Men's health: erectile dysfunction.Erectile dysfunction--which affects about one in every ten American men--can occur at any age and may sometimes be the first sign of circulation problems due to diabetes, high blood pressure, or coronary artery disease coronary artery disease, condition that results when the coronary arteries are narrowed or occluded, most commonly by atherosclerotic deposits of fibrous and fatty tissue. .Diagnosis and treatment of underlying medical problems may help sexual performance. Additional therapies include: * Oral medications--Prescription drugs sildenafil sildenafil /sil·den·a·fil/ (sil-den´ah-fil?) a phosphodiesterase inhibitor that relaxes the smooth muscle of the penis, facilitating blood flow to the corpus cavernosum; used as the citrate salt to treat erectile dysfunction. (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), and vardenafil (Levitra) help improve response to sexual stimulation Sexual stimulation is any stimulus that leads to sexual arousal or orgasm. The term often implies stimulation of the genitals but may also include stimulation of other areas of the body, stimulation of the senses (such as sight or hearing), and mental stimulation (such as that by allowing increased blood flow to the penis. Clinical trials show that Cialis is active in the body longer than Viagra. Levitra takes effect somewhat more quickly than does Viagra. * Vacuum systems--These devices increase circulation to the penis by creating a vacuum within a hollow tube placed over the penis. FDA-approved manual and battery-powered models are available without a prescription. New research shows that exercise can ward off erectile dysfunction Erectile Dysfunction Definition Erectile dysfunction (ED), formerly known as impotence, is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection long enough to engage in sexual intercourse. , as well as cardiovascular disease Cardiovascular disease Disease that affects the heart and blood vessels. Mentioned in: Lipoproteins Test cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The Harvard study of more than 30,000 health professionals between the ages of 53 and 90 found that the condition increased about 5 percent each year for all men. The problem, however, was notably less common among men who did the equivalent of three hours of running or more each week. |
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