It is difficult to imagine the rate of prevalence of erectile or sexual dysfunction in men. While the figure is at 40% according to official studies, it could actually be higher since a lot of men prefer to remain non-committal in these issues. Reasons for this in men could range from mentally upsetting factors like stress and depression or physical factors like increasing age and reducing testosterone levels. Some lifestyle factors like smoking, drinking and taking recreational drugs could also be the reason for this.

Anything that causes a bottleneck to the blood flow to the penis region, can cause problems with erections. It is now known that without proper blood flow to the penis there can never be any erection.

Smoking is known to cause a phenomenal drop in the number of erections while asleep. This decrement of nighttime erections gives us a clear indication that not all is well and that the penile region is not getting the amount of blood it needs for an erection. The cause of this has been identified by the Lahey Hitchcock Medical Center, Burlington, Massachusetts as excessive smoking. It has also been noticed that when one stops smoking even for a day, it can bring back involuntary nightly erections.

Additionally the semen quality of teenagers who indulge in heavy smoking would deteriorate. Plus, the sperm quality is diluted. This not only bars them from becoming fathers but may also involve giving birth to defective children born with genetic abnormalities caused by poor DNA begotten from either parent.

Similarly, there have been studies that highlight that heavy drinkers suffer more form erectile dysfunction than occasional drinkers. This is because alcohol is a proven repressor and it also tampers with the male libido adversely, so erection becomes impossible.

It is this clear that a moderate lifestyle can lend a good support to your sex life. Regular exercise and good eating habits go a long way in keeping your sexual vigor and health strong. If you suffer from erectile dysfunction you could rely on herbal medications which contain herbal ingredients with aphrodisiac properties which pump in more blood to your penis.