Prostate cancer and impotence fresh information.

Do you know the basics about erectile ? Take this quick quiz and
see.

Are the following statements true or false?

1. Most men never experience ED.

True or False

2. It is advisable to seek treatment for recurring ED.

True or False

3. Erectile dysfunction is simply a problem of “mind over matter.”

True or False

4. Nervous system dysfunction is the sole cause of a man’s inability to achieve an erection.

True or False

5. Kidney disease and ED may be related.

True or False

6. A substantial percentage of men with diabetes experience ED.

True or False

7. drugs are never responsible for ED.

True or False

8. Vascular diseases account for the majority of causes of ED.

True or False

9. Surgery to remove prostate cancer can lead to ED.

True or False

10. ED is not related to tobacco, alcohol, or illegal drug use.

True or False

Answers

1. FALSE: Most men will experience ED at one time or another. ED is a
common complaint among men, occurring in about 52% of men aged 40-70.

2. TRUE: If ED occurs more than 50% of the time, or is otherwise a
concern or causing distress, a man should consider seeking medical advice and
treatment. ED may be associated with other conditions such as diabetes,
coronary artery disease, hypertension, and depression. The presence of ED may
be an early sign of these conditions.

3. FALSE: The causes of ED can be psychological, physical and/or a
of both. , it is believed that physical causes for ED
may occur in a large majority of men who have ED.

4. FALSE: The sequence of events resulting in an erection involves
nerve impulses in the brain, spine and penis. Also involved are the subsequent
responses in the body’s muscles, fibrous tissues, veins, and arteries in and
near the corpora cavernosa (chambers in the penis that are filled with spongy
tissue).

5. TRUE: Kidney disease can cause chemical changes in the body. These
changes can affect hormones, circulation, nerve and muscle function, and energy
level, all of which can affect a man’s ability to achieve and maintain and
erection.

6. TRUE: Diabetes can cause nerve and artery damage that can make
achieving an erection difficult. ED may occur in 50% or more of men with
diabetes.

7. FALSE: There are more than 200 kinds of prescription drugs that
may be associated with ED and other sexual dysfunction.

8. TRUE: Vascular diseases are those that affect the blood vessels.
These diseases include atherosclerosis (build-up of cholesterol plaques),
hypertension, diabetes, and coronary artery disease. Vascular disease can
restrict blood flow to the heart, brain, penis, lower extremities, and other
locations within the body.

9. TRUE: Surgery to remove prostate cancer can result in erectile
problems, even though prostate cancer alone does not cause ED. It is important
to understand that all current treatments for prostate cancer — including
external beam radiation, seeds (brachytherapy), and hormones — may result in
erectile dysfunction.

10. FALSE: All three of these substances can damage blood vessels
and/or restrict blood flow to the penis, causing ED.

Reviewed by the doctors at the Glickman Urological
Institute at The Cleveland Clinic.

It is not uncommon for men with ED to feel angry, frustrated, sad, or even
unsure of them self. Such feelings, if not dealt with, can eventually lead to
depression.

Depression that accompanies ED is treatable. The first step in overcoming
depression is to be honest with yourself, your partner, and your doctor. After
depression has been brought out into the open, coping with it will be easier
and less stressful.

Recognizing Depression

Depression is an illness marked by persistent sadness, feelings of
hopelessness, and a pessimistic outlook.

• The most common symptoms of depression include:
• Low
• Loss of interest in formerly pleasurable activities
• Fatigue
• Changes in appetite
• Sleep
• Apathy

Depression affects the way one feels about oneself and the way one thinks
about life. People who are depressed cannot simply “pull themselves
together” and get better. Without treatment, symptoms of depression can
last indefinitely. Appropriate treatment, however, can help most people who
suffer from depression get back on track

Diagnosing Depression

If you think you may be depressed, do not suffer in silence. Depression is
not a sign of personal weakness. Tell your doctor how you are feeling so that
you can start feeling like yourself again.

