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This is an independent website that provides information about Levitra. It is not affiliated with Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Glaxo Smith Kline (GSK) or SP and does not represent these companies in any way whatsoever.
05th June, 2009
Erectile dysfunction, the inability to maintain or achieve an erection, effects in the region of 30 million men in America.
In order for an erection to occur, your central nervous system needs to be intact and there should be a sufficient blood flow to the penis. When a man is sexually aroused, the brain sends signals to the blood vessels in the penis causing them to dilate and fill up with blood. The sponge-like erectile structures that run the length of the penis become engorged with blood causing the penis to become hard.
The swollen erectile tissue compresses the veins in the penis, thus preventing the blood from draining out of the penis and maintaining the erection.
However, the arteries in the penis are small and they are vulnerable to damage. When these vessels are damaged, they do not allow sufficient flow of blood to the penis, leading to a weak erection or no erection at all.
The four most common causes of erectile dysfunction are smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes, and high blood pressure. All of these heath problems damage blood vessels.
However, of the four causes, only one is completely preventable and is the only one of the four to (usually) cause problems in relatively young men. In fact, smoking doubles the risk of moderate to severe erectile dysfunction.
A man who starts smoking at the age of 18 and continues for 20 years may have his sex life seriously damaged by the time he is 38. Smoking is the most common cause of ED for men under 40. Of course, there is a dose response - the more cigarettes that are smoked, the greater the risk of ED.
As men get older, other conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease, may develop further exacerbate the problem. This kind of damage to blood vessels is hard or impossible to reverse - onlya quarter of men will see improvement in their ED if they stop smoking.
However, ED drugs such as Levitra are most effective when combined with stopping smoking.
(source Examiner.com)