Erectile dysfunction also known as impotency is the inability to maintain a firm erection for sexual intercourse.
It has been reported that around one in four men under 40 years experience erectile dysfunction, and this number increases in older age groups.
A lot of people feel ashamed talking about this problem, perhaps because of the stigmatisation that comes with it— the social shame associated with feeling emasculated when experiencing erectile dysfunction is nothing compared to the life-threatening issues it poses when not looked into. Research has shown that more damage could be done as erectile dysfunction can hint at more fatal conditions.
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Listed below are five life-threatening problems erectile dysfunction could be alerting you to.
1. Obesity
The report suggests that four out of five men that experience erectile dysfunction are overweight and obese. According to a report from World Health Organisation, obesity has reached epidemic proportions with not less than 2.8 million people dying each year from being overweight or obese. Erectile dysfunction can be a signal that one is obese which is a cue that urgent measures need to be put in place to reduce one’s weight in order to lead a healthy life.
2. Poor Cardiovascular Health
The penis serves as an instrument to measure cardiovascular health. In older men, the common reason for erectile dysfunction is the lack of blood flow to the penis. This can be a sign of heart disease which is another life-threatening ailment found to take an estimated 17.9 million lives each year.
3. Diabetes
Diabetes has been said to be a side effect associated with the lack of some men to sustain an erection. Research has also found that men who experienced erectile dysfunction tended to report other health issues.
4. Mental Health Issues
Erectile dysfunction in younger men is frequently caused by psychological problems such as depression, anxiety, and sexual inhibitions.
Research also suggests that it’s becoming more and more prevalent for erectile dysfunction to be caused by easy access to pornography.
Dr Catherine Hood, a specialist in sexual medicine and a psychosexual therapist, noted that data reveals that 13% of males read sexually explicit material on a daily basis and 36% of men watch pornography at least once per week.
Erectile dysfunction could result in the reason for psychological problems or vice versa. People who are going through depression may not only experience ED but may also resort to suicide. And someone experiencing ED may end up feeling depressed as a result and also attempt suicide. There are two sides to the coin— a depressed person can experience ED as a result of depression and a person experiencing ED can get depressed as a result.
Mental health issues like depression and anxiety have been said to account for the death of millions of young people. Quick attention to the cause of erectile dysfunction could save the lives of many who are experiencing ED as a result of depression and vice versa.
5. Testosterone Deficiency
Sometimes the body might suffer major, long-lasting repercussions from a shortage of testosterone. In men with extremely low levels, the bones may deteriorate and develop osteoporosis. People with osteoporosis are significantly more prone to harm.
According to one study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, low testosterone has also been related to an increased risk of death from heart disease and other causes, and can no doubt cause erectile dysfunction.
Erectile dysfunction is a dangerous medical problem that could suggest a hidden illness requiring immediate medical care.
It is advised to consult a medical expert to ascertain the cause of erectile dysfunction in order to nip in the bud any fatal disease that might be lurking.