ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION CAUSES: DISEASES CAUSING ED

It is often pointed out by the scientists that erectile dysfunction is not a disease in itself, rather a symptom of other serious physical or mental conditions. The mechanism of erection involves a complex interplay of emotional, hormonal, nervous and vascular functions. Almost any disease that alters the nervous, vascular, emotional or hormonal systems in erectile function can cause erectile dysfunction or impotence. To determine the cause behind erectile dysfunction, a doctor will have to examine the patient's nervous and vascular systems, hormone level in his body as well as any concealed psychological problem that he maybe facing. A patient of erectile dysfunction may restore his sexual capacity by treating those conditions. The physical and psychological reasons of ED are presented in the flowchart below;

Physiological Causes	Psychological Causes
High blood pressure High cholesterol Diabetes Scleroderma (stiffening or hardening of the skin) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Epilepsy Stroke Multiple sclerosis Guillain-Barré syndrome Alzheimer disease Parkinson disease Atherosclerosis A history of heart attacks Peripheral vascular disease Prolonged tobacco use Sickle cell anemia Leukemia Liver cirrhosis Kidney failure Hemachromatosis Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland) Hypothyroidism (under active thyroid gland) Hypogonadism (lower testosterone levels) Malnutrition Zinc deficiency Drugs for hypertension, heart disease,antidepressants, tranquilizers, sedatives Nerve and vascular damage due to surgery of the colon, prostate, bladder or rectum prostate or bladder Alcohol and drug abuse Depression or GAD Guilt Stress in the relationship or at work Performance Anxiety