4 things you should know about ED

In this issue: 4 things you should know about erectile dysfunction. Get your copy of What to do about Erectile Dysfunction. View this email as a Web page » To ensure delivery of our emails, add healthbeat@mail.health.harvard.edu to your address book. Please note this is for outgoing mail only. If you need help, please contact healthbeat@health.harvard.edu. Share with a friend » | Unsubscribe »

August 3, 2013

4 things you should know about erectile dysfunction More information Get your copy of What to do about Erectile Dysfunction Many men can ease, or even reverse, ED by making simple lifestyle changes — such as losing excess weight and quitting smoking — that also are likely to boost their overall health and reduce their chances of developing diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome. This report offers a comprehensive review of these treatments, as well as the causes of erectile dysfunction and how ED may be an early warning sign for other serious health problems. Click here to read more » Erectile dysfunction (ED), once shrouded in secrecy, is now in the spotlight, thanks to high-profile advertisements for ED drugs like Cialis, Viagra, Levitra, and Stendra. Despite this greater awareness of ED, many men — and women — don’t have a real understanding of this condition. Here are four things to know about ED. ED is often the result of diseases or conditions that become more common with age — or a side effect of the medications used to treat them. Other possible causes of ED include prostate surgery, stress, relationship problems, and depression. Other age-related factors can affect a man’s ability to have an erection — tissues become less elastic and nerve communication slows. But even these factors don’t explain many cases of ED. Cardiovascular disease is a common cause of ED. Clogged arteries (atherosclerosis) affect not only the blood vessels of the heart, but those throughout the body as well. In fact, in up to 30% of men who see their doctors about ED, the condition is the first hint that they have cardiovascular disease. Intriguing findings from the Massachusetts Male Aging Study suggest there may be a natural ebb and flow to ED — that is, for some men, trouble with erections may occur, last for a significant amount of time, and then partly or fully disappear without treatment. Regardless of the cause, ED often can be effectively addressed. For some men, simply losing weight may help. Others may need medications, and there are other options available as well. Given the variety of therapies available, the possibility of finding the right solution is greater than ever. For more on diagnosing and treating ED, buy What to do about Erectile Dysfunction, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School.  Share this story: Digg Facebook Twitter

Featured in this issue What to do about Erectile Dysfunction Featured content: • Understanding ED • How an erection occurs • Causes of ED • Diagnosing ED   ... and more! Click here to read more »

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