7 Common Causes of ED

May 01, 2021

4 mins

Impotence – or erectile dysfunction (ED) – is an extremely common condition in men.

It’s often a fleeting and temporary issue, generally an atypical circumstance. A particularly stressful week at work, an ongoing lack of adequate sleep, or even enjoying a few too many beers can cause temporary erectile dysfunction that will resolve itself when healthier habits – or sobriety – are reestablished.

However, that's not always the case.

Some causes of impotence relate to underlying physical or psychological health conditions that require immediate and appropriate treatment. Heart disease, excess weight, high blood pressure, and depression need to be addressed for a multitude of reasons, and erectile dysfunction can be a symptom of these more serious underlying conditions.

If you’re experiencing mild to moderate erectile dysfunction, it’s time to account for all possible contributing factors so you can work towards possible solutions. 

Discussing these factors with a doctor can help you find appropriate treatment for erectile dysfunction. The first step is making healthy choices to prioritize your wellness.

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1. Issues with Weight

Two thirds of adults in America are overweight or struggling with obesity. Obesity is a key risk factor for the development of impotence. Overweight people – particularly those who are only marginally overweight – may not be at substantial risk for developing health complications or sexual wellness obstacles.

Those with a BMI over 25 are considered at real risk.

For those already significantly overweight or obese, losing weight can improve health significantly. The heart and lungs will begin to function better, reducing the risk of developing conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure. This may put you on track to remedying sexual dysfunctions or low libido (sometimes a result of low testosterone, too). 

The most effective way to successfully shed excess weight is to make mindful diet and exercise changes. Move more and be more conscious of the foods you eat. Eliminating processed and sugary foods and preparing meals from whole ingredients at home is a great step in the right direction. 

2. Anxiety or Depression

Anxiety and depression can affect you physically just as much as they affect you mentally. Anxious and stressed individuals may have a difficult time relaxing enough to enjoy intimacy, and in some cases, intimacy may actually cause anxiety. Those dealing with depression find they lack libido and many medications for anxiety and depression can actually cause erectile dysfunction. 

3. Insomnia or Exhaustion

If you haven’t been consistently getting quality sleep, intimacy can become more difficult. When your body is tired, the thing it needs most is high quality sleep. Sexual function is low on the list of priorities, which can lead to temporary impotence issues.

Natural sleep aids like valerian, melatonin, or even CBD oil may be safe and valuable additions to your nighttime routine. 

Caffeine or other stimulants may be keeping you up at night, so it may be beneficial to limit intake after noon. 

Setting a consistent bedtime can help regulate your circadian rhythm, which teaches your body when to wake and when to fall asleep. 

Some other lifestyle changes like taking electronic devices out of your room may help you get those necessary seven to eight hours of sleep a night. Listen to your natural cues and respond appropriately. 

Pairing consistent and high quality sleep with a healthy diet and regular exercise can help your body establish normalcy and homeostasis. When every other process is working as expected, you may find that your libido naturally improves and your ED begins to resolve. 

4. Tobacco or Alcohol Use

You’ve heard once, you’ll hear it again: quit smoking. Obviously, health experts recommend quitting because of the damage the chemicals found in tobacco products do to the body. But smoking in general – be it tobacco or something else – contributes to inflammation and significantly impacts vascular health. If your blood vessels and cardiovascular system aren’t functioning properly, you may experience erection problems.

As far as alcohol use goes, both occasional alcohol consumption and alcohol use disorders can pose issues to your sexual health. Most men are familiar with occasional erectile dysfunction when they’ve had one too many. 

You have a night of drinking and overindulging, come home to your intimate partner in the mood...but your body doesn’t cooperate. This intermittent impotence typically subsides after you’ve sobered up, gotten some sleep, and had plenty of water.

Persistent alcohol use or alcohol use disorders can cause chronic impotence. Like smoking, alcohol dependency is an acknowledged risk factor for ED.

5. Nervous and Neurological Conditions

Neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease affect the central nervous system and can cause erratic or compromised sensitivity and nerve response. Erectile dysfunction is merely one side effect of these nuanced and complicated conditions. In some cases, erectile dysfunction medications used in conjunction with medications to treat neurological conditions can provide relief from the symptoms of impotence.

6. Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, or High Cholesterol

Your heart is the keystone to the rest of your body –including the erectile process. Heart disease, blood pressure issues, and elevated cholesterol can take a serious toll on your body. Atherosclerosis (or a hardening of the arteries) occurs when fat, cholesterol, and other substances build up and cause inflammation of artery walls. This prevents blood vessels from dilating properly and blood from efficiently getting where it needs to be.  

These conditions can be fatal if left unmanaged.

Be sure to Always follow the advice of your doctor when it comes to matters of heart health. Not being able to achieve an erection should be the least of your worries if your heart isn’t functioning properly. But it can also be an important early indicator.

Your doctor may recommend that you make some lifestyle changes including:

•  Losing weight

• Changing your diet to eliminate certain fats or high salt

• Stopping smoking

• Addressing your stress

 Once your heart health is properly managed, impotence may resolve on its own. If it doesn’t, you can explore additional treatment options.

If your doctor prescribes nitroglycerin medications or nitrates as part of treatment, you won’t be a candidate for most erectile dysfunction drugs. The two can create a potentially dangerous interaction. 

Be sure you inform your erectile dysfunction doctor about your heart condition and medications, and inform your cardiologist about your erectile dysfunction issues. You want both professionals to be equally up to speed with your health conditions in order for them to provide the right treatment plan.

7. Side Effects of Medications

Almost all diuretics, high blood pressure drugs, sedatives, anti-anxiety medications, antidepressants, and antihistamines can cause erectile dysfunction as a side effect. If you weren’t experiencing any issues (or were experiencing significantly fewer issues) before you started a new medication, your new medication may be the culprit. 

Speak to your doctor about whether your medication could be causing ED and whether switching to a different medication or an alternative treatment (like therapy) might be an option.

If the medication you’re taking is working well for you, you may be able to counteract the side effects with erectile dysfunction medications like Viagra®, Cialis®, or Levitra®. Know, however, that ED meds don't always mix well with other medications, and it's important to let your physician know about all of your existing meds.

How Rex MD Can Help

While alarming, erectile dysfunction is a common experience for most guys at some point in their life. Over half of men over the age of 40 will deal with ED.

Impotence is often the result of other treatable issues. Your physician will likely evaluate what else is going on in your life – emotionally or physically – that could be impacting your sexual abilities. They may recommend addressing these underlying conditions before moving on to ED medications.

If you believe that erectile dysfunction medication could be the right solution for you, Rex MD helps guys access the most popular and effective ED medications approved by the FDA. These include Viagra, Cialis, and their cheaper generic counterparts. And it's all done affordably online, with no in-person doctor visit and no co-pays. 

Get started with a free consultation today.