5 Things You Need to Know About Impotence

1. Down for the Count

Impotence, or erectile dysfunction (ED), affects millions of men. However, with the advent of huge advertising campaigns and mass media attention, more men are coming forward to talk about their symptoms. Diabetes and poor blood circulation are two notable causes of ED. Other precursors of the dreaded male impotence are kidney disease, nerve damage, prostate problems, genital injury and hormone imbalance. Men do not have to be diagnosed full-blown with any of these afflictions to experience erectile dysfunction. For many, it just comes along with the slow deterioration caused by aging.

2. Nowhere to Go

The main symptom of impotence, and the one feared most, is an inability to get and maintain an erection. For men, it is a long-held symbol of their masculinity. Men often feel emasculated when they can't get it up. If it happens once or twice, they may become so anxious that it will happen again, and a form of psychological impotence is created. To be safe, men should take an attack of ED as a sign to get checked out for more serious health issues.

3. Consider Lifestyle Changes

ED often disappears when simple lifestyle changes are enacted. Smoking is one of the biggest reasons that blood stops flowing to the penis. Quitting may be all it takes to get it back up. Diet and exercise play a role in proper blood flow as well as attitude and self-esteem, which are necessary for good sex.

4. Pop a Pill

Viagra was one of the first drugs to hit the market offering men an instant cure for impotence. The little blue pill, initially intended for heart patients, gives a man all the blood flow he needs an hour after taking it. He can get it up and keep it up for hours. Since its mass acceptance, other drugs such as Cialis and Lavitra have hit the market with equal success. Injections and suppositories are not as popular, and the easy-to-get pills beat out the big, unsightly pump that men have relied on in the past.

5. Know the Side Effects

Listen to the ads for the long list of potential side effects of taking impotence drugs. For many men, having a headache or a bout of nausea is worth it to enhance their sexual performance. Men who take any kind of heart medications are discouraged from taking the popular ED pills, though. Be aware, however, that anyone with a blood cell disease could find himself permanently limp after taking these drugs. Men who suffer from those painful 4 or 6 hour erections have usually combined the impotence drug with other medications or recreational drugs.