Erectile dysfunction is 'the canary in the coal mine'

Erectile dysfunction is one of the most common urology issues affecting men in America and yet perhaps one of the most under-talked about topics. So let’s talk about it and how it can be a late sign of underlying health issues in almost 30 million men in the United States.

Erectile dysfunction is an issue that affects men when it is difficult to get or keep an erection that is firm enough for sex. It is estimated that at some point in a man’s life he will encounter issues with getting or maintaining an erection but when this happens more than half of the time then he may have erectile dysfunction.

Erectile dysfunction can be caused by damage to the nerves and vessels that innervate the penis but can also result from other health issues such as stress, anxiety or blood-flow problems. This makes erectile dysfunction a sort of “canary in the coal mine” when it comes to alerting the body of an underlying health issue.

Erectile dysfunction can be an early warning sign of serious illness such as heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes or pre-diabetes. Other known risk factors for erectile dysfunction includes men being over the age of 50, tobacco use, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle and drug or alcohol use. However, it is important to know that growing old is not the cause of erectile dysfunction and most healthy older men have very normal sex lives.

Many health issues mentioned above reduce the blood flow into the penis during an attempted erection. This can also lead to not enough blood staying into the penis.

Although there are certain medications that have been approved to help with erectile dysfunction, if you have any of the diseases that contribute as a risk factor for erectile dysfunction, then take a look at what you can do to improve your health first. For example, if you have hypertension (high blood pressure) then for your overall health benefit, work to lower your blood pressure through diet and exercise and you will likely see the problems associated with erectile dysfunction resolve as well.

Remember, there is no magic pill to make the body healthier and medications may only help cover up the signs and symptoms of a problem but they won’t take the underlying problem away. Ensuring you have the healthiest body possible is the only way to resolve the majority of issues that plague men. Attaining overall health starts with healthy eating, being physically active, and mentally healthy.

If you are having issues with erectile dysfunction, don’t sweep it under the rug. Your body may be telling you that something isn’t quite right. Go get yourself checked out by your physician and start taking the necessary steps to reduce your risk of developing erectile dysfunction.

Lincoln County Public Health is here to answer your questions. Call us at 406-283-2447 for more information or for referrals to local physicians.

Riley Black is a public health nurse with Lincoln County Public Health.