By Dr. Douglas Hall
For men who have not experienced erectile dysfunction, the quote below may bring about a smile. But for those who have experienced it or who are experiencing it at the present time, there will be no smile!
Man survives earthquakes, experiences the horrors of illness, and all of the tortures of the soul. But the most tormenting tragedy of all time is, and will be, the tragedy of the bedroom.”
~ Tolstoy
Erectile dysfunction or “E.D.” to a man is devastating, and it can have devastating impacts to his sexual partner. It occupies his every thought, “What is wrong with me?” or “I don’t feel like a man anymore!” Faithfulness will be questioned as thoughts creep in like
“Maybe I’m the problem?” or “Does he not love me anymore?”
Perhaps the most unsettlint to one’s self esteem…“Is he not sexually attracted to me?”
Erectile ‘DYS’function! It’s rather complex…and it’s a symptom!
How can anyone determine the cause of the ‘DYS’function if they don’t understand the complexity of normal erectile function? My goal at my clinic is NOT to mask the symptoms with a medication such as Viagra, Cialis or other PDE5 inhibitors… but rather to determine the cause of the dysfunction and return the body to normal function.
E.D. is a symptom and is not cured by prescribing Viagra.
What is E.D.? It is the inability to achieve and maintain an erection adequate for intercourse to the mutual satisfaction of the man and his partner. Now what qualifies as a good erection? Well, some men describe it this way to me in my clinic:
- Predictable – To know what to expect
- Dependable – To be ready when needed
- Suitable – To be of the quality needed
- Sustainable – To last for the needed duration
- Disposable – To go away when on schedule
- Reusable – To return at a moment’s notice
The statistics are astounding, which is why the medications used for this disorder are multi-billiondollar drugs! But again, drugs are a temporary fix, not a cure. An estimated 1in 5 American men (that’s 20%) and over 30 million men experience some degree of E.D..
It impacts about 30%, of 30 year olds and 40°/o of 40 year olds but half of all 50 year old men experience a symptom of E.D. to some degree.
Potential causes of E.D.
For the most part 90% are physiological/organic causes and only about
10% are rooted in a psychological bases. I’ll share the most common casuses with you now, because the only way to help yourself is know the specific cause.
Physical Causes
Diabetes (30%)
Heart disease (40%)
Medications (15%)
Neurological (5%)
Hormone imbalance (3%)
Pelvic surgery, radiation, and trauma (6%)
Unknown/Other (1%)
To evaluate each of these potential causes requires an extensive knowledge of endocrinology, vascular biology, molecular and
nutritional biochemistry. I have evaluated all aspects of ED and treated hundreds of patients with success.
As a measure of covering both sides of the issues, take a look at this educational graphic to see if you’re experiencing symptoms of declining hormones. These are easy to solve if your doctor understands the far-reaching effects that each hormone in your body has. In fact, you can CLICK HERE if you’d like to see how other people, Handle Menopause and Andropause as a Couple.
First let’s consider diabetes. In 2008, 24 million Americans had diabetes. It is estimated that by 2034, 44 million Americans will have diabetes. Since this is one of the main causes of E.D., the incidence of E.D. will increase dramatically. Tests are now available to predict your risk of having diabetes in the next five years. This allows the physician to focus on the patients in the high risk group and institute the proper therapy to prevent diabetes. Diabetes results in significant damage to the entire vascular system, including those blood vessels supplying the pelvic organs.
If you have diabetes and struggle to find healthy meals, check out my FREE ebook on the subject by clicking the image below!
Heart disease.
This is another physical cause of E.D. and it’s due to nitric oxide, which is a chemical that is produced in the human body under normal physiological conditions. In both men and women, this natural compound serves to dilate your blood vessels, including those going to your pelvic region. This is an extremely complex process requiring amino acids, enzymes, various nutrients and antioxidants.
