Erectile dysfunction (ED) can signal the first warnings of a potentially serious underlying medical condition such as heart disease or diabetes.
Moreover, ED becomes more prevalent in men after hitting the age 50 mark, often caused by atherosclerosis, a potentially serious condition where arteries become clogged with a buildup of plaque.
Other common causes include lifestyle factors such as obesity and sleep disorders, anxiety and stress, or taking certain medicines.
A variety of lifestyle changes such as exercise, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake, and following a healthy diet can help manage the underlying condition and improve ED outcomes.
If you’re over 50 and have ED, you’re among one of the tens of millions of men around the world with this increasingly common sexual dysfunction. It might indicate a more concerning health issue for some individuals.
In this article, we will tackle ED, its usual causes for men aged 50 and above, and what treatment options you have at your disposal to keep it under control.
What is ED?
Erectile dysfunction, also known as impotence, is when you can’t produce or maintain an erection long enough to enjoy satisfying sex.
ED may consist of erections that don’t last as long as they should or aren’t firm as they usually are. ED doesn’t only impair your ability to enjoy sex; it may also affect your sexual desire.
ED affects as many as 50 million adult men in the United States alone – accounting for over half of men in the 40 to 70-year-old demographic.
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Why does erectile dysfunction become more common with aging?
At age 40, about one in three men have ED. This increases in prevalence with aging, with this number rising to 70% by age 70.
However, the data doesn’t mean ED is necessarily a normal part of aging or that experiencing it is a foregone conclusion. ED often arises from a wide array of health conditions that happen to be related to age, such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and type 1 diabetes.
What is the primary cause of ED in men aged 50 and above?
Atherosclerosis, or the hardening of the arteries, is the most common cause of ED in men above 50. This condition may affect any of the body’s arteries and is one of the primary contributing factors to cardiovascular disease. However, it could also affect the arteries and blood vessels in the penis responsible for supplying blood to it to produce erections. For this reason, almost one in two men diagnosed with heart disease are also diagnosed with moderate to severe ED.
The artery linings become less tactile and flexible as men age, which means they don’t open up as easily to allow greater blood flow when your body needs it (e.g., such as achieving an erection).
Moreover, a buildup of arterial plaque can constrict arteries, meaning diminished blood flow to the body, including the penis. Diminished blood flow could cause ED apart from cardiovascular diseases such as strokes and heart attacks.
And since the blood vessels in the penis are smaller and narrower than the heart’s, they can potentially become atherosclerotic before the first symptoms of cardiovascular disease manifest (such as angina or chest pain) by as much as a decade.
That’s why ED can be a warning sign of some dysfunction in your blood vessels.
Young adult men with ED have a 30% higher chance of developing cardiovascular disease over the next decade or so. Moreover, men with ED have a 60% increased likelihood of developing a myocardial infarction (heart attacks), a 40% increased chance of getting a stroke, and a 25% increased risk of death than men without ED.
ED and cardiovascular disease share plenty of the same symptoms and risk factors. If you have ED symptoms, consult your doctor about getting screened for risk factors for cardiovascular health, such as hypertension and diabetes.
Are there any other causes of ED?
While ED is linked to cardiovascular issues, other physical, mental, or relationship issues may contribute to ED. These include the following:
- Excessive weight gain or obesity
- Type 1 diabetes
- Relationship problems
- Anxiety and stress issues
- Autoimmune disease
- Sleep disorders
- Low testosterone
- Injuries to the spinal cord
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How can I avoid ED as an older adult male?
Simple lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, eating a reasonably healthy diet, reducing alcohol and tobacco consumption, and getting enough restful sleep may help manage factors that might promote or worsen ED. A healthy lifestyle is the best safeguard for erection quality.
If pursuing a healthy lifestyle isn’t enough, your doctor may prescribe oral ED medications or non-medical treatment options to help deal with and manage ED.
Which treatments can I get for ED?
Your doctor may give you a prescription for ED medicines that are proven safe and effective for enhancing sexual function. PDE5 inhibitor drugs such as sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), and vardenafil (Levitra) are among some of the best-known ED treatment options out there. Their generic formulations are widely available at lower price points. They work by enhancing blood flow to the penis by widening your blood vessels. Other men have pursued natural remedies to treat their ED. However, the evidence for their efficacy is yet to be conclusively determined. Moreover, non-medical treatment options like counseling or relationship coaching might be another option men can take.
Nevertheless, if you have ED, be confident in the knowledge that there are plenty of effective, science-backed options available to enhance you and your partner’s sex life. Consult your doctor to determine which path of treatment is most suitable for you.
