Archives for May 2020

Causes of Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) affects up to 30 million men across the United States. It can be a distressing condition, and it can be caused by many different factors such as an underlying health condition or stress.

If erectile dysfunction is regularly interfering with your life, it may be time to seek advice from an internal medicine specialist to get to the root of the issue so it can be successfully treated. Let’s talk about what causes ED and who can help you overcome the condition with treatment.

What Is Erectile Dysfunction?

It is not uncommon for men to fail to get, or keep, an erection from time to time. However, if this issue becomes a more frequent problem, it may be a sign of erectile dysfunction, also known as impotence.

ED occurs when you are unable to achieve an erection, maintain an erection, or ejaculate on a regular basis. This issue can be caused by a number of physical and emotional problems, and the risk of developing erectile dysfunction increases with age. The risk of ED also increases in men who have been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease.

What Causes Erectile Dysfunction?

Sexual arousal is a complex process involving the brain, hormones, emotions, nerves, muscles, and blood vessels. If there is a problem in one of these areas, such as an underlying heart condition or circulatory problem, it can cause erectile dysfunction.

Lifestyle factors including smoking, drinking alcohol, or using illicit drugs can also have an impact on the ability to achieve or sustain an erection. Some of the other main underlying conditions that can lead to ED include the following:

Cardiac Conditions

Health conditions that affect the heart and blood flow, such as heart disease, high cholesterol, hypertension (high blood pressure), and atherosclerosis (clogged blood vessels, or hardening of the arteries), can negatively impact the amount of blood traveling to the penis. If there is not enough blood flow, it can prevent the ability to achieve or maintain an erection. Being overweight or obese can also cause elevated cholesterol levels and damage blood vessels, thereby leading to erectile dysfunction.

Endocrine Disorders

The endocrine system is a network of glands that produce, release, and regulate hormones to help with many important functions within the body. These functions include metabolism, reproduction, sexual function, and mood. Endocrine disorders can cause the body to produce too much or too little of a hormone, thereby leading to a hormone imbalance – and some of these hormonal abnormalities can cause erectile dysfunction.

Neurological and Nerve Disorders

Neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, brain tumors, multiple sclerosis, and stroke result from damage to the nervous system. Nerve damage can affect the brain’s ability to communicate with parts of the body, such as the reproductive system, thereby potentially preventing the ability to achieve an erection. Injury, prostate surgery, and surgeries that affect the pelvic or spinal region can also result in nerve damage that lead to erectile dysfunction.

Medications

Some medications, such as those which treat high blood pressure, can decrease blood flow to the penis and make it difficult to achieve an erection. Other medications can affect the hormones or nerves and cause the same effect.

Medicines that can contribute to erectile dysfunction include:

  • Prostate cancer medications
  • Diuretics
  • Antidepressants
  • Beta-blockers
  • Chemotherapy
  • Muscle relaxants
  • Synthetic hormones

Psychological Factors

Psychological issues such as stress, depression, anxiety, and fatigue can all affect your ability to become sexually aroused. This can have an impact on achieving or sustaining an erection.

Comprehensive Medical Care in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach

Here at the Advanced Medical Clinic, we offer a high standard of primary and urgent care for health issues and health maintenance. Our comprehensive treatment options are designed to help you achieve a better quality of life through management of many conditions, such as erectile dysfunction and reproductive issues.

If you are looking for quality healthcare, turn to our board-certified internal medicine specialist Dr. Gunawardene and his team of experienced and compassionate medical providers. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, contact us today by calling us at (561) 434-1935 or request an appointment now via our convenient online form. We look forward to being your healthcare partner.

Signs of Hypertension

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, can affect anyone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 45% of adult Americans have high blood pressure. Moreover, only about 24% of those individuals have their hypertension under control.

Because hypertension can cause cardiovascular disease and organ failure, it is important to have it treated by a family medicine provider. Let’s talk about some of the main signs of high blood pressure and what you can do about it.

What Are the Symptoms of High Blood Pressure?

Hypertension does not always show obvious symptoms, but some of the initial warning signs include the following:

Shortness of Breath

If you find yourself having breathing difficulty even when you are not doing anything at all, you may have hypertension. This is the most common telltale sign for high blood pressure.

Shortness of breath occurs because the heart is having difficulty pushing oxygen-rich blood to the lungs. Moreover, you may have blocked or narrowed arteries in the lungs, in which case the body is not getting enough oxygenated blood.

Blood in Urine

Also known as hematuria, blood in your urine can be a signal that you may have hypertension. It happens because your blood pressure affects your kidneys and vice versa. Kidneys work as filters for your blood, so if you have kidney problems, then you are also at risk for high blood pressure.

Vision Problems

Untreated hypertension can damage the blood vessels in your retina, which is the part of your eye that is responsible for sending neural signals to the brain for visual recognition. If you are experiencing sudden vision problems, seek immediate medical care by an experienced family medicine provider, as it may indicate severe hypertension or another underlying health condition.

Severe Headaches

High blood pressure can cause headaches because of the excessive pressure that it puts on the brain, leading to swelling. The headaches are likely to occur on both sides of the head and may pulsate and worsen when doing strenuous activities.

Vomiting

If vomiting comes along with your pulsating headache, then you may have hypertension. It may also be a symptom of stroke.

Nosebleed

While not a common sign or result of high blood pressure, having hypertension can make you more prone to having a bloody nose. Moreover, severe hypertension can cause your nose to bleed longer.

Seizure or Stroke

When left untreated, hypertension can progress to a hypertensive crisis, which is a severe increase in blood pressure. This can lead to a seizure or a stroke.

Blood Pressure Checks in Palm Beach County

Signs of hypertension rarely show until your condition is already severe, which then puts you at a greater risk of having a heart attack, heart failure, and stroke. That is why it is important to have regular checkups from your healthcare provider.

Here at Advanced Medical Clinic, we are here to be your healthcare partner. As a patient-centered and family-oriented clinic, we provide the best treatments curated for each patient.

To experience this kind of quality service, call us today at (561) 434-1935, or set an appointment online by filling out our appointment request form now. We look forward to seeing you here.