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$Title{Help for Erectile Dysfunction}
$Subject{Erectile Help Dysfunction maintain maintaining get physical cause
causes blood pressure vascular disease diseases diabetes nerve disorder
disorders medication medications hypertension cigarette cigarettes smoke
Smoking factor factors erection treat treatment treatments medical
psychological remedy remedies penis age aged elderly old}
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Copyright (c) 1993  Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Help for Erectile Dysfunction


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QUESTION:  I have a problem I would find very difficult to discuss with my own
physician, but perhaps you might answer me in your column.  I have troubles
getting and maintaining an erection.  As they say "the spirit is willing but
the body is weak".  Is there any help for me?

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ANSWER:  There certainly is hope as well as help available to you.  Erectile
dysfunction may be the result of a wide variety of physical causes, such as
high blood pressure, vascular disease, diabetes and nerve disorders.  Even
certain medications used to treat medical problems, especially hypertension,
may be to blame.  Smoking is another frequent factor affecting the ability to
achieve an erection.
     But of all the problems, your own reluctance to discuss the problem with
your physician is blocking the way to the correct diagnosis and effective
treatment to deal with your situation.  And chances are that if you won't
bring it up during the history taking and examination, your doctor won't
mention it either.  Yet once the problem is announced, and its exact nature is
defined, a combination of medical and psychological treatments can be used to
remedy the condition.  Current medical thinking admits that dysfunction does
increase with age, but that it is not necessarily a consequence of the aging
process.  So the next move is yours, and then help can be on its way.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.