The Top 5 Pieces of Advice for Men Living with Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile Dysfunction is a very common condition in men which prevents them from having or maintaining erections. The major causes of ED are physical conditions including diabetes, heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and even sleep disorders. Medication taken for health conditions can also result in erectile dysfunction. In this article, you will discover our top 5 pieces of advice for men living with ED.

See a Doctor

Erectile dysfunction is a very common occurrence among men. 42 percent of men over the age of 50 suffer from erectile dysfunction. While this percentage is high, what is shocking is that most men with this condition do not seek medical advice.

More often than not, a doctor can diagnose erectile dysfunction simply by taking a patient’s history and then completing a targeted physical exam. While there are countless drugs advertised on the internet for ‘curing’ erectile dysfunction, seeing a doctor remains the best option for treating ED.

Have Patience with Drugs

While there are numerous treatment methods for erectile dysfunction, drugs are prescribed by doctors more than others. If you get a prescription drug to treat erectile dysfunction, it means that the drug has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and works as stated.

Remember that stress and anxiety make symptoms of erectile dysfunction worse. So, if you are taking medications for ED, it is best to give the drug time to work. These drugs work, but erections don’t always happen on command.

A Healthy Lifestyle Can Change a Lot
 
Certain activities or lack of activity can have an impact on ED, so before trying medications or natural remedies for ED, a man could consider making some lifestyle changes.

• Exercise Regularly: Exercising is one of the most active ways of treating health conditions. Regular exercise improves blood pressure and blood flow which are important factors for erections. According to studies, men who walked for 30 minutes daily were 41 percent less likely to have erectile dysfunction.
   
• Quit Smoking: Men who are living with ED are advised to quit smoking which is one major cause of erectile dysfunction. Over a short period of time, the nicotine in the cigarette causes the blood vessels to constrict which is necessary for getting an erection. In the long-term, nicotine contributes to hardening of the arteries that can cause erectile dysfunction.
   
• Reduce Your Alcohol Intake or Stop: Alcohol is a depressant, not an aphrodisiac or a libido enhancer. Excessive consumption can interfere with the ability to achieve an erection at any age, and even occasional drinking can make erectile dysfunction worse in older men.
   
• Reducing Stress: A man can have issues with sexual performance if he is overly stressed. Stress can come from a variety of circumstances including work, finances, and relationship troubles. Finding ways to cope with these issues can help reduce stress and may improve ED.
   
• Stick to a Healthy Diet: Eating certain foods and avoiding others can help reduce or treat erectile dysfunction. According to the Massachusetts Male Aging Study, men whose diet contained plenty of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and fish — with little red meat and processed grains — were less likely to experience erectile dysfunction.

Your Partner Can Be the Game Changer

It is important for the partner of a man with erectile dysfunction to talk about the problem with him. The care and concern of a partner is often the reason a man seeks medical advice and counseling.

Having a conversation with your partner should be the very first step to take if you begin showing symptoms of ED. Your partner should be aware of the situation –most relationships have ended because of a lack of communication about such conditions. Start with your own feelings about the situation, and what can be done.

Partners can give valuable support throughout the treatment process. With a good understanding of the problem and how the treatment should work, couples can work together to bring about a positive result for their relationship.

Erectile dysfunction: A possible warning sign of serious disease

Erectile dysfunction is a major cause for worry, however, men should know that ED is barely a warning sign for an even more serious condition. According to Dr. Timothy Boone, the chairman of the department of urology at the Methodist Hospital in Houston most men do not realize that ED is a warning sign of potential cardiovascular disease.

People with diabetes are at greater risk of developing atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. The condition is caused by a buildup of plaque on the blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrition to the heart. This plaque can restrict blood flow and poor blood flow is the number one cause of ED.

The levels of sugar in the blood has a direct effect on the body’s production of Nitrous Oxide (Nitrous oxide is responsible for maintaining an erection, it keeps the penis firm). This means that the level of nitrous oxide will drop if blood sugar levels are not well managed.

According to Dr. Boone’s statistics, nearly 80 percent of men living with diabetes develop ED, compared to nearly 25 percent of those who do not have the disease. Normally, erectile dysfunction occurs in men over age 65, but it tends to occur on average 10 to 15 years earlier for men with diabetes. Erectile dysfunction affects more than 300 million men worldwide between the ages of 40 and 70.

In the past, people believed that 90 percent of erectile dysfunction cases psychological and 10 percent physical, however, those figures are reversed. So, if one shows symptoms of ED, you can try erectile dysfunction tablets on special occasions, but it is best to run go for tests to decipher the actual cause of erectile dysfunction. Addressing the cause of ED will not only increase your chances of reversing the effects of ED but ensure you live a healthy life.

This is a guest blog entry.