There is no single test that can diagnose depression; however, there are
certain patterns that doctors look for in order to make the diagnosis. As a
result, your doctor will ask you several questions. Be honest with your answers
so that you can receive the care you need.

Treating Depression

Treatment for depression may include medication, (talk
therapy), or a combination of both.

• : Many different drugs, including Prozac, Zoloft, Elavil,
  and Wellbutrin, are used to treat depression. Some antidepressants can worsen
  ED, so be honest with your doctor about your condition so that he or she can
  prescribe an treatment.

• Talk therapy: During therapy, a licensed and trained mental health care
  professional helps you identify and work through issues related to depression.
  Types of talk therapy include couples therapy, individual therapy, and group
  therapy.

Reviewed by the doctors at the Glickman Urological
Institute at The Cleveland Clinic.

If you have high blood pressure, you may experience erectile
(ED).

For a healthy young man, erectile dysfunction is typically not a problem. As
you age, however, you may notice some changes. Maybe it takes more coaxing to
get erect than it used to. Sometimes it may take more direct stimulation of the
penis, whereas merely a daydream or the suggestion of sex was once enough. Or
perhaps your erection isn’t quite as firm as it once was, but it’s still good
enough. These are normal changes.

So, when is it erectile dysfunction and when should you seek help? Let’s
consider a few scenarios:

1. You come home one evening after a long and stressful day at work.
Your partner wants to have sex. You think you’d like to also, but you have a
problem getting an erection. The next time you try, everything is
fine.

In this case, your problem probably doesn’t need medical treatment, as long
as it happens rarely. If it starts to happen more often, you may want to talk
to your doctor about it.

2. Sometimes when you try to have sex, you get only partially erect.
Your erection isn’t rigid enough to enter your partner.

In the most severe cases of erectile dysfunction, a man isn’t able to get
even slightly erect. But there are degrees of this condition. Even mild
erectile dysfunction is worth discussing with your doctor.

3. You can get a good erection during foreplay, but after you start to
have intercourse you lose it.

This can be very for you and your partner. Even though you are
able to get an erection, if it doesn’t last long enough to complete sexual
intercourse you may have erectile dysfuncton.

An estimated 80% of erectile dysfunction is due to physical causes. High
blood pressure is often the cause.

The other 20% is psychological. For a long time, doctors thought that
erectile dysfunction was mostly in one’s head. Now they know that is not true.
Still, the mind plays a big role in getting an erection. Maybe you’re losing
your erection due to anxiety or other issues between you and your partner. Your
doctor can help you determine the cause.

4. Your doctor prescribes a new medication, and you notice that it’s now
more difficult to get an erection than it was before you started taking
it.

Side effects of drugs cause up to 25% of erectile dysfunction cases. Blood
pressure medicines are lifesavers, but erection problems are sometimes a side
effect. Other medications that can cause erectile dysfunction include:

• Antidepressants
• Antipsychotic drugs
• Sedatives
• Seizure medication

Talk to your doctor about switching to a different drug that’s less likely
to cause problems. Also ask about treatment options for erectile
dysfunction.

5. You typically have several alcoholic drinks every night. It’s
difficult for you to get an erection when you’ve been drinking.

Drinking too much alcohol can lead to erectile dysfunction. While a glass of
wine may help you and your partner get in the mood, heavy drinking can really
hamper your sexual performance.

Alcohol depresses the nervous system, which may cause erection problems if
you’ve had too much to drink. If it only happens when you drink and the effect
is temporary, you should limit your drinking and avoid treating the problem
with erectile dysfunction medication.

Keep in mind that alcohol also has long-term toxic effects on the nerves
that can cause erectile dysfunction, even at times when you’re not
drinking.

Everyone experiences stress. Our bodies are designed to feel stress and
react to it. It keeps us alert and ready to avoid danger. But, when stress
persists, the body begins to break down and problems, like erectile
dysfunction, can occur. The key to coping with stress is identifying those
conditions in your life causing the stress and learning ways to reduce
them.

