It used to be called impotence. But thanks to the proliferation of drug industry advertisements that now threaten to overwhelm our television programs, today we know it as erectile dysfunction, or, more discreetly, simply as E.D. Whatever you want to call it, though, it’s the man’s inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient to satisfy him or his partner during intercourse.

When it occurs in young men, it’s usually just a matter of momentary anxiety. In middle-aged men, it’s often caused by stress, guilt, or overwork. In fact, most men experience it at some point in their lives by age forty, though usually only briefly, and they are not psychologically affected by it.

But it gets more common with age, and for some men – as many as 30 million of them according to the drug companies – it occurs frequently and causes serious emotional and relationship problems.

In many cases, E.D. is due to the deterioration of the blood vessels that carry blood into the penis. A host of things can cause this deterioration, including nicotine, which narrows the blood vessels, excessive alcohol, and certain prescription drugs, notably antidepressants. Some physical problems can contribute to the deterioration, too, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity.

If you have difficulty getting an erection, get help. Discuss it with your partner, and consult your doctor, who will help you find the cause of your E.D. Treatment will, of course, depend on the cause. Though there are a number of mechanical devices that can help men get a better erection, including splints, rings, and pumps, it’s the E.D. drugs that have revolutionized the treatment of this problem. They work well for most men, and if one drug doesn’t work for you, try one of the others – but always work with a doctor’s guidance since the drugs can have significant side effects.

Do you or someone you know suffer from constant worrying?  Is it interfering with your life and relationships?

While it’s true that most people worry from time to time, worrying that is obsessive and intrusive in a person’s life may be a sign of a psychological problem called generalized anxiety disorder.

Individuals who suffer from GAD often worry most about social relationships with family, friends or coworkers but use negative methods to cope with those worries, ranging from over-nurturing to extreme detachment.

In the long run, these unhealthy coping mechanisms actually harm the relationships that the person is worried about.

A person with GAD may also worry incessantly about other problems such as work issues, money and health.

Mental symptoms of the disorder include difficulty concentrating, fatigue, irritability, trouble sleeping and restlessness while physical symptoms manifest themselves as muscle tension, shakiness, headaches and stomach problems.

GAD can manifest itself at any age, including childhood.  It occurs in women somewhat more frequently than men.

Most treatments for GAD involve cognitive behavioral therapy, which is usually successful for about 60 percent of people.  There are also certain prescriptions that can be administered by a doctor or psychiatrist.

According to scientists at the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research at The Rockefeller University in New York City, common pain killers may interfere with the function of some antidepressants.

More specifically non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which include ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen, can actually reduce the effectiveness of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, the most widely prescribed type of antidepressants. Popular SSRIs include name brands such as Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft.

This finding by Dr. Paul Greengard and his team is incredibly significant, because chronic pain is often a secondary characteristic of many depressive disorders, and the use of over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs is quite high among depressed people.

The discovery came about in the course of research led by Dr. Greengard and Dr. Jennifer Warner-Schmidt into the link between Alzheimer’s disease and depression.  I find it very exciting to see that Dr. Greengard and his colleagues are making headway in understanding the biology of this devastating disease.

It’s long been known that depression is often found in Alzheimer’s patients, but the implications of this new study affect far more than the 5.4 million Americans living with the disease.  Clinical depression has been diagnosed in nearly 19 million American adults – about 10 percent of the population.  This makes it one of the most commonly treated medical conditions.  Experts argue that the real number of people suffering from depression is even higher because depressive disorders often go undiagnosed or untreated.

Anti-depressants, in turn, have become the most commonly prescribed drugs in the US, and are prescribed more than drugs that treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, or headaches, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Of all the antidepressants available, SSRIs remain the most popular because they are typically safe, effective and less likely to cause unwanted side effects.

SSRIs work by blocking the reabsorption of serotonin in the brain, which aids brain cells in sending and receiving chemical messages and subsequently boosts a person’s mood. These drugs help correct chemical imbalances of depression patients, but according to Dr. Greengard’s team of scientists, that might be exactly why they become ineffective when taken with popular over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications.

Many patients have to switch antidepressants due to lack of effectiveness at some point during treatment. This latest finding illuminates one possible mechanism for medication failure, and I believe it will help doctors counsel patients better concerning the secondary side effects of SSRIs.

Personally, I know I’ll think twice in my own practice when treating patients taking SSRIs in combination with anti-inflammatory medications.

Like all significant medical findings, I have no doubt that there will be many more studies to follow. But my hope is that in the meantime, this study helps to open up the dialogue and reevaluate the course of action when it comes to treating depression, to improve the standard of care for these patients.