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For younger men, erectile dysfunction does not seem like a problem they will have to worry about for a long, long time. To many younger men, erectile dysfunction is seen as an issue plaguing the 50-and-over crowd; after all, it is assumed, as you get older, erectile dysfunction becomes an inevitable problem. While it is true that ED is more prevalent among older men, the idea that erectile dysfunction is only an issue for older men couldn’t be further from the truth. In actually, younger men are developing erectile dysfunction, and the number of young men developing this embarrassing problem is on the rise.

Experts say that the possibility of developing erectile dysfunction grows as a man ages; but that isn’t to say that the younger crowd is immune to erectile issues. In fact, recent research has found that 5 percent of men dealing with erectile dysfunction are between 20-39 years old.

But what is causing erectile dysfunction to develop in younger men? ED in the younger crowd can develop in a litany of ways: Depression, performance jitters, anxiety, heart problems, or an over reliance on cigarettes and alcohol have all been linked to ED in the 20-39 age group.

While erectile dysfunction can develop in younger men due to physical issues, research has found that ED in younger men is mostly caused by psychological issues. As such, men dealing with erectile dysfunction in their 20’s are advised to seek psychological help.

By working with a mental health expert, you can determine the root cause of your psychologically-caused ED, and take strides to overcome these feelings. While it is possible to develop erectile dysfunction in your 20’s, that doesn’t mean you’ll be stuck with it for life. As long as you put in the work, you can overcome ED and regain your sex life in no time.

After a hard day at work, many men find no greater joy than plopping down into a comfortable chair, kicking up their feet, switching the TV on, and cracking open an ice cold beer. For millions of men, alcohol is a multi-faceted tool: A drink to relax with, a drink to enjoy with a nice meal, or a drink to party with. But while a drink or two every once in a while never hurt anybody, what about the men that regularly consume alcohol? For these men, a drink every night has become a ritual, with a drink with dinner or a mixed drink after work becomes as necessary as sleep. For these men, a litany of health issues could loom on the horizon, including erectile dysfunction.

Research has found that consuming 3-4 alcoholic drinks a week can significantly increase a man’s chance of developing erectile dysfunction. The reason is simple: Excessive alcohol consumption can cause significant, sometimes permanent, internal damage to the body.

Alcohol tends to hit the heart hard; as alcohol consumption becomes common, the heart will begin to deteriorate, putting out blood slower and generally becoming weaker. Alcohol also causes constrictions of the blood vessels, further impeding the flow of blood through the body. With weak blood output and constricted blood vessels, functions that require steady blood flow, such as the erection, will pay the price.

As alcohol causes internal issues to worse, the narrow arteries that supply the penis with the blood necessary for an erection will become narrow and clogged, leading to the penis struggling to receive the blood it needs. This spirals into doubt within the man as he struggles to achieve an erection, leading to erectile dysfunction that is both physical and mental in nature.

But that’s not to say occasionally indulging in alcohol will spell the end of your sex life. Like all things in life, alcohol is best enjoyed in moderation. If alcohol becomes a necessity, not only will you be setting yourself up for a litany of health issues, but your erection could be done for.

With October now in full swing, that means one thing: Halloween decorations, and lots of them. From spooky ghosts to ghastly ghouls, people are hauling their old decorations out of storage and preparing their homes for the onslaught of trick-or-treaters. But a home isn’t prepared for Halloween without a jack-o-lantern; after all, these grim grinning pumpkins are a Halloween staple. But for many men, the pumpkin isn’t just a seasonal decoration; it could be the key to overcoming erectile dysfunction.

This is because these big orange pumpkins are filled to bursting with pumpkin seeds, naturally. While these seeds are typically thrown aside when the insides of the pumpkin are being scooped out to make a jack-o-lantern, research has found that these little pumpkin seeds pack big erectile dysfunction fighting power.

Experts have found that pumpkin seeds, when consumed, can help the body to improve general artery strength, along with improving blood flow throughout the body. With the erection requiring blood, and lots of it, to function properly, the health benefits provided by pumpkin seeds could prove invaluable for the erection.

Additionally, it has been found that pumpkin seeds feature high levels of zinc. This useful mineral is an essential inclusion for the body’s ability to regulate the sexual health of men.

