A review of studies on impotence in men under 40 shows that more than 70 percent of the cases are caused by physical factors, not psychological ones (Urologia Internationalis, 12/03/2013). The most common cause of impotence is damage to blood vessels, which can be diagnosed with nocturnal penile tumescence testing and penile Doppler ultrasound.
Drugs used for impotence, called PDE 5 inhibitors (such as Viagra) restore function but do nothing to treat the cause. Any man who is impotent at any age should take it as a warning sign that he may be headed for a heart attack, stroke or diabetes. Prevention and treatment for any of these conditions should focus on lifestyle changes including:
• Exercising
• Not smoking
• Avoiding excessive alcohol
• Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables
• Restricting red meat, fried foods, sugar-added foods and sugared drinks
• Losing weight if overweight
• Avoiding vitamin D deficiency
In many men, impotence can be reversed if the underlying cause is corrected.
More on impotence
Heavy Traffic Also Linked to Blood Vessel Disease
Avoiding blood vessel disease may also include moving away from air and noise pollution, according to a study in the European Heart Journal (published online Nov 4, 2013). This study shows that long term breathing of polluted air and exposure to night time traffic noise are both independently associated with arteriosclerosis and heart attacks.
 Dr. Gabe Mirkin is a Villages resident. Learn more at www.drmirkin.com