When this process becomes hindered, or malfunctions, you could have erectile dysfunction. When the process isn’t up to par, it will not only affect the blood vessels to the penis, but a man’s entire vascular system. E.D. is a symptom of vascular disease. Some studies say the E.D. precedes coronary artery disease by 15 months! (If you have E.D. it could be a sign that a heart attack may be in the future.)Every aspect of nitric oxide production must be evaluated, and it is not caused by a Viagra deficiency!
Neurological Deficiencies or Imbalances.
transmitters are also involved in normal erectile function, including serotonin, dopamine, and acetylcholine. These must also be evaluated.
Hormonal Imbalances.
Testosterone is a sex drive hormone and it’s the most important when it comes to E.D.
But to evaluate testosterone properly with a lab requires determination of all the factors that impact hormone production. It’s not just one single hormone. There is a reaction at the gene level that determines production, and then there’s proper detoxification and break down of testosterone, and all the related hormones.
Many hormones (those you make, and those you ingest from plastic bottles and so forth) affect your ability to make and break down testosterone, as well as estrogen, dihydrotestosterone, androstenedione, DHEA, prolactin, thyroid hormones, insulin, and cortisol.
It is recognized that only 5% of hypogonadal (low physiological levels of testosterone) men are currently in treatment, yet millions are suffering, and most of them taking medication that only temporarily helps them!
Hypogonadism affects 4-5 million men, many of which have E.D. This contributes to urinary frequency too. Sometimes testosterone replacement is exactly what relieves that. Eating PUMPKIN seeds have a very mild impact, and certainly wouldn’t hurt.
It’s true testosterone goes down with age, just like a woman’s estrogen declines post-menopausally. You can CLICK HERE to read 5 Surprising Ways To Relieve Menopause.
For a man, it’s called andropause. Take a look at this graphic to see how dramatic the decline is over time.
Normally, testosterone declines 1% per year from the age of 30. This becomes important to a man with E.D. because again, Viagra is not the cure since it does not increase production of testosterone in any way, shape or form.
Low testosterone is dangerous. In fact, numerous studies indicate that low testosterone is associated with an increased risk of:
Type 2 Diabetes Metabolic Syndrome Stroke
Dementia Heart Disease
Frailty Syndrome Inflammation
Cancer
Proper testosterone therapy has been demonstrated to:
Improve erectile function and libido
Improve psychological disposition
Improve mood and ease depression
Improve energy level
Improve body mass, strength, and stamina
Increase bone density
Testosterone does not cause prostate cancer!
The purpose of this brief discussion was to inform you of the complex nature of erectile dysfunction and that it is a symptom that must be evaluated in its entirety. If E.D. is treated by simply giving sildenafil or other PDE5 inhibitors, it is only masking a symptom that will eventually affect the quality and length of your life!
The T.V. commercial says it’s time for your Viagra talk. At my office I want to evaluate every aspect of E.D., not only to improve your performance and stamina in the bedroom, but restore good health throughout your whole body!
In the meantime, eat foods known to boost testosterone and prostate health, such as those rich in zinc and copper (oysters), wild-caught fatty fish like salmon, fresh vegetables, walnuts and the herb ginger which can increase blood flow to the pelvic region while simultaneously raising testosterone.
Vitamin D was studied in 2011 and found to help boost testosterone.*
Finally, the results from a study several years ago prove that pomegranate boosts testosterone hormones in both men and women. The 60 healthy participants drank pure pomegranate juice for 14 days, and researchers tested the levels of testosterone in their saliva three times a day. Levels of the hormone increased over the 2 week period.
Guest Columnist: Douglas C. Hall, M.D.
For more information, contact: functionalmedmd@gmail.com
Suzy Cohen, has been a licensed pharmacist for over 30 years and believes the best approach to chronic illness is a combination of natural medicine and conventional. She founded her own dietary supplement company specializing in custom-formulas, some of which have patents. With a special focus on functional medicine, thyroid health and drug nutrient depletion, Suzy is the author of several related books including Thyroid Healthy, Drug Muggers, Diabetes Without Drugs, and a nationally syndicated column.
