Alcohol acts as a depressant on the nervous system. It can block messages from the brain to the body, affecting a man’s ability to maintain an erection. Short term, alcohol may prevent the blood vessels in the penis from closing once they are filled with blood. This means that a man may be able to become erect, but not to maintain the erection. Long-term, alcohol can cause damage to the blood vessels, and lead to hypertension and heart disease—two big risk factors for erectile dysfunction.

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