Erectile Dysfunction, or impotence as it is otherwise known, is the inability in males to achieve or sustain an erection so that sexual intercourse (or other sexual activity) can take place. It is said to affect one in every ten men and the causes can be either physical or psychological.

Erectile dysfunction is a very common sexual problem and nearly half of all males over forty years of age will experience the condition at some stage of their lives. It usually becomes more common in both occurrences and severity as a person gets older. There are many causes for impotence and it is estimated that in three quarters of the cases it is a physical problem affecting the blood supply.

Some physical conditions that may cause erectile dysfunction include diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, hormone imbalances, or surgery in the pelvic area. Psychological issues that could have an effect include feelings of anxiety, guilt or depression, stress or issues with a partner.

In almost 95% of impotence cases, a suitable treatment is found to cure the problem. These can include therapy as well as medicinal. There are also many “self-help” treatments that can help with the issue. Quitting smoking, taking moderate exercise regularly, eating a balanced diet, drinking alcohol in moderation and reducing stress are all methods of combating the issue.

Understanding Erectile Dysfunction

Cholesterol is a lipid, or fat, of the body, and it is this along with another lipid called triglyceride that are vital building blocks of a cell. They are also used in the production of hormones as well as producing energy. Cholesterol is mainly produced in the liver, but it can also be ingested with certain foods.

There are two types of cholesterol and just to keep things simple, these can be classed as the good sort (high-density lipoprotein or HDL) and the bad sort (low-density lipoprotein or LDL). The HDL is effective in reducing cholesterol by transporting it back to the liver from where it is eliminated, whereas the LDL can contribute to certain diseases associated with the heart or blood circulation. HDL levels can be raised through exercise and LDL lowered by eating less saturated fat or sometimes with the aid of medication.

Cholesterol levels can be hereditary as well as being influenced by which part of the world the sufferer lives in. Northern Europeans have higher levels than their Southern counterparts, for example, and a much higher level than Asian people.

High Cholesterol

There are no symptoms of having high cholesterol and it is only one factor of many that can contribute to hardening of the arteries. Other factors include smoking, diet, alcohol intake, exercise and body weight. If going on a cholesterol lowering diet doesn’t help to reduce the levels, then medication will be required to assist the process.

The heart is a pump that is designed to force blood through the body and as with any type of pump, it works by generating pressure. In the body, the blood is pumped through the arteries to all major organs, but if there is too much pressure it can put a strain on the heart itself or the arteries, causing all sorts of problems.

Blood pressure is dependent on two things. The first is the force with which the heart pumps the blood around the body, and the second is the narrowness of the arteries. Hypertension happens when the blood is forced with increased pressure through the arteries.

When blood pressure is measured, it is done so using two numbers, an example being 120 over eighty. The first number listed is the systolic blood pressure which is the maximum pressure exerted on the arteries when the heart beats, and the second number listed is the diastolic blood pressure, or the minimum amount of pressure on the arteries when the heart is relaxed. The example above is of a normal blood pressure reading.

Blood pressure can be considered high when the systolic blood pressure reading is constantly above 160, and/or the diastolic blood pressure reading is above 100. One of the biggest problems with high blood pressure though, is the fact that it doesn’t always cause any symptoms meaning it may go unnoticed until a later complication such as a heart attack or stroke.

Other complications arising from high blood pressure can be an aneurysm, heart failure, eye damage, kidney failure or atherosclerosis, which is the narrowing of the arteries. Some factors that could contribute to high blood pressure include hereditary reasons, obesity, kidney disease, diabetes, excessive salt intake, lack of exercise and high intake of alcohol.

High Blood Pressure