As more research is done and more information about the current (COVID-19) pandemic is obtained, more of the virus's effects are discovered. The link between COVID-19 and erectile dysfunction (ED) is being looked at even more keenly. The government has also imposed travel restrictions, outdoor activities, and lockdowns to implement social distancing and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
These tough measures have greatly impacted the mental and sexual health of individuals, mostly negatively. The COVID-19 virus may also potentially increase the risk of erectile dysfunction in individuals. However, more time is needed to understand both short and long-term health effects by COVID-19 fully.
COVID-19 can lead to hyper inflammation of various tissues, including your heart and blood vessels. This can disrupt blood flow in different body tissues, including those in the penis, thus making it hard to have or maintain an erection. Erectile dysfunction can also be an early sign of heart disease and related vascular conditions. COVID-19 is shown to also be able to cause such cardiovascular damages. Thus recovering COVID 19 patients are more at risk of also developing endothelial dysfunction. The potential testicular damage that a severe case of COVID-19 can deal to an individual makes it hard to ignore the possibility of COVID-19 causing erectile dysfunction. However, it is too early, and the long-term effects of COVID 19 are still being reported and researched.
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Individuals may also develop erectile dysfunction due to the mental anguish and stress brought about by the disruption of life brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, the distress and grief of losing a close friend, neighbor, classmate, or loved one. Also, the public's tough measures have taken their toll on people, such as maintaining social distancing. This has the unfortunate overlooked fact that this fosters loneliness in individuals since they are avoiding contact with family and friends. We are social creatures, and this has a negative effect on the mental health of individuals. Add the economic stress, which worsens their depression or increases their susceptibility to depression, since poor mental health is among the factors that cause erectile dysfunction.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions and the negative impact on the economy, many people's ability to access good healthcare services has been disrupted. For example, the layoffs by most businesses and companies have led to most people living paycheck to paycheck, thus allowing another medical condition to develop or go undiagnosed. Erectile dysfunction is usually a symptom of another underlying medical condition, for example, poor heart health.
The available research on the link between erectile dysfunction and COVID-19 shows that you are six times more at risk of developing erectile dysfunction if you have COVID-19 or are recovering from it. Also, men with erectile dysfunction are more susceptible to a COVID-19 infection. Erectile dysfunction can be a short-term or long-term COVID-19 impact on a person's health.
Disclaimer
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