Posts Tagged ‘metabolic syndrome criteria’

Viagra is America’s answer to sexual function, and it is not the right one. Another pill for another problem that is preventable through lifestyle changes. The primary cause of impotence is physical. Many times it is the first sigh of an underlying medical condition. About 60% of adult-onset diabetes is found because this symptom is the first clue. 

Causes

The major causes are all the chronic conditions that are at the center of our healthcare crises. With the alarming rates of Diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol this is going to be a major complaint. All these conditions contribute to this condition. The arteries usually have blockages that slow the blood supply that is needed.

In oriental diagnosis this is a sign of blockage in the arteries. In 80% of the men it is an underlying physical problem that causes impotence.

Lifestyle Factors

Just as lifestyle influences all aspects of your health, it also is a contributing factor to this condition. This includes smoking, excessive alcohol, drugs both illicit and prescriptive, obesity and lack of exercise. Exercise is also said to improve testosterone production, which improves sexual functioning.

Medication

Antidepressants, anti-psychotics, tranquilizers, blood pressure drugs, appetite suppressants, antihistamines, and beta blockers for controlling angina and high blood pressure contribute to this condition. Some are the primary cause of Erectile Dysfunction.

Oral Pills for Sexual Dysfunction

These pills be it Viagra, Cialis or Levitra are part of a much larger problem. This is a metaphor for a larger problem that is compounded and expressed in every avenue of our health. Dysfunction of any systems means that the body is impaired. There are other disorders that sharply increase disease risks.

Summary

Optimized health prevents breakdowns in functions. Sexual vigor is tied to overall health. Aging is not going to explain the prevalence of lost libido and impotency. Controlling glucose, keeping blood pressure in check, weight management, and a good diet, getting enough sleep, and remaining active are what should be prescribed.

There are complementary treatments that offer benefits, but to rely on a pill for mechanical action, and not address the underlying problems is malpractice. Saw Palmetto berry has been shown to lower the incidence of sexual dysfunction in men treated for benign prostate enlargement (BPH).

An article published online in the Journal of Sexual Medicine states that research conducted at the University of Rome found that it may be necessary to reduce homocysteine before treating erectile dysfunction (ED). There is an association of this condition with vascular disease, and both of these conditions are caused primarily by the factors that affect the coronary arteries.

Giving a pill for short term action when it is linked to insufficient blood flow, and not address the real issues, the benefits will be short lived. Restoring health and vascular function that contribute to this is important. This is a system-wide problem that triggers a cascade of events. One of them happens to be Erectile Dysfunction