True Causes vs Risk Factors
The medical community in America prefers the term risk factors when speaking about things that may increase the likelihood of an illness or ailment. Risk factors are useful when you look at lifestyle choices, and chronic illness. It is useful, for example, to know that smoking increases the likelihood of cardiovascular disease by two to four times (that is 2X to 4X).
Risk factors related to smoking
It helps for people to know this so they can make smarter choices. The above link from the Centers for Disease Control spells out the risks quite well.
The World Health Organization states that only 25% of Chinese know that smoking causes heart disease. Not knowing means they can’t even make a smarter choice to help prevent both heart disease and ED.
Smoking increases the risk of Erectile Dysfunction by about 100%.
Again, this is useful to know. Quit smoking and you will probably live longer and keep your cock harder.
The problem arises when we confuse risks with the actual damage, or biochemical changes they tend to create in your body. Only by understanding these True Causes can we work directly to improve the situation.
What is a Risk Factor
According to the World Health Organization:
“A risk factor is any attribute, characteristic or exposure of an individual that increases the likelihood of developing a disease or injury.”
What is a True Cause
A True Cause speaks directly to the actual damage or changes that happen in your body.
This is my terminology. I got frustrated researching risk factors because they are often very general when describing the negative effects they have.
An example may help to make this clearer.
Diabetes is a risk factor for ED. About 50% of men with diabetes also have erectile dysfunction. Diabetes tends to cause both blood flow and nerve problems.
http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/men/erectile-dysfunction.html
Metabolic syndrome is a risk factor for ED. Men with metabolic syndrome are 2X more likely to have ED. It also increases the likelihood of you becoming diabetic, and/or developing CVD. In simpler terms metabolic syndrome is early diabetes. Knowing this gives a man time to reverse things.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a risk factor for ED. For 70% of men ED IS FUCKING EARLY CVD.
Obesity is a risk factor for ED. Obese men are 2.5X more likely to have ED.
Smoking is a risk factor for ED.
Lack of exercise… Couch potatoes don’t Get Hard. Use it or lose it.
A man can stop smoking. Most men cannot reverse diabetes (though some can). A man with heart disease or CVD cannot reverse that condition overnight.
So, I dug deeper to better understand the damage these ‘risk factors’ actually do to your body.
Turns out that diabetes can damage endothelial cells (Endos). This means your blood flow gets messed up. Diabetes can also interfere with the nerve signaling needed during arousal.
CVD is all about blood flow and Endos.
Smoking damages Endos and wrecks blood flow.
It is All about Blood Flow
See, this is where my research began to get really, fucking clear. Not every man who suffers with diabetes or CVD can magically reverse these conditions. Yes, you can make dietary and exercise changes to help improve things… but what do these things improve?
BLOOD FLOW!... and YOUR ENDOTHELIAL HEALTH!
By focusing on the direct and true causes you stand a much better chance at helping your body improve blood flow and your Endo health. This is critical to understanding what can and cannot directly help you overcome ED.
Anything that supports Endo health, and/or improves blood flow is the place to look for direct ways to improve your erectile quality.