More than 50% of adult men have problems with erectile dysfunction (ED) at some point in their lives, and these numbers increase in lockstep with age (40% at 40 and 70% at 70). We introduce these numbers to dispel any notion that your struggle is a lonely one. We also want you to understand that there are long-lasting solutions to this problem if we know where to start.
Here at Lafferty Family Care, Dr. Scott Lafferty and his team specialize in overall health, with an emphasis on heart health. Through comprehensive evaluations and testing, we can ensure that our patients in Bentonville, Arkansas, are able to lead healthy and happy lives, free from the effects of poor vascular health, which can lead to ED.
Here’s why it’s important to see us if you’re suffering from erectile dysfunction.
In the simplest of terms, ED is defined as the inability to get, or maintain, an erection. But getting and achieving an erection is anything but simple. An erection relies on a host of processes that involve your:
This large cast of characters each has a role in your seemingly simple erection, which means there’s a lot that can go wrong that throws the whole system off balance, often leading to ED.
One of the leading causes of ED is poor vascular health. When you have an erection, your arteries flood your penis with blood (engorging) and your veins shut off to keep the blood in place. If your circulation is compromised in any way, your penis may not be receiving the blood it needs, or holding onto it properly.
And unfortunately, cardiovascular problems are extremely common in the United States, with more than 28 million Americans diagnosed with heart disease alone. Any problem that affects how your body circulates blood can have a direct impact on your ability to get an erection, which includes:
There are other medical issues that can lead to ED, including diabetes or metabolic problems, but these cardiovascular-related issues lead the pack, and they’re the ones we’re most concerned with.
After we perform a complete health assessment, including specialized cardiac tests that will determine how your body is circulating blood, we’re able to figure out whether your problems with ED are circulatory. If this is the case, we’ll tailor a program to your unique situation that should not only clear up your ED, but put you in better overall health. Your program may include losing weight, exercise, medications, and supplements, as well as vigilant monitoring.
Leaving the heart for the moment, if your ED stems from metabolic issues, we can diagnose the problem (low testosterone, for example) and get you started on a hormone replacement therapy, if necessary.
If your problems with ED stem from a pre-existing medical condition, such as a trauma or a disease like Parkinson’s, we offer a number of different ED solutions, including:
These treatments work as both stop-gap measures and effective long-term solutions.
Leaving your physical health for a moment, the role your mental health plays in your ability to get an erection should not be underestimated. If you’re suffering from depression or anxiety, for example, ED is a common side effect. In these cases, we want to help you regain control over your mental health first, which will remedy most of your physical symptoms.
The bottom line is that ED is rarely a localized problem, and it’s often a side effect of something larger. To get to the bottom of your ED and get treatment, please give us a call or use the online scheduler on this website to set up a consultation.
