By: Nketia Anthony (MPH. Health Education and Promotion, BSc. Herbal Medicine)
Like humans, a robust sexual function is an important part of our physical, mental, and emotional health and well-being. However, many people tend to have problems regarding this vital aspect of life. Amongst men, the most commonly experienced problem of sexual function has to do with erectile dysfunction (ED).
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a medical condition that basically refers to the inability or difficulty to get or keep an erection firm enough to have sexual intercourse. Symptoms of ED might include persistent trouble getting an erection, persistent trouble keeping an erection, or reduced sexual desire or drive.
ED represents an increasing health concern causing a significant impact on the quality of life of men. On the prevalence of male sexual dysfunction among the Ghanaian populace, Amidu et al. (2010) revealed that erectile dysfunction affects 66% of Ghanaian men who are sexually active. Globally, an estimated 322 million men will be affected by ED by 2025 (Kessler et al., 2019).
In the quest for a remedy to the unwanted problem of ED, people (men) usually resort to the use of various kinds of aphrodisiac products. Undoubtedly, obsession with the use of aphrodisiacs can be linked to the reason that, aphrodisiacs have been tagged with the potential to enhance sexual function and/or treat male ED by increasing sexual desire, arousal, behavior, performance, or pleasure.
That notwithstanding, it is noteworthy that there is more to the problem of ED than what one may think and hence relying on aphrodisiac as a remedy may perhaps not be the best approach to take.
The problem of ED can stem from a disruption in any stage of the erection process (that is the pathway leading to increased blood flow into your penis). Though the cause of ED is usually related to blood flow and circulation, several underlying factors may also account for disruption in the erection pathway and hence impeding blood flow through the penile arteries, filling two chambers inside the penis.
These factors include diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, obesity, kidney damage, increased age, relationship problem, stress, anxiety, kidney disease, depression, sleep, disorders, low testosterone levels or other hormone imbalances, excessive alcohol consumption, use of tobacco products and use certain prescription medications, such as those used to treat high blood pressure or depression. In fact, the list is inexhaustible.
The problem in blood flows into the penis which causes ED can be instigated by only one of the above factors or by multiple of them. It is therefore risky and suicidal to use an aphrodisiac for problems of ED without medical consultation. Moreover, the prolonged use of aphrodisiacs for ED can result in serious and deleterious health implications such as heart attack, hypertension, cardiovascular hemorrhage resulting in a stroke, sudden cardiac death, sustained erection, and even impotence.
The best step to take when seeking a remedy for the ED problem is to seek medical consultation to be able to ascertain the ideal underlying cause(s) in order to know the appropriate way of addressing the problem.
Take home
Engage in regular exercise as it can help alleviate underlying conditions that play a part in erectile dysfunction in a number of ways, including reducing stress, helping you lose weight, and increasing blood flow.
Talk to your doctor or physician if you have a problem with erectile dysfunction. They can determine the underlying cause and treat it appropriately.
**Always opt for a healthy lifestyle, you are the custodian of your own health and well-being**
References:
Amidu, N., Owiredu, W.K., Woode, E., Addai-Mensah, O., Gyasi-Sarpong, K.C. and Alhassan, A., 2010. Prevalence of male sexual dysfunction among Ghanaian populace: myth or reality?. International journal of impotence research, 22(6), pp.337-342.
Kessler, A., Sollie, S., Challacombe, B., Briggs, K. and Van Hemelrijck, M., 2019. The global prevalence of erectile dysfunction: a review. BJU Int, 124, pp.587-599.
Healthline (2019). Everything you need to know about erectile dysfunction (ED). [Online]. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/erectile-dysfunction#_noHeaderPrefixedContent Accessed on: 27/04/2021.
Myoclinic. 2021. Erectile dysfunction. [Online]. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/erectile-dysfunction/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355782. Accessed on: 27/04/2021.
