What is ED?
ED is the medical term for difficulties getting and keeping an erection. ED happens when not enough blood flows to the penis, preventing an erection. It is a sexual health problem that affects about 30 million men in the U.S. Please ask your doctor or healthcare provider to get more information about your specific symptoms.
What can cause ED?
ED is often caused by something physical, such as a disease, injury, or side effects from other drugs.
Medical conditions that can cause ED:
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Obesity
- Prostate cancer treatment
- Spinal cord injury
Medications that can cause ED:
In some men, ED is a side effect of some medications. These medications might include drugs used to treat:
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Depression
Can lifestyle have an impact on ED?
Yes. Some lifestyle and psychological factors can play a role in causing ED, such as smoking, drinking, and stress, because they may lead to conditions that affect blood circulation. There are things you can do each day to improve your circulation and avoid some of the conditions that can lead to ED:
- Find ways to stay more active (mowing the lawn, walking the dog)
- Help manage your weight by eating healthy and watching your portion size
- Drink less alcohol
- Quit smoking. The results can be significant
- Look for ways to reduce stress in your daily life