subject: Excessive alcohol use linked to impotence [print this page] Excessive alcohol use linked to impotence
Alcohol taken in a moderate amount can sometimes be good for you. It can temporary enhance the feeling of well-being and can also reduce sexual inhibitions. But over-consumption of alcohol can cause several health implications, ranging from cardiovascular problems to sexual disorders. Alcohol has a slowing effect on the nervous system, which affects the central nervous system and the functions associated with it. As a result, excessive alcoholism can also have serious effects on a person's sex life. It interferes with the physical and mental health and is a major cause of impotence or erectile dysfunction.
Impotence
When a man is unable to get a firm erection that lasts long enough to have satisfactory sexual intercourse, the condition is known as impotence. This erection problem can be caused due to many physical illnesses or psychological issues. When a man is sexually aroused, his brain plays a major role in orchestrating the erection process. The brain directs the nervous system to increase blood flow to the penis, which results in an erection. But if any of these body systems fail to work properly, it disrupts the process of an erection. Erectile dysfunction used to be a condition associated with ageing, but its occurrence in younger men has led to an in-depth study to determine the causes of impotence.
Alcohol and impotence
Being a chemical depressant, alcohol reduces the body's response time. As a result, it affects the nervous system and impairs the reflexes between the brain and the genitals. Signals triggered by the brain to relax blood vessels in order to increase blood flow to the penis get affected. Alcohol can cause irreversible damage to the nervous system. Many factors play a crucial role in a man's sexual function and some of them include hormones, emotions, muscles, nervous system, blood vessels and brain. Frequent alcohol use can lead to drop in levels of testosterone, which diminishes sexual desire in men. Alcohol abuse is also the cause of many psychological issues such as depression and anxiety, which can affect sex drive and can lead to erection problems. Excessive alcoholism brings a lot of behavioural changes; concentration and judgement become cloudy due to which physical activities can get impaired. So to sum it all up, excessive drinking of alcohol over the long term can not only cause physical and psychological problems, but can also affect the ability of a man to perform sexually.
Treatment of impotence
A lot of treatment options are available to treat impotence caused by alcoholism. To get an effective treatment of impotence, it is necessary to address the problem as early as possible, so as to prevent further damage to the body. Prescription medications are trusted as the most appropriate options to treat erectile dysfunction. These medications increase flow of blood to the penis to get a firm erection and maintain it during sexual intercourse. Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra are some of the impotence pills which have been clinically tested and approved to provide successful treatment of erectile dysfunction. These medications should always be used under the supervision of a doctor to get the best results.