But even with it’s blood flow improving powers and its ability to contribute to sexual health, that isn’t to say that pumpkin seeds are a miracle seed that will naturally help men to overcome erectile dysfunction.

But for men struggling with ED, combining the healing powers of pumpkin seeds with the proven science of erectile dysfunction drugs could ultimately give your body the fighting chance it needs to save your erection.

For thousands of men, the changing of the seasons is a welcome thing; a reason to bust out the sweaters and scarves, a reason to enjoy the changing of the leaves while enjoying a pleasantly hot coffee. But for many men, the shift into cooler weather signals something worse: Seasonal depression. For these men, the change to the grayer, colder months is no reason to celebrate; rather, the next several months for these men will be ruled by a depression they just can’t shake. And for a multitude men, season depression also means problems in the bedroom.

While debate rages on just what causes seasonal affective disorder (also known by the apt acronym S.A.D), it is a very real disorder. Thousands of men worldwide grapple with depression brought on by the changing of the seasons, and many of these men must also deal with the erectile dysfunction brought on by these feelings.

Just like standard depression, seasonal depression can cause a shift in the brain’s priorities; while your brain may have formerly prioritized happiness and a desire to go out, seasonal depression causes the brain to turn its attention elsewhere, which can lead to vital signals required by the penis to produce an erection to get missed. If these important erection signals are consistently missed, the afflicted individual will begin to worry and become embarrassed, which often leads to the problem getting worse.

For men with seasonal depression, it can be hard to focus on other things,which causes unlucky men to spiral into erectile dysfunction. So, yes, erectile issues brought on by seasonal depression is a very real problem. But by talking to a mental health professional, who can help you to figure out how to redirect your brain’s attention and not let your seasonal depression lord over you, you should be able to get your erection back.

Jealousy is a feeling that can seemingly strike at any minute: One moment, a friend at work will be telling you about his recent raise, the next, you’re secretly hoping he gets fired so that you can get a raise yourself. Jealousy isn’t always an indication of your actual feelings; after all, everyone has bouts of the extreme self-interest that comes with jealousy, but this doesn’t mean you always only think about yourself. But jealousy can spring from very real feelings, and these feelings can begin to affect you in other ways. Namely, jealousy related to your partner can translate to issues in the bedroom.

Whether your partner has begun to spend more time with a person you don’t trust, or if your partner is suddenly making more at work, jealousy occasionally crops up in a relationship. If left unaddressed, jealousy can snowball into feelings of betrayal, distrust, and resentment, and could ultimately lead to the end of the relationship. It can also lead to erectile dysfunction issues.

This is because the erection depends upon signals from the brain to function. If the brain become laser focused on a feeling, such as jealousy, it can often lead to the brain shifting priorities and attention away from other brain-reliant matters. Thus, with jealousy on the brain, the signals to produce an erection can get lost in the shuffle, causing missed erections, which then translates into feelings of embarrassment and shame over the inability to achieve an erection, which spirals into full blown erection dysfunction.

So, yes, jealousy-induced erectile dysfunction does occur. If you’ve been struggling with feelings of jealousy, and you find it increasingly difficult to achieve an erection, work with a mental health professional to get to the root of your feelings of jealousy, work out a way to overcome the feelings, and your erection, and your relationship, should get better.

It’s become quite the fad to label various foods the “next big thing.” From kale to quinoa, the general public picks a food item, trumpets its apparent health benefits, and eventually moves onto the next big thing. But one food with purported miracle health benefits has hung around: Red wine. According to its proponents, red wine is chock full of elements, which can help to cure everything from headaches to the common cold.

But while the healing properties of red wine can occasionally be dubious, men the world over continue to ask the important question: Can red wine help with erectile dysfunction?

Good news, men: Extensive research has actually found that red wine can help to cut the risk of developing erectile dysfunction. Bad news: It can’t help men to overcome an already developed case of erectile dysfunction.

Research has found that red wine is rich in flavonoids, a phytonutrient typically found in vividly colored fruits, that assist the body in producing anti-oxidants. These anti-oxidants lead to improvements within the body, such as stronger arteries and improved blood flow, which ultimately makes it easier for the body to achieve an erection.

Research has found that as little as one glass of wine every other day can cut the risk of developing erectile dysfunction by as much as 21 percent.

