Who gets erectile dysfunction?

Who gets erectile dysfunction?

Some men are more likely than others to get ED — and it could be related to their race, weight, medications, and more.

When you think of someone with erectile dysfunction http://www.dreddyclinic.com/findinformation/ee/erectiledysfunction.php, who comes to mind?

If you instantly picture an elderly man in poor health, you should know this: ED can affect young, fit men as well as older men, although it is more common in old age. According to the National Institutes of Health, erectile dysfunction affects as many as 30 million men in the United States.

Put simply, erectile dysfunction occurs when you aren't able to keep an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse — the problem can be absolute, meaning you are unable to have erections at all — or it may just happen every once in a while (like after one too many cocktails).

Could you be at risk for getting ED one day?

Erectile Dysfunction Risk Factor No. 1: Age

If you look at the rates of ED by age, you'd certainly find a connection between the number of candles on the cake and the rate of ED. About 4 percent of men in their 50s experience a total inability to have an erection; for men in their 60s, that rate jumps to 17 percent — and then to 47 percent for men older than 75.

Are erection problems an inevitable part of aging? Absolutely not. "Although rates are higher among older men, ED is not a consequence of aging but more a consequence of other diseases related to aging," said Drogo Montague, MD, director of the Center for Genitourinary Reconstruction in the Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute at the Cleveland Clinic. "There is no reason a man or woman cannot enjoy a healthy sex life into their 80s and beyond."

Erectile Dysfunction Risk Factor No. 2: Race

Some minority groups appear to be more likely to develop erectile dysfunction than other groups. For example, one study found that, in a group of men 30 to 79 years old, black men and Hispanic men were more likely to have ED — 24.9 and 25.3 percent, respectively — than white men (18.1 percent). The researchers, however, attributed the difference to socioeconomic status rather than to race.

Erectile Dysfunction Risk Factor No. 3: Health Status

The main reason men get erectile dysfunction? You can often blame it on other health issues, said Dr. Montague. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases estimates that up to 70 percent of ED cases can be attributed to diseases such as diabetes, kidney disease, alcoholism, multiple sclerosis, atherosclerosis, vascular diseases, and endocrine disorders or neurologic diseases, he said.

And that's one of the reasons it's so important to get ED treated: You could have an underlying condition that needs to be treated as well.

Erectile Dysfunction Risk Factor No. 4: Mental Health

In the majority of ED cases, a physical problem is to blame. But about 10 to 20 percent of the time, there is a psychological issue at root, Montague said. "ED may have origins in psychological factors such as stress, anxiety, guilt, and depression http://www.dreddyclinic.com/findinformation/dd/depression.php" — and it may also be related to performance anxiety and other sexual fears.

Erectile Dysfunction Risk Factor No. 5: Weight

A study published in 2011 in the Journal of Sexual Medicine looked at the sexual function of obese http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=119&t=26084 men with type 2 diabetes — after eight weeks on a low-calorie diet, a number of the men not only decreased their weight, but they also increased their erectile function and sexual desire.

Another great way to drop pounds and reduce your ED risk? Move more — regular exercise can improve blood flow to the penis, as well as to the rest of your body.

Erectile Dysfunction Risk Factor No. 6: Lifestyle

A number of your everyday habits — such as smoking, drinking, and drug use — can also affect penile function. In fact, for men under the age of 40, smoking is the biggest cause of erectile dysfunction (maintaining an erection requires a healthy blood supply, and nicotine causes your blood vessels to contract).

Erectile Dysfunction Risk Factor No. 7: Meds

A number of medications prescribed to men can take a toll on their sex lives, and they may even cause ED. "Common drugs such as blood pressure medications, antihistamines, antidepressants, appetite suppressants, diuretics, antipsychotics, anticonvulsives, and others can cause ED as a side effect," said Montague. "In fact, drugs may account for up to 25 percent of cases of ED in the United States."

Consult with your doctor if you think medication is undermining your sex life. In many cases, your health care provider may be able to prescribe an alternative.

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