Things You Need To Know About Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a serious global burden that affects men as well as their partners. According to National Institutes of Health (NIH), ED is defined as the inability of a man to obtain and/or maintain a penile erection that is sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance.

Globally, several studies have reported that ED is increasingly prevalent with age. A study in primary care settings in Malaysia showed that 69.5 % of Malaysians men aged 40 to 79 years old reported to have ED1.

ED can be caused by a number of factors, including:

• Vascular disease: Blood supply to the penis can become blocked or narrowed as a result of vascular disease such as atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
• Neurological disorders: Nerves that send impulses to the penis can become damaged from stroke, diabetes, or other causes.
• Psychological states: These include stress, anxiety, depression, lack of stimulus from the brain and performance anxiety.
• Trauma:  An injury could contribute to symptoms of ED.
• Others: Obesity, high cholesterol, smoking, certain drugs.

Heart Disease and ED

Men with ED are more likely to have cardiovascular disease (CVD). ED and CVD share many risk factors such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, smoking, dyslipidemia, and aging2. There is a very strong link between erectile dysfunction and heart disease. Several studies have shown that if a man has ED, he has a greater risk of having heart disease. Having ED is as much a risk factor for heart disease as a history of smoking or a family history of coronary artery disease.

COVID-19 and ED

Studies have shown that COVID-19 increases the risk of developing ED by nearly six times3. Vascular damage associated with COVID-19 is likely to affect the fragile vascular bed of the penis, potentially resulting in impaired erectile function.

ED Self Assessment

The Erection Hardness Score (EHS) is a single-item, patient-reported outcome for scoring erection hardness (Table 1). EHS is attractive because it is short and simple to use. With just one question, men can easily assess their erection hardness and report back to their health care professional.

Table 1: Erection Hardness Score (EHS)

How would you rate the hardness of your erection?

ED Treatment Using Oral Medications

Oral medications are a successful ED treatment for many men (Table 2).  The medications enhance the effects of nitric oxide — a natural chemical the body produces that relaxes muscles in the penis. This increases blood flow and allows an erection in response to sexual stimulation.

Oral medications for ED treatment:

Lifestyle Modifications

There are many lifestyle modifications that can help with ED. A published study found that some men can reverse erectile dysfunction with healthy lifestyle changes, such as exercise, weight loss, a varied diet, good sleep, smoking cessation and alcohol reduction.

Bottomline

ED is a common condition that can affect men’s confidence  and quality of life. In men with no cardiac symptoms, ED, especially in younger men, can be a marker of a significantly increased risk of CVD.

Lastly, for any further clarification, do speak to your healthcare provider  to find out more on the subject matter or do approach or contact the pharmacist at any CARING Pharmacy stores or message us on our Facebook page.

For more information about ED, please visit: https://www.menshealth.com.my/