muscles are involved in such automatic processes as the digestion of food, the elimination of body wastes, and the regulation of blood flow. In contrast to the situation that takes place when we consciously flex our biceps, we normally are unaware and have no conscious control over the functioning of our smooth muscles. The smooth muscles, however, play a key role in erection, contributing both to the flow of blood into the sinuses and the retention of blood within the sinuses during the period the erection is sustained.

Exactly how the sinuses fill with blood during an erection is still subject to some uncertainty, although research now underway may soon provide a full explanation. From the standpoint of hydraulics, filling the sinuses with blood logically involves the continuous pumping of upstream or arterial blood into the sinus cavities and some form of valving action to restrict the downstream movement of blood from the cavities into the veins of the venous blood system. Part of the explanation is that as the sinuses fill with blood, the engorged muscular tissue confined within the rigid envelope of the tunica albuginea cannot expand outward and instead presses internally against the veins that normally transport blood away from the penis. This restricts all but a necessary trickle of the downstream flow. This does not account, however, for how the buildup of blood in the sinuses occurs in the first place.

Improving an Erection: Its all About Bloodflow

One possible way to increase the flow of blood into the sinuses would be to substantially increase the pumping rate of the heart, The variations in heartbeat that occur during periods of sexual activity are not sufficient in themselves to account for buildup of blood in the sinuses. A better explanation is that the flow of blood into the sinuses is enhanced due to actions that take place in the smooth muscle tissues. An important characteristic of smooth muscle is that they are most of the time under tension and in a contracted state. While thus contracted, the smooth muscles, within the corpus cavernosum, normally constrict the arteries, that is, reduce the inside diameter of the arteries, that carry blood into the penis. When an erection occurs, however, the smooth muscle relax. This, in turn, allows the arteries to expand and greatly increase the flow of blood into sinuses within the penis.

The erection has been defined as multifaceted process initiated by events with the nervous system and then maintained by a complex interplay between the vascular system and the nervous system. The most likely sequence of events is that the erection first gets underway when appropriate messages are sent to the nerve centers in the penis that directly control the smooth muscles of the corpus cavernosum. This, in turn, serves to dilate (increase the inside diameter) of the arteries entering the corpus cavernosum, resulting in increased blood flow. Then, as the erection process gains momentum, the valving action in the exiting veins come into play. It Is also reasonable to conclude that feedback relationships probably exist between the indicated upstream and downstream mechanism. When all goes well, there is a major increase in the internal blood pressure of the corpus carnosum, to well above normal body reading. The rise indicates that both the filling and valving mechanisms are operating properly.

A very important area of current research is the processes involved in the relaxation of the smooth muscles of the penis. For relaxation to take place, chemical substance that make the smooth muscles relax must be made available within the corpus cavernosum. Nitric oxide is receiving attention as the most likely chemical agent, although other chemicals may be involved, or perhaps a combination of chemicals. Nitric oxide was first investigated in connection with treating cardiovascular disease. The substance, which acts as a neurotransmitter, has been found to be blood through the major arteries of the body. When these smooth muscles relax, the arteries dilate, resulting in a lowering of blood pressure. Nitric oxide is now also believed to play an important role in the operation of the immune system, including the deference of the body against cancer.

Nitrix Oxide: Mother Nature’s Secret Weapon with Erections

Nitrix oxide, a very simple chemical, is best known to the public as a major, and very undesirable, constituent of smog and acid rain. The removal of nitric oxide from automobile exhaust emissions is one of the principal functions of the catalytic that this toxic substance may prove to be an invaluable agent in the treatment not only of impotence, but also many other physical disorders.

An important area of current investigation is exactly how nitric oxide is generated within the corpus cavernosum. There is now reason to believe that messages sent from the brain to nerve centers within the smooth muscles of the penis result in the generation and release of nitric oxide. The living cells of the body, including those of the nervous system, are proteins in nature. Proteins, in turn, are formed from simpler substances known as amino acids, chemical whose composition includes nitrogen and oxygen. Interest now centers on the essential amino acid, l-arginine. There are grounds to suspect that the messages sent to the penis result in the breakdown of l-arginine yielding the all-important nitric oxide.

Finally, it is important to consider the processes that take place within the brain and nervous system that result in appropriate messages to the penis. The erection is essentially a reflex action that cannot be consciously willed. Sometimes an erection is triggered by psychological factors when the center in the brain associated with the functions of the somatic nervous system is activated by intimate contact with a sexual partner or by merely viewing or even imagining erotic images. An erection may also be triggered via the parasympathetic nervous system when nerve centers located in the spinal cord are stimulated by the physical stroking of the penis. Typically, both processes take place simultaneously. It is also typical, as a men age, for the erection to become more dependent upon direct physical stimulation of the penis, a factor that should be recognized during sexual relations.

The Healthy Penile Erection

Erection and ejaculation should not be confused. Erection is necessary to provide the penis with sufficient rigidity to permit the penetration of the female vagina. Ejaculation, however can be achieved by masturbation in the absence of an erection, although this implies a loss of much of the pleasure associated with sexual relations and presents an obvious, but not insurmountable, problem with respect to having children.

Erection are, of course, expected to take place during periods of sexual activities with a partner or during masturbation. In healthy men, erections also normally occur about three to six times per night, while asleep and during dream periods. Such nocturnal erections may last for up to 30 minutes and are often observed by men when awakening. Studies have shown that nocturnal erections can often occur during dreams that have no erotic content. This seems to indicate that nocturnal erections are largely controlled by the autonomic nervous system.

The reason for nocturnal erections are not fully known, but such erections may represent the way the body checks on whether the erectile mechanism is working properly, in much the same manner that aerospace engineers repeatedly check key mechanical systems prior to launching a complicated space vehicle.