Erectile Dysfunction And The Use Of Viagra

Erectile Dysfunction is an embarrassing condition experienced by many men, particularly those over the age of 40. Because men are embarrassed by the condition, many do not talk about it or seek treatment. For this reason, most men are surprised to learn how common the condition is. In fact, over half of those men who have reached the age of 40 suffer from some form of ED. But Erectile Dysfunction, or ED, is a medical condition that can be treated. Treatment starts with understanding what is causing the condition.

Understanding Erectile Dysfunction


Erectile Dysfunction is a condition that causes a man to not be able to attain an erection during sex. This inability is due to a lack of blood flow to the genital area, which is necessary for a strong erection. Sometimes the man with ED cannot attain an erection at all, while other times the erection is not strong enough to allow him to engage in sexual activity. Many men think there is something wrong with them mentally that is keeping them from attaining the erection. They ignore the problem, yet it does not go away. That is because without treatment, ED cannot improve. Without blood flow to the area, an erection cannot happen.

To get a better understanding of ED, it helps to understand what normally happens during sexual arousal. The genital regions go through a series of steps to attain an erection:

Step 1 Signals from the brain during arousal cause the penis to release nitric oxide, unleashing a chemical reaction that causes the arteries to widen.
Step 2 Widened arteries have greater volumes of blood flow.
Step 3 The engorgement of blood cause the penis to harden and expand, thus creating an erection.

Of course, the process is a bit more complex than that. For instance, in step one, the nitric oxide signals the production of a chemical named cGMP, which relaxes the muscles of the artery walls, allowing them to expand. At the same time, a chemical called PDE is destroying the cGMP, allowing the arteries to eventually go back to normal.

This is what normally happens, but when a man has ED, something does not work properly. The problem could be caused by the nerves or the blood vessels in the organ. The end result, however, is the same blood does not flow well into the penis, which prevents a successful erection. Here are some common causes of ED:

High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Prostate conditions


Heart disease
Diabetes
Spinal injuries
Depression
Stress

No matter what the cause, though, there are treatment options. You should talk to your doctor right away if you suffer from ED. While you may feel embarrassed to do so, remember that your doctor is a medical professional, and your sexual health is an important part of keeping yourself healthy overall.

Erectile Dysfunction Treatment Options

One of the first things your doctor may do to treat your ED is try to treat the cause. For example, if you are suffering from ED due to hypertension, treating your blood pressure may fix the problem. However, this may or may not work, and it will take time to treat the cause. There are other options available, but the most common way to treat the symptoms ED is through medication. There are several pills on the market today for ED, and it may be a case of trying one out to see which one works best for you. The market leader remains Viagra but there are also Cialis and Levitra which may be more effective for you as an individual.

Viagra How It Works

Viagra is a pill that blocks the action of PDE5 in the penis. This causes the cGMP to build up and continue working, rather than being destroyed. This allows the cGMP to have a longer effect on the arteries, allowing more blood flow than the patient s body normally allows. The main ingredient in the drug is sildenafil citrate, which blocks the way the PDE works. The medicine typically stays in the man s body for four hours, thus allowing plenty of time for a full sexual experience. After this time the kidneys flush the medication out of the body. This highly effective treatment option works for four out of five men who have ED.

Potential Side Effects and Warnings

Some men should not take Viagra. Unless a doctor says it is safe for you, you should seek another treatment for your ED if you fall into any of these categories:

Men taking medication with nitrates
Liver disease patients
Kidney disease patients
Men taking protease inhibitors
Men taking alpha blockers may need a dosage adjustment

As with all prescription medications, there are potential side effects to Viagra. These are:

Headache
Facial flushing
Nausea
Blue or blurred vision
Sensitivity to light

While dangerous side effects are rare, some men will experience a sudden loss of vision or an erection lasting longer than four hours. These conditions require immediate medical treatment. However, the risk of dangerous side effects from Viagra is slim, and most men take this medication frequently to successfully treat their ED. The medication can be taken on an as needed basis, making it an effective and simple way to treat erectile dysfunction.

By: Aeneas MacKay

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This article was submitted by an employee of The Online Clinic, which is the UK's largest online diagnosing and prescribing service. It is possible to contact The Online Clinic to seek treatment for erectile dysfunction and they may be happy to prescribe Viagra following an online consultation with a GMC registered doctor.