But that’s not to say that loading up on red wine will help the body to overcome erectile dysfunction; rather, the flavonoids found in red wine have been found to help prevent ED, not aid in the restoration of treating ED.

So if you’re looking to prevent erectile issues, red wine could be the solution you’ve been looking for. But if you’re looking to beat erectile dysfunction permanently, unfortunately, red wine isn’t the way to do it.

For men that regularly lace up their boots and step out onto the field, injuries are quite common. Millions of men worldwide pride themselves in playing sports, and thousands of these men will incur a sports-related injury during their career. These injuries range from mild concussions to broken bones, and the resulting health complications that can develop as a result of these injuries can vary wildly. But there is one sports-related injury that can not only permanently effect a man, it can also lead to issues in the bedroom: The spinal cord injury.

Every year, more than 10,00 men incur a spinal injury. These spine-based injuries can be caused by roughness in sports, a workplace related injury, or just plain old bad luck, but the end result is the same: Impaired back movement, loss of normal blood supply, and, quite possibly, erectile dysfunction.

Spinal cord injuries, especially spinal cord injuries classified as “complete” injuries, can often cause loss in sensation and muscle function below the waist. This can often translate to lost feeling in the penis, and the inability of the penile muscles to contract and take on blood properly. Dependent upon the severity of the injury, these erectile issues can either be temporary or permanent.

So if you find yourself struggling to achieve an erection after a recent spine-based injury, this isn’t mere coincidence: This indicates that your injury may be severe, and your body cannot achieve an erection as a result. Talk to a doctor, determine what can be done to treat your back and, with any luck, you should be able to recover your erection in no time.

There are times when your brain and your body find themselves at odds. Your body might tell you that you want to have sex, but your brain reassures you that you really don’t. Eventually, no matter how often your body insists about sex, your brain could win out, leading to general feelings of lethargy regarding intercourse. And while it is perfectly natural to not always feel like having sex, reoccurring apathy to sex is typically an indicator of a drop in libido. And low libido doesn’t just control your desire for sex; no, with low libido, you could also put yourself at risk of developing erectile dysfunction.

Low libido can develop due to a variety of causes: Stress, new medication, lack of sleep, and depression have all been found to cause low libido. Whatever the root cause, the results are always the same: Lack of desire concerning sex.

When a man experiences low libido, he’ll find himself no longer enjoying sexual activity, and he’ll eventually lose his desire to have sex altogether. When a man loses interest in sex, this can cause the body to struggle to produce an erection consistently, eventually culminating in the lack of ability to produce an erection at all.

While low libido can develop due to a variety of issues, thankfully, low libido is easy to overcome once it has been determined what the root cause is. Working with a health professional, you can pinpoint the cause of your low libido, make strides to overcome it, and your erection should return to its former glory.

But low libido typically can’t be beaten alone. So don’t skip the doctor for your low libido; seek help, and you can regain your sex life and erection.

So it’s finally happened: You’ve developed erectile dysfunction. You always said it wouldn’t happen to you, but here you are trying to figure out what’s going to happen to your sex life. But as troubling as the thought of not having sex is, you’re almost more terrified of seeking help for the issue. After all, ED is an issue you can have privately, but as soon as you have to get medication or speak to a doctor, others will know your secret. But what if you just skipped the drugs and the medical professionals? Can simply waiting the problem out cause your ED to go away naturally?

Shaking off ED without help is definitely unwise. Most men do not realize the root cause of their erectile woes, and skipping the doctor can lead to your erectile issues going unaddressed, which could actually be deadly.

You see, ED can develop as a result of a litany of internal health issues. Be it clogged arteries, or bruised penile tissue, or even serious heart problems, erectile dysfunction can often serve as a warning sign for something more severe.

But mental issues can also trigger erectile dysfunction, which can be a little harder to address in a medical setting. Stress, anxiety, and depression can all cause ED to develop, and you might reason that talking to a doctor might not ultimately help you to overcome this issue. But even if a medical professional deems your ED mentally induced, you can then be referred to a mental health expert, who would be better suited to helping you to overcome the feelings that have caused your erectile woes.

So while it might be tempting to skip the doctor entirely and just wait out your ED, don’t. Seek help, determine what is causing your erectile issues, and with medicine and support, you can get your erection back.