What Is Stress?

Stress is your reaction to any change that requires you to adjust or
respond. It’s important to remember that you can control stress because stress
comes from how you respond to stressful events.

What Causes Stress?

Stress can be caused by anything that requires you to adjust or
react to a change in your environment. Your body reacts to these changes with
physical, mental, and emotional responses. We all have our own ways of coping
with change, so the causes of stress can be different for each person.

Common causes of stress include:

• Death of a loved one
• Marriage
• Deadlines
• Legal problems
• Job loss
• Divorce
• New job
• Retirement
• Money problems
• Illnesses
• Raising children

When you are not sure of the exact cause of your stress, it may
help to know the warning signs of stress. Once you can identify these signs,
you can learn how your body responds to stress. Then you can take steps to
reduce it.

What Are the Warning Signs of Stress?

Your body sends out physical, emotional, and behavioral warning
signs of stress.

Emotional warning signs of stress may
include:

• Anger
• Inability to concentrate
• worry
• Sadness
• Frequent mood swings

Physical warning signs of stress may include:

• Stooped posture
• Sweaty palms
• Chronic fatigue
• Weight gain or loss
• Erectile dysfunction
• Stomach pains
• Blood pressure elevation
• Changes in bowel habit
• Stomach pains
• Blood pressure elevation
• Changes in bowel habit
• Sleep disturbance

Behavioral warning signs of stress include:

• Over-reacting
• Acting on impulse
• Using alcohol or drugs
• Withdrawing from relationships
• Changing jobs often
• Eating disorders

How Can I Cope With Stress?

To help cope with stress:

• Lower your expectations; accept that there are events you cannot
  control.
• Ask others to help or assist you.
• Take responsibility for the situation.
• Engage in problem solving.
• Express distressing emotions. Be assertive instead of aggressive.
  “Assert” your feelings, opinions or beliefs instead of becoming angry,
  combative or passive.
• Maintain emotionally supportive relationships.
• Maintain emotional composure.
• Challenge previously held beliefs that are no longer adaptive.
• Directly attempt to change or eliminate the source of stress.
• Distance yourself from the source of stress.
• Learn to relax.
• Eat and drink sensibly.
• Stop smoking or other bad habits.
• Exercise regularly.
• Maintain a healthy sense of self-esteem.

Experts agree that coping is a process rather than an event.
Thus, an individual may alternate between several of the above coping
strategies in order to cope with a stressful event.

When Should I Seek Help?

You should seek help in dealing with your stress when you
experience any of the following:

• Marked decline in work/school performance.
• Excess anxiety.
• Alcohol or drug abuse.
• Inability to cope with demands of daily life.
• Irrational fears.
• Obsessive preoccupation with food and fear of becoming obese with no
  relationship to actual body weight.
• Significant change in sleeping or eating habits.
• Persistent physical ailments and complaints.
• Suicidal thoughts or urge to hurt others.
• Self-mutilation, self-destructive or dangerous behavior.
• Sustained, withdrawn mood or antisocial behavior.
• Decline or marked in interpersonal relationships.

Where Do I Go to Get Help?

Your personal doctor. He or she can determine if your stress is
due to an anxiety disorder, a medical condition, or both and can refer you to a
mental health , if necessary.

If an emergency, call a crisis hotline, or go
to the nearest emergency room.

Reviewed by the doctors at the Glickman Urological
Institute at The Cleveland Clinic.

One way to improve erectile dysfunction is to make some simple lifestyle
changes. For some men, adopting a healthier lifestyle, such as quitting
smoking, exercising regularly, and reducing stress, may be all that is needed
to find relief. For those who require more intensive treatment, adopting these
lifestyle changes in addition to other treatments can further help.

