Page 23 - Florida Sentinel 6-18-21

Health
Tobacco Use
An erection can only occur when the blood vessels in the penis enlarge and fill with blood. Smoking leads to restriction of the blood flow to the veins and arter- ies in your body, including the ones going to your penis. A few studies have also shown that nico- tine is linked to a lower sex drive in men.
Chronic Medical Conditions
Medical conditions, particu- larly heart disease and diabetes, can cause ED. Erectile dysfunc- tion is one of the most common complications of diabetes. Un- controlled diabetes has been asso- ciated with low testosterone levels as well as damage to the nerves and blood vessels that supply the penis.
Being Overweight or Obese
Testosterone
is the main male
hormone and it
is responsible
for the develop-
ment of the male
reproductive or-
gans, sperm pro-
duction and libido. Obesity lowers testosterone levels. In fact, 79 per- cent of men with ED are over- weight or obese. Being obese also places you at risk for other illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes which also cause ED. The good news is, however, that testosterone levels naturally increase when you lose weight.
Medications
The most common types of med- ications that can lead to ED are blood pressure medications, especially beta-blockers
and diuretics. The blood pressure medicines can reduce blood flow to the penis making it difficult to get an erection. Anxiety about his health when a man starts a new medication may also cause ED. Speak to your doctor if you believe your medication is the culprit, as they could switch you to another medication.
Emotional Factors
Arousal starts in the brain so men- tal health conditions such as anxi- ety and de- pression can decrease your
libido and make it exceedingly difficult for you to be aroused. When you are under chronic stress such as relationship prob- lems, work-related stress or any traumatic event, your body re- leases the stress hormone, corti- sol. Cortisol constricts the blood vessels in your penis making get- ting an erection difficult.
FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 2021 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY PAGE 11-B