Posts by Dr. Cremata, DC
Acoustic Compression Helps Psychological Causes of ED
If your ED is psychological…
Many men suffering from recurrent ED are told that there is no physical cause for the dysfunction. Psychogenic dysfunction is the next most likely outcome- a mental block that is preventing you from achieving or sustaining an erection. While traditional ED medications such as Viagra, Levitra and Cialis are all effective options for treating this type of psychological block, some men search for alternative treatments that don’t involve the laundry list of side effects and potential health risks that come with pharmaceutical medication.
The Science of Erections
The anatomy of an erection
To begin with there are three types:
- Psychogenic: thoughts and nerve signals contribute to your erection
- Reflexogenic: physical stimulation in which the signals don’t even reach the brain.
- Nocturnal: erections that occur without your knowing in the dead of night.
However, they all essentially rely on the same mechanism of blood vessels in the penis. In this most basic of biological processes, arteries relax allowing blood to flow (at ~30 cm/second) into the shaft while the veins close up; about 130 ml of blood is required to maintain an erection. Pressure within the corpora cavernosa prevents the blood from flowing back out and thus you have an erection. Erectile dysfunction simply refers to some problem along the way that prevents you from achieving or maintaining an erection.
Are Opioids for Back Pain Management as Effective as we Thought?
Opioids versus conservative care for managing back pain
Because of their reputation as strong painkillers, opioids are often prescribed for the management of severe, chronically recurring back pain. But a new study by researchers at the University of Minnesota, information for which can be found here, is showing that we may want to think twice before using opioids to treat back pain. The study compares 240 veterans using opioids to manage back pain versus a group that was using non-opioid methods for controlling back pain. The study concluded that opioids do not offer a significant advantage in pain management, while also coming with a long list of side effects including the risk for addiction.
Falsehoods Regarding Self Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction
Supplements and herbal remedies for ED are often not the answer
Among the most common natural remedies identified as possibly helping men with erectile dysfunction, there is only meager evidence to suggest their efficacy. Furthermore, you run a gamut of risks while choosing what supplements to take, and in what quantities to take them. A frequent reason that leads men to seek self-treatment is the embarassment of seeking medical advice over such a problem. But we guarantee that going to the doctor is the most healthy way of going about things- erectile dysfunction is often a sign of other health problems, including heart disease and diabetes that should be examined by a health professional before proceeding with treatment.
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Erectile Dysfunction and Psychological Stress
Many cases of penile dysfunction are not actually ED
In fact, it is important to differentiate whether an actual physical reason is preventing you from achieving an erection or if you simply have what is known as erectile dissatisfaction. This kind of ED means that gaining and maintaining erections may be more difficult but not impossible. Many men become frustrated and give up on trying to achieve an erection, without giving themselves the time or relaxation they need. Whether you have erectile dissatisfaction or erectile dysfunction, not being able to achieve an erection can take a serious psychological toll.
Erectile Dysfunction has a Heart Health Connection
ED can be an early sign of underlying cardiovascular disease
Clogged arteries, also known as atherosclerosis, were originally thought of as the reason for erectile dysfunction’s connection to heart health. The idea was that blocked arteries prevented blood flow to the penis. It is now thought that ED’s connection to heart health is down to the inner lining of the blood vessels. Dysfunction in the lining of blood vessels prevents adequate blood supply to the heart and the penis, thus causing ED while also signalling that your heart’s health is at risk.
Long Term ED Relief Without Side Effects
Erectile dysfunction is more common than you think
Roughly 50% of men between the ages of 40-70 experiencing sexual dysfunction of some degree. Because sexual dysfunction directly correlates with a lower quality of life, men are quick to turn to ED drugs to help improve their sex lives; and indeed, ED drugs have a success rate of around 70% when it comes to producing an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse. As with all pharmaceuticals however, each ED drug comes with its own set of side effects, not to mention their high out-of-pocket cost which makes them prohibitively expensive to those without insurance.
The most common side effects of ED medication include:
- Headaches, dizziness and vision problems
- Upset stomach and diarrhea
- UTIs
Among others, Cialis has been linked to muscle aching, while frequent users of Viagra report strange side-effects like blue-tinged vision. Furthermore, they can have strange and unpredictable interactions with concurrent prescriptions. Men taking cardiac drugs should never take ED medication because of the effects on blood pressure.
Six Visits for Better Sexual Function
Acoustic compression addresses the cause of erectile dysfunction
Proper sexual function relies on the ability of your blood vessels to transport blood into the penis (like they should) in order to stimulate erections. When it comes the idea of “extracorporeal shockwave therapy,” many people balk at the idea of submitting their penis to such a treatment. This is simply a very technical name for a very effective treatment. This blog will address what you can expect from acoustic compression for erectile dysfunction.
What can I expect during acoustic compression treatment for erectile dysfunction?
First of all, don’t expect pain. This is an entirely painless procedure that uses shockwaves to stimulate the blood vessels in your sexual organ; it does not shock your penis! Our function better program for addressing erectile dysfunction includes 6 visits which proceed as follows:
- Medical examination by one of our health providers to determine medical history and whether you are a good candidate for treatment.
- Fill out a questionnaire to determine your level of erectile dysfunction and how our treatment can help you.
- 6 rounds of extracorporeal shockwave therapy: twice the first week, and then once a week for the following four. Each visit will take approximately 20 minutes.
Six visits to drastically improve sexual function
Because our program treats the cause of the condition, rather than treating the condition symptomatically, many people experience results that last up to a year. Your blood vessels will begin to facilitate better blood flow to the penis and sexual function will improve.
Forgetting Flaccid: A New Way of Treating Erectile Dysfunction
To be clear, shock wave therapy is NOT the new Viagra…
…as it has been called in many media outlets and medical publications. Traditional methods of treating erectile dysfunction target the symptoms; instead low-intensity shock wave therapy targets the cause. Furthermore, while traditional medications are often taken daily, this sonic form of therapy attempts to cure people of the problem entirely, rather than treating the condition symptomatically.
OTC medications only treat symptoms
Medications like Viagra and Cialis, known as PDE-5 inhibitors work by boosting the effects of nitric oxide within the body, which helps relax muscles in the penis and allow the blood to enter. While most people find success with PDE-5 inhibitors, they come with a long list of side effects and don’t work perfectly for everyone!
Shock wave therapy is a long-lasting treatment
This pioneering sonic therapy that utilizes low intensity shock waves that course through the penis and, in doing so, stimulate the growth of blood vessels within the tissues of the penis. Simultaneously, it reverses factors that contribute to restricted blood flow to the penis including hardened arteries and narrow blood vessel pathways.
Difference in outcome between traditional treatment and acoustic compression
Among the most noticeable differences is in how long the effects last. The treatment takes place over a period of weeks, but many people report that the effects are long-lasting and satisfactory. If you are interested in taking a different approach to managing your erectile dysfunction, give our office in Fremont a call to schedule an appointment today.