written by
Anne Truong

Understanding the Limitations of Taking Medications for Your Condition

podcast ED performance 4 min read

Have you ever taken a medication to treat a condition only to find that the symptoms return once the medication is discontinued?

This episode will investigate why taking medications does not necessarily eradicate the underlying condition. Additionally, I will discuss strategies for managing chronic conditions in the long-term.

Episode Video

Let Me Tell You A Story

ed consultation

Taking medication does not really cure your condition. Sometimes it can actually make it worse and you might just be misunderstanding that you're feeling much better.

Last week, I was seeing a patient, let's call him Dan. Dan came to see me for his ED. He is 68 years old and had an ED for about five years. He tells me that he also has high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. He's taking two medications for his blood pressure, two medications for diabetes, and one medication for his cholesterol.

When I ask him how long he has had high blood pressure and high cholesterol. He answered, "No, I don't have it. I took medication, and I don't have high blood pressure, high cholesterol anymore. My blood looks good, as well as my diabetes". He said "My blood sugar, my hemoglobin A1C is about 7, but it used to be 10. But I don't have diabetes anymore. I don't have high blood pressure and high cholesterol."

Now, is he correct in saying that? That he doesn't have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes anymore? But the thing is, he continued to have his ED. When he takes Viagra or Cialis, it used to work. But now, after a couple of years, it doesn't do anything. The last time he said he had an erection was at least about two years ago. He and his wife had not had intercourse in at least two years. That's why he came to see me seeking help.

During the Consultation

The first thing I usually do when I see a patient with ED is to get a really good history. To see what he's tried. And what I find out in most of the patients I see is they've tried at least two medications. They thought that the medication would help but it didn't get better.

Most of the time after medication, for maybe 1 to 3 years, it doesn't work anymore. Why is it that it doesn't work anymore? Because the problem that was causing him to have an ED was never addressed. He thinks that because he takes medication for high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, and diabetes, he no longer has that condition. Well, that is farthest from the truth.

Why Taking Medication Does Not Cure Your Condition?

medication

This is often misunderstood by many people. The idea that taking medication doesn't make the underlying condition go away. Many people assume that if you take a medication, they're good and have nothing to worry about.

Medication is only designed to treat the symptoms of a condition or illness. They do not necessarily cure the underlying problem.

For example, if you have high blood pressure, taking blood pressure medication will lower your blood pressure and prevent complications such as a heart attack or a stroke. But it doesn't necessarily cure the root cause of why you have high blood pressure. Why is that? Because if you don't take the medication anymore, your condition will return and sometimes it may even worsen.

Not all medication work the same for everyone. Some need a different kind of medication and a combination of medication.

We know that if you change your diet, your exercise, and stress, you can actually affect your blood pressure. So even if you take medication, you should still work on your diet, exercise, and stress management.

I have seen that happen where I will see a man for ED. I advise him that he change his diet. Stop the processed food, stop the carbs, exercise more, sleep better, and stop smoking. After it, we see his testosterone levels increase. We see his erection increase. His morning erection has returned and he's able to get a better erection.

When Can Medication Cure A Condition?

There are instances where you take a medication and it does cure the condition. Such an instance is when you have an infection of bacteria. You take an antibiotic and the antibiotic eliminates the bacterial infection. The infection is gone and the person is considered cured.

But medication is not a cure-all thing and taking medication is just one part of an overall treatment plan. You need to take an active role in managing your health and doing little things to treat your condition.

Just walking about 30 minutes a day will go a long way, not only for your sexual health but also for your general health and longevity.

Final Thoughts

Just by doing just a few things that really move the needle significantly will help you in treating your condition. There are many conditions where taking medication does not cure the underlying problem, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and asthma. The most effective way to manage these chronic conditions is through a healthy diet, exercise, and lifestyle modification.

Additional Resources

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