Men who are sedentary, overweight, smokers, drinkers, diabetics, and with other health problems are likelier to experience ED than are men who are active, don’t smoke, and have a generally healthy lifestyle. The good news is, by working on a healthier lifestyle, you can improve erection health as well.
Erectile dysfunction (ED) may be caused specifically by lack of adequate blood flow to the genitals, but the condition is also influenced by many health conditions and lifestyle factors.
While men who have diabetes or who smoke may take ED drugs like Viagra successfully, those who make the effort to address lifestyle factors that may be contributing to their ED can get even better results. In some cases, lifestyle changes alone can make a significant difference in erectile functioning. Here are 8 types of men with a higher risk of erectile dysfunction. Are you one of them?
1. Sedentary Men
Regular exercise is one of the best things a man can do for his overall health, including erectile health. By exercising regularly, a man can cut his risk for heart disease, lower cholesterol levels, lose excess weight, have better control over blood glucose levels, and relieve stress. The Department of Health and Human Services’ physical activity guidelines for Americans were developed in 2008 and have been upheld ever since. The guidelines say that adults should get 30 minutes of exercise per day, five or more days per week. Exercise should include “a variety of moderate and vigorous activities, as well as muscle-strengthening activities.” Don’t worry if you can’t fit that much exercise in right now. Any exercise is better than none.
2. Men Who Are Overweight or Obese
Excess weight itself may not cause erectile dysfunction, but it puts men at a greatly increased risk of vascular disease, which is one of the best-known causes of ED, according to the American Urological Association. Being overweight or obese can also contribute to psychological factors that can aggravate ED, like lower self-esteem. Losing excess weight safely through a healthy diet and regular exercise can improve ED, and in men who take medications for erectile dysfunction, losing excess weight can help those medications work better.
3. Smokers
Everyone knows the litany of bad health effects caused by smoking. But not everyone is aware that smoking can lead to or worsen erectile dysfunction. By reducing blood flow throughout the body, smoking can compromise blood flow to the penis, making it more difficult to attain an erection. Smoking also increases heart disease risk, which is another major contributor to ED. If you smoke, you already know it’s bad for you and all the reasons you should quit. If the prospect of more satisfying sex is what gets you to put down the cigarettes for good, then it’s as good a motivator as any.
4. Diabetics With Poor Glucose Control
Men with diabetes (whether type 1 or type 2) are two to three times as likely as a non-diabetics to develop erectile dysfunction, and this is particularly noticeable in men under age 45 (an age where incidence of ED increases in general with age). Men with poorly controlled diabetes take a double hit to their erectile health. When blood glucose levels are not controlled properly, small blood vessels and nerves develop cumulative damage. Damage to nerves controlling sexual stimulation and response can lead to erectile dysfunction, as can reduced blood flow due to blood vessel damage. Controlling diabetes can help men deal with ED more effectively, whether they use prescription medications like Viagra or not.
5. Men Who Overindulge with Alcohol
Drinking to excess can lead to numerous serious health issues, including increased risk for certain cancers, high blood pressure, liver disease, and erectile dysfunction. Excess drinking can have both short term and long term effects on erectile functioning. Short term, overindulging can cause temporary inability to achieve or maintain an erection. Long term alcohol abuse generally impairs bodily functions and causes poorer overall health, and the result can be erectile dysfunction. If you believe you have a drinking problem, it’s important that you bring it up with your doctor, whether your primary complaint is erectile dysfunction or something else, so you can learn what resources for help are available to you.
6. Men With High Cholesterol
High cholesterol is an extremely common problem, and doctors can help you address it in many ways. The reason men with high cholesterol are more prone to erectile dysfunction is that high cholesterol levels damage the linings of blood vessels throughout the body. High cholesterol can be lowered through a healthy diet, regular exercise, and in some cases taking prescription medications. In some cases, getting high cholesterol levels down can itself improve erectile function. Furthermore getting cholesterol under control reduces your risk for heart problems, and heart problems are a main contraindication for ED drugs like Viagra.
7. Illicit Drug Users
The side effects of illicit drug use affect the entire body, including its sexual machinery. Long term opioid abuse is associated with erectile dysfunction, and many other illicit substances affect the urological system and, indirectly, erectile function. Ketamine and marijuana are associated with urological problems, and excessive use of cough medicines can lead to stones in the urological tract – hardly a great prelude to enjoyable sex.
Amyl nitrate, a street drug that often goes by the name “poppers,” is one that men need to be particularly wary of when it comes to sex. These drugs are inhaled and cause brief intoxication with feelings of giddiness, lower inhibitions, and heightened sensory awareness. They work in a manner similar to prescription erectile dysfunction drugs, and when taken along with ED medications, the results can be disastrous. Blood pressure can drop precipitously, and can be life-threatening.
8. Men With Excessive Stress or Anxiety
Your brain has significant influence over your sexual enjoyment. For one thing, the brain orchestrates the series of physical events that result in an erection, and when that is interfered with, the result can be erectile dysfunction. Excessive stress over time can cause physical problems, but in the short term it can lead to a downward cycle of performance anxiety with sex that can be difficult to break out of. Learning how to manage stress can help you address erectile dysfunction, whether or not you are prescribed ED medications.
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