*The Tragedy Of The Bedroom* Part II
Major Causes Of Erectile Dysfunction.
1.Stress
2.Anxiety
3.Diabetes Mellitus
4.Vascular disease:( diseases affecting the blood vessels)
5.Multiple sclerosis
6.Spinal cord injury
7.Radical surgeries
8.Endocrine disorders
9.Alcohol ingestion
10.Smoking.
There are several medications which we take everyday but they are linked to Erectile Dysfunction.
I know of a Pharmacist who had some fungal infection and decided to take oral Fluconazole tablet.
During the course of taking that drug,he decided to have sexual ministration with his wife but he couldn’t minister effectively.Airforce One was down and could not rise for the period he was on that drug.
He further checked for the side effect of the drug and discovered that it also causes erectile dysfunction. Immediately,he stopped the drug….Airforce One became airborne and he was able to minister effectively.
Some of the classes of the drugs that are linked to Erectile Dysfunction include;
1.Antiandrogens :(Drugs given to men with prostate cancer)
2.Mood stabilisers:Used to treat bipolar/personality disorders.E.g Lithium(Camcolit,Liskonum), Carbamazepine(Tegretol) etc
3.Estrogens
4.Cytotoxic drugs(Drugs used to fight cancer).
5.Anti-arrhythmics such as Digoxin (used in treatment of heart failure)
6.Antidepressants :Drugs used in treating depression.E.g Setraline(Zoloft),Fluoxetine(Prozac),Citalopram, Paroxetine, etc
7.Narcotics: Drugs used for acute or chronic pain.E.g Morphine,Codeine,Cocaine,Fentanyl, Tramadol etc
8.Antipsychotics
9.Ketoconazole,Fluconazole.
10.Lipid lowering medications:Drugs used to treat high blood cholesterol.
11.Non steroidal Anti inflammatory Drugs(NSAIDS):
E.g Aspirin,Ibuprofen, Naproxen. Regular use of these drugs have been associated with decreased libido and erectile dysfunction.
12.Antihypertensives: Aldomet, Thiazides, Atenolol
13.Histamine H2 receptor blockers:Like drugs used in treatment of peptic ulcer disease.E.g -Cimetidine,Ranitidine
14.Diuretics:High blood pressure medications that can cause sexual dysfunction as a side effect include: Water pills (diuretics). Diuretics can decrease forceful blood flow to the penis, making it difficult to achieve an erection. They can also deplete the body of zinc, which is necessary to make the sex hormone testosterone.E.g Hydrochlorthiazides
16.Anticonvulsants :E.g Phenytoin.
17.Sedatives And Anti-Anxiety Drugs: E.g Valium(Diazepam)
18.Barbiturates: E.g Phenobarbital
19.Beta Blockers:E.g Atenolol
Non Medical Treatment Options For Erectile Dysfunction.
1.LIFE STYLE CHANGES
-reduce fat in diet.
-decrease or limit alcohol consumption.
-eliminate tobacco use and substance abuse.
-weight loss,if needed.
-regular exercise
-reduce stress to the barest minimum.
2.SEX THERAPY
-Patient or couple counseling is very important because most of the time,erectile dysfunction may be psychological. Once the couple is counseled,there can be drastic improvement.The role of counseling cannot be over-emphasized.
Medical Treatment Options For Erectile Dysfunction.
1.Oral medications (Sildenafil, Verdanafil,Tadalafil)
2.And several other treatment options.
In Summary,
1.Mind the drugs you put into your mouth.Drugs are poisons.As they help cause peace in one part of your body,they also cause problems elsewhere in your body.You don’t want that problem to be in your reproductive life.
2.If you have these challenges,go to a hospital and talk to an experienced Doctor who will appropriately counsel you and if need be,prescribe the right drug for you in its right dosage.
Erectile Dysfunction is treatable if you want it to be treated.Do not die in silence while your marriage is being torn apart.
Seek Help Early.