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Hello, and welcome to HealthiNation. I’m Bobby Daye.It wasn’t all that long ago that
problems in the bedroom, stayed in the bedroom. Until an explosion of media stories put Erectile
Dysfunction, or ED, on the front page. But there’s more to the cover story, and we’re
here to give you the facts.ED is still uncomfortable for men to talk about, in fact so uncomfortable
that only about five percent of men with it seek medical help. It’s been linked to diabetes
and high blood pressure… and can even be a warning sign of other serious problems.
There’s no reason to be embarrassed as Dr. Paul Knoepflmacher will tell us.
PHYSICIAN: Erections are the result of a complex process.
It starts with signals from the brain, the right levels of testosterone, and healthy
blood vessels in the ***. If something affects any of these factors, erectile dysfunction
can result, which is why we’ve learned that it might be the first sign of a physical…
not a psychological… problem. The key to *** is good circulation and blood flow.
Inside the *** are two long, slender chambers called the corpora cavernosa. These chambers
are made up of spongy muscle tissue. During arousal, nerve signals from the brain cause
the muscles to relax. When that happens, blood flows in at about seven times the normal amount,
inflating the chambers and creating an ***. Continued *** arousal maintains that higher
rate of blood flow, keeping the *** firm. During ***, *** is released from the
testicles and travels tubes called the Vas Deferens. Along the way, it mixes with fluid
from the prostate and other glands and becomes ***. Then this fluid travels out of the
body through the urethra. When the *** arousal passes, the excess blood drains out
of the chambers, and the *** returns to its non-erect size.
Many men over the age of 40 experience these problems, and it may be related to low levels
of testosterone., but it can happen at any age. I know it’s not easy to talk about,
but there are ways to start the conversation. One way is that you can tell your doctor that
you’re having physical problems in the bedroom.
HOST: Erectile dysfunction can happen at age, but
it’s not a normal part of aging. If you are experiencing this problem, there may be
a serious reason why. Be sure to watch our segment on the causes
of ED to learn more.