Impotence
The true scale of the damage that smoking is doing to our sexual and reproductive health became clear yesterday as doctors published a comprehensive report blaming cigarettes for the impotence of 120,000 young men, 1,200 cervical cancers, up to 5,000 miscarriages and for many couples' fertility problems. Amoung these is impotence.
Most men experience a failed erection at some time in their lives, but if you find that you can’t achieve and maintain an erection in at least 3 out of 4 attempts, you should ask your doctor about impotence. Impotence, also known as erectile dysfunction or ED, is a condition in which a man is unable to achieve or maintain an erection long enough to have a satisfactory sex life. impotence means you cannot have an erection sufficient to perform sexual intercourse. impotence is a common problem for men and is more common in men with diabetes. Many men experience short term episodes of impotence but, for about one in 10 men, the problem may continue.
The reasons why men with diabetes are more prone to problems with impotence are not fully understood. Some people with diabetes suffer from hardened arteries. This may contribute to impotence by restricting the flow of blood to the penis. Nerve damage, another problem for people with diabetes, may also contribute to impotence. If blood glucose levels are kept in the normal range, it will help reduce the chance of these problems occurring.
A very common cause of impotence is when blood flow to the penis is impaired due to atherosclerosis, also known as hardening of the arteries. In atherosclerosis, the arteries are clogged and narrowed, resulting in reduced blood flow. This narrowing of the arteries can be caused by conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease or diabetes, as well as by smoking.
impotence can be devastating for your self-esteem as well as that of your partner. It is generally temporary and affects nearly all males at some time of their lives. Sudden onset of impotency is more likely to be psychological in origin, especially if you are still experiencing early morning erections. In younger men, psychological problems such as low self-esteem, depression, tension, anxiety and communication issues between partners are the most common causes of impotency.
Under normal circumstances, when a man is sexually stimulated, his brain sends a message down the spinal cord and into the nerves of the penis. The nerve endings in the penis release chemical messengers called neurotransmitters that signal the corpora cavernosa (the two spongy rods of tissue that span the length of the penis) to relax and fill with blood. As they expand, the corpora cavernosa close off other veins that would normally drain blood from the penis. As the penis becomes engorged with blood, it enlarges and stiffens, causing an erection. Problems with blood vessels, nerves, or tissues of the penis can interfere with an erection.
Many men will experience episodes of impotence that improve without the need for treatment. Sometimes, persistent impotence can be the result of a more serious underlying health condition, such as heart disease. In such cases, treatment will be needed to treat the underlying condition. Other causes include head injury, which can result in low levels of production of the hormone testosterone. Treatment of testosterone can treat impotence when it is caused by head injury.
