6 Common Erection Killers That Many Men Ignore

Are these everyday items harming your sex life?

Artwork: © Carlyn Beccia | www.CarlynBeccia.com

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Men are so darn lucky. Not only do you get to pee standing up, go shirtless whenever the mood hits, and only have to shave your face, but you also have a secret power below your belt. Or at least your penis has a secret power.

Your penis can predict a future heart attack, stroke, aneurysm, or blood clot.

The reason is simple. A healthy erection correlates with a healthy heart and vascular system. Conversely, erectile dysfunction can often be the first sign of heart problems. (Yes, I am attempting to put a silver lining on erectile dysfunction, but everyone learns better in their happy place…)

Let’s start with the mechanics. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to attain or maintain an erection for satisfactory sexual activity. One in every ten men will experience erectile dysfunction at some point in their life. But since many cases go unreported, that number is probably higher. Only 58% of ED sufferers consult their doctor about sexual problems.

Erectile dysfunction can sometimes be hard to treat because it has multiple causes. Those causes can range from psychological — stress, depression, and anxiety — to physiological — hormones, side effects from medicine, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and other underlying medical conditions.

One of the most common causes of erectile dysfunction is arteriosclerosis — the hardening of the arteries due to weight gain, lack of exercise, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and cigarette smoking. Another common cause of ED is the smooth muscles surrounding the veins become weak and malfunction. One study found that men with ED were 38% more likely to have high blood pressure than those without ED.

If you take any prescription medication, such as antidepressants or blood pressure medications, you are probably aware of the ED side effects. But there are many everyday items lurking in medicine cabinets and polluting our world that can also put a damper on date night.