Erectile dysfunction (ED) may be a difficult topic to discuss, however it should not be ignored. In my practice, I see men who after the age of 45, have difficulties getting and maintaining an erection. This is not normal at any age and it is beginning to present in much younger men. The National Institute of Health (NIH) reports 30 million men are affected by ED.
It is not uncommon to have some impotence now and then. However, when it becomes an issue 50% of the time, it is a serious problem.
Possible Causes
- Sleep deprivation effects sexual performance. Even though most people think they can get away with less sleep, biologically, adults need 8-10 hours per night.
- Viewing pornography has been an ongoing debate as to whether it psychologically affects men’s ability to perform. In my practice, this is considered a problem and may be combined with other bad behaviors, such as excessive alcohol intake.
- Atherosclerosis or plaque build-up in the arteries.
- Veins inadequate for proper blood flow—often from diabetes pathology.
- Poor Health
- Side Effects.of Medications
Clinically, I have seen a dramatic increase in ED. Perhaps it’s just that men are becoming more willing to talk about it. They are interested in treating the cause, instead of taking a drug, like Viagra.®, to mask the symptoms. Not only do I see an increase in ED, I see it effecting younger men. Older men raised on health food, exposed to few medications, including vaccinations, can still enjoy a strong libido and a healthy sex life into their 80s.
In my opinion, ED is often the result of self-inflicted behaviors. We are becoming obsessive compulsive by medicating every little ailment. Instead, we should allow the body to heal itself by getting it in the proper condition and eliminating poor nutrition—often prevalent in the standard American diet.
If men are willing to work on restoring their health (i.e. improve their diet, take supplements to clean up their arteries, eliminate unnecessary medications, take Omega-3 fatty acids, increase their sleep to proper levels—their performance starts to return.
Sex is an important part of being human. It does not have to be difficult if we allow the body to get back into balance—by treating the cause and supporting function in a healthy way.