Erectile dysfunction may be a sign of serious health problems like heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.
Difficulty getting or staying erect, also known as impotence, is "very common, particularly in men over 40", according to the NHS. It affects most men at some point, and the health service said it's usually nothing to about, often being caused by stress, tiredness, anxiety or drinking too much alcohol. But you are advised to visit a GP if it keeps happening as it could be a sign of physical health or emotional problems.
One in ten people with erectile dysfunction have a "purely psychological problem", often called 'performance anxiety', according to the British Association of Urological Surgeons. The other 90% have underlying physical causes, with 40% of those having cardiovascular disease, and a third having diabetes. Impotence can be one of the first warning signs of conditions like atherosclerosis, which is when the arteries thicken, harden and grow more narrow, increasing your risk of heart attack. This condition can affect erections by reducing the flow of blood through arteries into the penis, which is necessary for it to swell.
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The British Heart Foundation said: "It's crucial that any underlying medical condition, such as angina or diabetes, is detected. So if you're experiencing problems with erectile dysfunction, book an appointment with your doctor. He or she will assess and examine you to try to establish the cause of the problem, and may refer you for tests. Don't take any medicine for erectile dysfunction without first discussing it with your doctor."
Despite the stigma surrounding erection difficulties and other sex-related problems, online pharmacy Chemist Click reported a surge in demand for erectile dysfunction treatments. It saw a 229% rise in the number of online sales in March when compared with the same 30-day period last year. Some remedies, like Viagra, need to be taken an hour before sex, but some, like Tadalafil Daily can be taken every day. Chemist Click's superintendent pharmacist, Abbas Kanani, said: "Tadalafil has a continuous window of action, so there is no need to schedule doses before sex. This allows for a spontaneous sex life."
Tadalafil, also known as Cialis, is a PDE5 inhibitor like Viagra and Levitra, also known as sildenafil and vardenafil, respectively. These can help roughly two-thirds of people with erectile dysfunction by dilating arteries, and can be prescribed from six months after a heart attack, as long as your condition is stable, according to the British Hear Foundation.
The charity warned people on low blood pressure to not use PDE5 inhibitors as they make blood pressure even lower. You also shouldn't take them if you suffer from angina, are waiting for treatment to relieve angina symptoms, or alongside heart medications like nitrates (GTN) or nicorandil.
Alternative treatments include a hormone called alprostadil, applied by injection or pellet, as well as non-drug remedies like a vacuum pump. Lifestyle changes that improve diet, increase exercise and reduce stress can also help solve erection problems when no underlying health conditions are present.
