Erectile Dysfunction | 25 Years Of Viagra

Being unable to maintain an erection has probably been a worry for men for as long as humanity has walked the Earth.

For thousands of years, in different cultures, medical history has always looked for a way to cure erectile dysfunction. Men have searched land and water for remedies to improve erections, trying anything from powdered rhino horn to white shark fin.

Let’s look at erectile dysfunction, its causes, and what can be used to treat it. It’s especially timely, now that it’s been 25 years since the famous blue pill for erectile dysfunction – Viagra – was first released to the general public.

What causes a weak erection?

There are many different risk factors that can lead to erectile dysfunction. Mostly, they are medical conditions. It makes sense that when there’s an imbalance in one part of the body, a less vital part might malfunction.

I know. Although I’m a woman, I understand this is pretty vital for you but I’m sure you get the point. In order of importance, it’s true to say that maintaining an erection is less vital than keeping you alive.

Let’s look at the most likely causes of erectile dysfunction (ED).

Erectile Dysfunction Cause #1. Heart disease

When the body pump is struggling to function properly it needs much more blood to keep beating precisely. During an erection, the penis fills up with blood until is hard enough to be able to penetrate the vagina. The extra blood required to get an erection is just too much for a diseased heart to deal with.

Please, be mindful of two things

1. Erectile dysfunction isn’t a synonym for heart failure. If suffer from erectile dysfunction, it doesn’t mean you have some kind of heart disease. Erectile dysfunction is already a sensitive topic and it doesn’t help to worry there might be a problem with your heart. Your difficulty in getting an erection might be totally unrelated to your heart
2. What if it is the cause in your case, though? What if the first symptom of a cardiac problem is erectile dysfunction? It could be a very lucky wake-up call to have your heart checked before the condition worsens and you suffer a heart attack.

If you have a heart condition, it’s already there. Research shows that getting the right treatment when necessary will, most likely, give you many more years to live. The longer your heart suffers without help the deeper the damage.

Erectile Dysfunction Cause #2. High or low blood pressure

Blood pressure is the blood vessels’ resistance to the blood flow inside them. High blood pressure means the resistance is high. The blood vessels could be losing elasticity and becoming hard. Blood struggles to circulate when there’s high blood pressure. The vessels offer a lot of resistance but normal blood flow must be maintained to keep up with the body’s needs. If the situation continues for a long time without treatment it can escalate to even more serious illnesses, such as pulmonary hypertension or coronary artery disease.

Although not as worrying as high blood pressure, chest pain, or irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure can also be the cause of erectile dysfunction. When blood pressure is very low it might not be enough to pump the penis up with blood.

Uncontrolled high blood pressure might cause imbalances in your equilibrium and could lead to the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Erectile Dysfunction Cause #3. Diabetes

Unfortunately, diabetes is one of the most debilitating chronic illnesses a person can develop. An uncontrolled type II diabetes mellitus (the one that develops in adulthood) can cause sudden vision loss, stomach ulcers, liver disease, and of course, erectile dysfunction.

Seek medical attention if you experience a sudden change. I’m not talking just about vision loss but anything that appears suddenly that wasn’t there before, such as a severe headache, blurred vision or a sudden change in your sexual activity, difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection, a painful erection, or even sudden premature ejaculation.

Erectile Dysfunction Cause #4. Smoking

Smoking is one of the most damaging habits a person can have. Tobacco and cigarette smoke are full of carcinogenic substances that will be detrimental to your health. Research has shown that smoking directly influences your blood flow and your capacity to achieve or keep a prolonged erection.

Smoking produces a sudden decrease in erectile capacity. This means that you should see a rapid improvement and a fast-increasing blood flow the moment you quit smoking. I know how hard it is but it needs to be done, and the sooner the better.

If you need to quit, speak with your healthcare professional and join a cessation program as soon as possible. In no time you’ll see an improvement – not only in your sexual activity and less sexual stimulation needed to achieve a potent erection but in your general health as well.

Erectile Dysfunction Cause #5. Stress

This is the main cause of unhappiness in the world today.

After reading the previous four possible causes of erectile dysfunction, you might think and even hope for stress to be the particular cause of your ED. Of all the possible causes, stress is the number one cause of imbalances in the human body.

Fear is an automatic reaction we have to a perceived threat. Fear triggers the release of stress hormones preparing us for a ‘fight or flight’ response.

The role of stress hormones is to keep the whole body alert until the stress is resolved and this involves a high use of energy. The stressful situation is supposed to be resolved quickly and, when we’re in the clear and the stressor has been addressed, stress hormones are excreted from the body and the hormonal balance, with thriving ‘love’ hormones such as oxytocin, is restored.

