Impotence or Erectile Dysfunction is defined as the inability to get or sustain an erection for satisfactory sexual intercourse with or without ejaculation.

Erectile Dysfunction or ED, used to affect only elderly or sickly men - or so it was presumed. Not anymore. Nowadays, younger men in the age range of 30s to 40s are also experiencing the onset of impotence.

This embarrassing male issue is a major headache for impotent men. Imagine not being able to perform and "be a man" to the woman you want to impress. It is potentially damaging to a man's fragile ego and self confidence yet most men will not admit to having this ED problem.

That's why pills like Viagra sells by the busloads because many guys are too embarrassed to face their doctors with this problem.

If you have this dreaded problem, you need to first know the causes and then the treatment. So what are the causes of impotence in men? The three major causes of Erectile Dysfunction in men are :-

1) lifestyle-related

2) physical

3) psychological

Common knowledge tells us that physical and psychological factors are the main culprits but no one really knows for sure. Lifestyle choices can aggravate impotence in some cases and your first step in combating Erectile Dysfunction should be a change in lifestyle.

Here are some bad lifestyle habits you should avoid or get rid of now (if you want to eliminate Erectile Dysfunction or impotence) :-

1) Drinking, smoking, taking drugs, etc can and usually does aggravate male impotence. No one is sure why but nicotine and alcohol are definitely bad boys. Cut down on these negative habits and substitute them with healthier choices. You can try quit smoking patches and drink fruit juices for example. These are good for helping you quit the bad habits.

2) Overweight and a couch-potato lifestyle can be bad too. To perform well in bed, you a well nourished and fit body that can stand the physical effort. Too much fats in your body can restrict the proper flow of blood to the penile tissues and soften any erections quickly. Regular exercises should be part and parcel of your lifestyle together with a balanced diet. Be active and move around a lot. Taking the stairs instead of the lift everyday can be a convenient way to fit in an exercise routine.

After you have handled the above lifestyle changes, then you should look at the other causes of impotence, namely, physical and psychological. This is whole topic and out of scope of this short article.

However, if you want to know what else can help you in getting rid of impotence besides prescription drugs like Viagra, look at the author resource box below for some guidance.