Quit Smoking

Quitting smoking can be very difficult and there is no single
best way to quit that works for all people. Some approaches to try that might
help you kick the habit include:

• Pick a quitting date one to three weeks in the future. Prepare for the date
  by cutting down on smoking, staying away from your favorite places to smoke,
  and making a plan for how you will deal with stressful events without
  smoking.
• On your quitting date, get rid of all cigarettes, keep busy, and stay in
  smoke-free places.
• Talk to your doctor to see if you should try nicotine replacement therapy.
  The nicotine patch, nicotine gum, or other medication can be helpful but they
  will not take away your cravings to smoke.
• Make a clean break. Do not allow yourself to smoke “now and then.”
  An addiction to nicotine can be reactivated anytime, even years after
  quitting.
• Take it one moment, one hour, one day at time. Cravings to smoke are
  usually short-lived and will go away whether or not you have a cigarette.
• Get help with quitting if you need it. Choose a comprehensive smoking
  cessation program that does not rely on a single technique (such as hypnosis).
  Your doctor can point you in the right direction.

Exercise Regularly

Regular exercise can improve your health in many ways. Along
with improving erectile function, exercise can:

• Strengthen the heart.
• Improve the flow of oxygen in the blood.
• Build energy levels.
• Lower blood pressure.
• Improve muscle tone and strength.
• Strengthen and build bones.
• Help reduce body fat.
• Help reduce stress, tension, anxiety and depression.
• Boost self-image and self-esteem.
• Improve sleep.
• Make you feel more relaxed and rested.
• Make you look fit and healthy.

To get the most benefit, you should exercise at least 20 to 30
minutes, preferably on most days of the week. Current studies suggest that at
least five times a week is best. If you are a beginner, exercise for a few
minutes each day and build up to 30 minutes.

When starting out, you should plan a routine that is easy to
follow and stick with. As the program becomes more routine, you can vary your
exercise times and activities. Here are some tips to get you started.

• Choose an activity you enjoy. Exercising should be fun not a chore.
• Schedule regular exercise into your daily routine. Add a variety of
  exercises so that you do not get bored. Look into scheduled exercise classes at
  your local community center.
• Exercise does not have to put a strain on your wallet. Avoid buying
  expensive equipment or health club memberships unless you are certain you will
  use them regularly.
• Stick with it. If you exercise regularly, it will soon become part of your
  lifestyle.
• If you feel you need supervision or medical advice to begin an exercise
  program, ask your doctor to refer you to physical therapy. A physical therapist
  can evaluate your needs and start you on a safe and effective exercise
  program.

Reduce Stress

Stress is common to everyone. Our bodies are designed to feel
stress and react to it. It keeps us alert and ready to avoid danger. But it is
not always possible to avoid or change events that may cause stress and it is
easy to feel trapped and unable to cope. When stress persists, the body begins
to break down and illnesses can occur. The key to coping with stress is to
identify stressors in your life and learn ways to direct and reduce stress.

Learning an effective means of relaxation and using it
regularly is a good first step. Allow yourself some “quiet time,” even
if it’s just a few minutes. Examine and modify your thinking,
expectations. Talking problems out with a friend or family member
can help put things in proper . Seeking assistance can
help you gain a new perspective on how to manage some of the more difficult
forms of stress. Other approaches to reducing stress include:

• Keep a positive attitude. Believe in yourself.
• Accept that there are events you cannot control.
• Be assertive instead of aggressive. “Assert” your feelings,
  opinions or beliefs instead of becoming angry, combative or passive.
• Learn to
  relax.
• Exercise regularly. Your body can fight stress better when it is fit.
• Eat well-balanced meals.
• Stop smoking.
• Limit or avoid use of alcohol and caffeine.
• Set realistic goals and expectations.
• Get enough rest and sleep. Your body needs time to recover from stressful
  events.
• Don’t rely on alcohol or drugs to reduce stress.
• Learn to use stress management techniques and coping mechanisms, such as
  deep breathing or guided imagery.

Reviewed by the doctors at the Glickman Urological
Institute at The Cleveland Clinic.