But what happens if the stress agent doesn’t go away? The body cannot function properly when it’s full of stress hormones. Love and stress hormones are antagonistic, which means that if one is present the other is absent. Stress doesn’t just make you live in constant fear it also removes love from your life.

Bringing down your stress levels and letting it out in a healthy way, and practicing meditation, yoga, or talk therapy will automatically bring up your oxytocin levels. Living life in a body thriving on oxytocin is what everyone aims for. This is the key to long-lasting lives full of happiness. It’s the best you can do for each of the cells that make up your body.

Read more about this beautiful hormone in Natural Oxytocin – Benefits Of The Hormone 

How can I restore my erection naturally?

Restoring your capacity to get an erection and bringing your sexual desire back to its full potential can mostly happen naturally.

Yes! Finally, there is really good news.

Most erectile dysfunctions have an emotional aspect: you might have a life with far too much stress, which leaves little room for joy – even at the cellular level.

Treating ED doesn’t necessarily involve being treated for other conditions or even taking certain drugs to be able to get an erection again.

You might need to change your lifestyle and diet and take healthy dietary supplements.

Do you smoke? Do you drink alcohol? Do you exercise?

You don’t have to change everything at once. Start by getting active. It doesn’t have to be running or joining the gym. It can be just getting off the couch and going for a walk, or an activity you enjoy that involves movement. Choose a delicious salad when you go to a restaurant instead of ordering something unhealthy.

Get sexy! That’s so important and we haven’t talked about it yet, so here goes.

Get sexy!

When you can’t get an erection, your partner suffers from the effect it has on you. She’s most likely willing to enjoy intimacy and it doesn’t need to involve sexual intercourse. Not every enjoyable sexual activity requires an erect penis. It doesn’t mean sex is always going to be like this from now on but it will give you a close, intimate sexual relationship while you get the mechanics sorted.

When you get sexy, the oxytocin release in your body grows exponentially and you’ll experience a fast improvement.

Erectile dysfunction and Viagra

Many people aren’t willing to take the natural route or they might want to keep enjoying sex while they naturally detoxify their body and mind.

Viagra (sildenafil citrate) was the first-ever drug that could correct ED. It was revolutionary and offered hope to many, including elderly patients and those who had suffered a spinal cord injury or had an enlarged prostate. A method that could be used to treat ED had finally arrived and all it involved was taking a tablet.

Viagra side effects

Unfortunately, taking sildenafil (Viagra and other generic versions) can produce some side effects.

Many clinical studies on side effects were carried out when men started taking sildenafil. The only statistically significant difference was between heart rates, before and after taking sildenafil. There was an insignificant decrease in blood pressure. The most common side effects were flushing, headaches and dyspepsia, incomplete sexual arousal, and heart palpitations. Other reported side effects were sensitivity to light and/or nasal congestion.

Before taking Viagra or other similar drugs, make sure you read the patient information leaflet. Tell your doctor you intend to use Viagra. Call the doctor if you experience any of the mentioned side effects, if you have a painful erection, or if you’re worried about anything after taking it.

How long will I stay hard with Viagra?

This question doesn’t have an easy answer as it varies between men. Taking sildenafil will definitely improve your erection and you will be able to accomplish it if you struggled to do so before. Expect its effect to last, on average, from one to two hours.

Can I take Viagra every night?

The short answer is ‘No’. Viagra is used to treat erectile dysfunction momentarily while your health is restored. Continuous usage of Viagra can lead to unwanted side effects, such as chest pain or pulmonary hypertension. You also need to be wary of drug interactions with other medications you might be on.

When should a man not take Viagra?

There’s an increased risk of a heart attack after taking Viagra in men who are taking alpha blockers and other medications.

Don’t take Viagra any longer if you develop an allergic reaction to any of its components.

Can a man with erectile dysfunction satisfy a woman?

Absolutely. There are many ways a woman can be sexually satisfied without the need to introduce an erect penis into her vagina.

Talk about it and understand that it’s a temporary problem that you’re soon going to sort out. In the meanwhile, explore this new aspect of your sexuality and how you can both enjoy a pleasurable sexual experience without the need for intercourse.

What should a wife do if her husband has erectile dysfunction?

Men aren’t usually very good at dealing with sickness or inability. Having a loving, compassionate partner can be the key to a successful recovery. Talk to your partner.

Let him understand you’re on his side, there are no hard feelings and you don’t think any less of him because of this difficulty.