"Many men experience temporary impotence at some point in their lives, but chronic (recurring) impotence can lower a man's self-esteem and put a strain on his marriage or social relationships," according to the editors of Consumer Guide's Family Health & Medical Guide.
"If left untreated, persisting impotence can damage one's sexual life as well as the self image of one or both partners," added Dr. David E. Larson, editor-in-chief of the Mayo Clinic Family Health Book.
How common is impotence? In the United States, over 10 million people have this problem and many are suffering in silence. Although impotence is more likely to bother old men, it can affect anyone and is not necessarily an inevitable part of aging.
"It is alleged that 25 percent of men over 55 are impotent. In Australia, about 40,000 men are affected. But that doesn't mean that young men are spared. We have patients between 18 to 22 years old who are impotent. The average age, however, is 55," revealed Dr. Edward John Keogh, medical director of the Reproductive Medicine Research Institute at Queen Elizabeth II Medical Center in Nedlands, Western Australia.
What happens in impotence? To have and maintain an erection, three things are required. First, the man must be sufficiently aroused and have enough testosterone (the male hormone) to get things going.
"If the testes, which produce testosterone, have been surgically removed (as is often the case in prostate cancer), or are no longer working as well because of age, then even the most intense sexual provocation will do nothing more than leave you wondering what all the fuss is all about," explained Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld of the New York Hospital - Sloane-Kettering Cancer Center in The Best Treatment.
The second requirement is that the brain must be functioning well to communicate sexual excitation to the penis. The nervous pathways from the brain to the penis must be healthy enough to convey that message.
The third and last step is that blood must reach the penis to produce an erection. This is accomplished by means of two cylindrical sponge-like structures within the penis which fill with blood the moment the man is aroused to make intercourse possible.
"Nerve impulses cause the blood flow to the cylinders to increase to about seven times the normal amount. The sudden influx of blood expands the sponge-like structures and then straightens and stiffens the penis, producing an erection. Continued sexual arousal or excitation maintains the higher state of blood flow, keeping the erection. After ejaculation, or when sexual excitation passes, the excess blood drains out of the spongy tissue and the penis returns to its non erect size and shape," Larson said.
If any of the above are interrupted, impotence occurs. This may be caused either by psychological or physical factors. In the second part of this series we'll talk about these factors.
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History
Duct tape wasn't originally spelled as such at the start. Soldiers fighting in World War II needed a durable adhesive tape to fix their gears and keep water out of their ammo boxes. Duct tape was designed for that purpose in 1942 and was named "duck" tape because of its water-repellant properties.
After the war, this adhesive tape was used to seal up and repair heating ducts. From military green, its color was changed to silver and was thence referred to as "duct" tape.
Some Uses of Duct Tape At Home
- Use some brightly colored duct tapes to mark your suitcases to make it easy to recognize at the airport.
- Duct tapes can even remove warts. It will irritate and weaken the wart tissue and allow your immune system to destroy the growth.
- You can use it as a temporary seal on leaking pipes and joints under the sink or in the bathroom. It can be used as a temporary repair on zero-pressure drain lines. It mustn't be a permanent plumbing fix on pressurized drain lines.
- A windy picnic day can be saved with a few strips of duct tape. Fold back the tablecloth and stick the strips of tape underneath the cloth and stick the other end of the tape over the edge and underneath the picnic table in different places.
- Use duct tape and a waterproof permanent marker to make long-lasting labels for books and boxes.
- Duct tapes can function as makeshift sticky notes on work sites to remind people of the next day's activities.
- To stop a leaky garden hose, first use a rag to wipe it dry. Plug the break with a small piece of tape and proceed to double wrap the hose at an angle with a second piece.
- You can use duct tape to patch leather punctured or torn upholstery, heavy gym bags or bicycle seats. Just use a tape with a matching color. When covering furniture, it is important to overlap each strip of duct tape so they won't break off when sat on.
- Duct tapes can be used to hold up babies' diapers.
Automotive uses
- To repair a leaking radiator hose, allow the engine to cool down for a while. Antifreeze is very hot and you don't want to get scalded. When the engine is cooled, make sure the hose is dry by wiping off any excess antifreeze. Cut off a length of duct tape and wrap it tightly around the puncture area twice. Fill the radiator once more with water and antifreeze and replace the radiator cap on loosely. Bring your car to the nearest mechanic. Don't screw the cap back on too tight as pressure can build up and loosen the tape.
- Duct tapes are sold in different colors and can be used to patch an automobile seat.
- You can use duct tapes to "pimp up" your automobile seats by sticking a couple of different colored tapes across the seat's back rest.
Both Sharon Bell & Jamie Hanson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Sharon Bell has sinced written about articles on various topics from Skin Care, Mens Health and Asthma. Sharon Bell is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premier online news magazine