He's a master at socializing outside, but he can't handle his wife at home.
**Article 19**
He's a master at socializing outside, but struggles to entertain his wife at home.
**Case Study**
**Name: Lü Li (pseudonym), 41 years old**
**Region: Zhengzhou, Henan**
**Occupation: Product Sales**
Mr. Lü, a middle-aged sales director at an IT company, frequently attends various social events, which inevitably lead to smoking and drinking. For salespeople, drinking and attending banquets are commonplace, and Mr. Lü has become accustomed to it. Despite the health risks, he chooses to continue this lifestyle for the sake of his family and career, planning to work for a few more years until his financial situation improves, at which point he will switch roles and take a proper rest.
But before Mr. Lü could even change jobs, he recently started to worry: the days of easily achieving a firm erection were gone; each time, despite great effort, he could only manage a short, limp erection. His wife suspected him of having an affair, but Mr. Lü considered himself to be very disciplined in his private life, with almost no hobbies other than smoking. Why would he be experiencing erectile dysfunction?
Dr. Li Hongjun, Chief Physician of Urology at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, states that erectile dysfunction is often caused by unhealthy lifestyle habits in men. Long-term smoking and drinking can cause local damage, leading to erectile dysfunction. Smoking, along with arteriosclerosis, diabetes, and hypertension, is a recognized risk factor for organic erectile dysfunction. A study from the University of Pretoria in South Africa found that 93% of erectile dysfunction patients were smokers. A study by the European Center for Erectile Dysfunction in Paris, involving 440 patients with erectile dysfunction and an average age of 46.8 years, found that 64% were smokers.
It is internationally recognized in the medical community that men who smoke due to emotional distress are prone to erectile dysfunction. Nicotine in cigarettes can damage sperm quality and cause erectile dysfunction, and its harm to male function is even greater than that of excessive alcohol consumption. Furthermore, emotional depression is also a contributing factor to erectile dysfunction. Therefore, men who frequently smoke to relieve stress should be wary of their sexual function. Men who smoke should quit immediately. Those with chronically negative moods can use traditional Chinese medicine to soothe the liver and relieve depression under the guidance of a doctor. At the same time, they should use antidepressants with caution, as most of these medications carry the risk of causing erectile dysfunction.
While small amounts of alcohol can enhance libido, excessive alcohol consumption can numb the senses, leading to decreased libido. Furthermore, long-term alcohol consumption is detrimental to the liver.
Men who drink alcohol are prone to erectile dysfunction because alcohol causes congestion in the prostate, making them more susceptible to prostatitis. Prostatitis, in turn, compresses the urethra, leading to symptoms such as urinary hesitancy and incomplete emptying. Furthermore, prostatitis itself can easily cause erectile dysfunction. Therefore, men who frequently drink alcohol and have many social engagements face the dual threat of erectile dysfunction and prostatitis. They must begin trying to quit drinking now, and if they experience difficulty urinating, they should see a doctor as soon as possible to screen for prostatitis and prevent the condition from worsening.
To alleviate erectile dysfunction, it is necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle, such as participating in more physical exercise, jogging for half an hour every day, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption.