Causes of Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction in men occurs for a variety of reasons and at many different stages in life. It can occur at any age even though it is considered a problem mostly in older men.

The two main categories of erectile dysfunction causes are physical and psychological. Sometimes it is also a combination of both.

Physical Causes

Sickness-Numerous illnesses or diseases such as diabetes, cancer, or terminal sickness can lead to poor sexual functioning. Sometimes a man never can function sexually during this time but other times he may at least be able to some of the time.

Poor diet-If you eat unhealthy foods such as excess cakes, cookies, and candies it can cause severe problems. Too many meats in a day is also a problem. Watch your fat, cholesterol, and sugars intake. You also need to watch how much salt you consume or you could add heart problems to your current situation.

Lack of exercise-It is proven that the more active you are socially and vocationally the better off sexually you may be. Of course, the obvious exception would be if you were overworked. In most other cases though, a small amount of daily exercise is recommended to keep you sexually fit as well as physically fit.

Harmful lifestyle choices-If you happen to smoke or drink alcohol more than you would like to admit you can put yourself at a higher risk for erectile dysfunction. Contrary to popular belief, though alcohol may be an aphrodisiac over the long haul it can actually decrease your overall sexual appetite.

It also can kill your mood and cause you not to be able to “get hard.” Drinking too many caffeinated beverages or using any illicit substance can also be a problem. Therefore, be careful.

Psychological

Stress-This can cause anyone to be limp at any time. The stress could come from being unhappy at work, or just being overworked in general. It could also be because of a fight with a loved one, or unfortunately sometimes even your spouse.

Depression-You may not even have the energy sometimes to move, much less be able “get it up.” This could be a result of many reasons related to circumstances such as loss or trauma. It could also be a problem resulting from some chemical imbalance.

Past Traumas-sometimes men are having trouble sexually because of something bad that happened to them. It could be abuse, or perhaps some other psychologically damaging experience.

Secondary Symptoms-The above symptoms are psychological and may be secondary symptoms of another physical condition. These psychological symptoms may be a side effect of a medication as well.