More than 30 million men living in the United States are affected by some degree of ED. Nearly 70% of these cases of ED have physical causes. These causes can include health conditions, injury, and medicine side effects. Men who are more likely to develop ED include those with:
* Diabetes
* High blood pressure
* High blood cholesterol
* Heart or blood vessel disease
* Injuries or surgery to the pelvic area, especially prostate and rectal surgery
ED can also be caused by side effects from the medicines that men take to treat these health problems.
Also at risk for ED are men who:
* Smoke
* Drink too much alcohol
* Use recreational drugs, such as marijuana, cocaine, or heroin
Sometimes, ED may be caused by psychological factors such as stress or anxiety. In many cases, ED may result from a combination of physical and psychological factors. The important thing to remember is that ED is treatable in most men regardless of its cause.