5 Tips on Reducing Symptoms of Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction is one of the most common male medical conditions. If you are experiencing problems in the bedroom, you may feel the urge to keep it to yourself. There is no need to stay quiet because there are millions of men experiencing the same thing. The International Journal of Impotence Research estimates that the worldwide prevalence of ED is expected to increase to 322 million by 2025. ¹

Around one in ten men are estimated to have ED at some point during their life, so it is likely a man in your life has experienced the same symptoms as you. The quicker you convey your symptoms to your doctor, the quicker you will be back to normal. Erectile dysfunction treatment may be prescribed to assist in your symptoms and improve your sex life. Medications are helpful, but there are several habits and lifestyle changes that may assist in your ED. Read on to learn more.

Stick to One or Two Beers

One or two drinks can bring that much-needed relaxed feeling after a stressful day, but you may want to stop there. Research has found that too much alcohol can affect the brain as well as the penis. Sober men can achieve an erection more quickly than intoxicated men, and some men cannot achieve an erection at all after heavy drinking.

Binge drinking involves drinking several alcoholic beverages in a short period. This type of drinking has the most negative side effect on the body and can directly affect your sexual health. Moderate drinking, which is two drinks a day for a man, is better than binge drinking, but men with ED problems may want to avoid booze for a while and see if it makes a difference in their sex life.

Excessive alcohol use can have a domino effect on a man’s life. Those who drink are more likely to partake in the occasional cigarette, which can also cause symptoms of erectile dysfunction. Alcoholism can also wreak havoc on personal relationships, so if you need help abstaining from alcohol, you can talk to your doctor about treatment options. ²

Get Your Body Moving

Keeping your body weight in a healthy BMI (body mass index) range can improve male sexual health. If you are overweight, you are more likely to experience several health problems like type 2 diabetes and plaque build-up in the arteries.

If your blood sugar regularly spikes due to high sugar in the bloodstream, the body may become unable to produce enough insulin to carry sugar from the bloodstream to the cells. This causes type 2 diabetes and the many complications that come with it. If you live with diabetes for a long time, you may experience nerve damage. Diabetic neuropathy can lead to nerve damage in the legs and feet. Around 50 percent of people with diabetes will experience this complication. ³

This complication can be disabling and may affect a man’s reproductive system. The nerve damage can cause erectile dysfunction and make it difficult for a man to achieve an erection, even with ED treatment. To avoid complications of obesity or being overweight, it is essential to find an activity you enjoy. This may take several tries, but finding an exercise you like can make the transition into an active lifestyle much easier. You may want to start your weight loss journey with walks around your neighborhood and expand your routine as you get more comfortable.

 

Throw Out the Cigarettes

Smoking can affect a man's sex life in several ways. Much like type 2 diabetes, smoking cigarettes can significantly affect your blood vessels and how they function. The chemicals in cigarettes damage the lining of the blood vessels. Men who smoke are twice as likely to develop erectile dysfunction than those who do not smoke. Smoking affects the circulation of the body and makes it more difficult to get an erection.

Quitting smoking is often extremely hard, and you may need your doctor's help to kick the habit finally. Once you stop smoking, your health improves immediately, so it is in your best interest to throw out the cigarettes for good. Studies have found that the circulation in the body improves within two to 12 weeks after smoking, which can positively affect your ED symptoms. ⁴ Some helpful tips for quitting smoking can include:

• Asking your doctor about medications that can help you quit (if you smoke more than nine cigarettes a day)
• Change your routines to avoid situations that make you want to smoke
• Remind yourself of the benefits of not smoking, like improved ED symptoms
• Get plenty of exercise
• Seek the support of friends, family, and co-workers
• Spend more time in places that do not permit smoking

Try Sex Therapy

Erectile dysfunction is a complicated disorder because it often comes with mental consequences as well as physical symptoms. For some men, there may be no physical reason behind their ED symptoms. In this case, sex therapy may be a great treatment option.

Sex therapy is typically a short-term form of counseling. Generally, a man with ED may go to five to 20 sessions with a sex therapist. In these sessions, a therapist can help you address possible reasons why your psychological ED is occurring. Stress from work, financial worries, relationship conflicts, and poor sexual communication are common reasons behind mental ED.

Research has found the most successful sex therapy occurs when a man’s partner also participates in the treatment. If your partner is involved in the therapy, the stress-related ED resolves itself 50 to 70 percent of the time. It may seem embarrassing to reveal your personal life to a stranger but know that sex therapists hear about these issues all the time and want to help you.

Strengthen Your Pelvic Floor

You may think pelvic floor exercises are for women, but that is not the case. Kegel exercises can significantly improve erectile dysfunction symptoms. If you strengthen the muscles surrounding and supporting the genital area, it can assist the penis in obtaining and maintaining an erection. But how do men do Kegels? Before you seek the help of medications or therapy, you may want to try this simple exercise.

1. Lay on your back with your knees bent and pointing upwards
2. Try to draw your penis inwards towards your body and hold for at least five seconds
3. Release the hold
4. Squeeze the anus muscles as if you are trying to stop a bowel movement and hold for 5 seconds, then release
5. Repeat these steps eight to ten times for three to five sets

Pelvic floor muscles may not work for every man, but you should give it a try because a healthy pelvic floor is always a good thing. Kegels, along with erectile dysfunction pills may significantly improve your ED symptoms, so visit mailMymeds' erectile dysfunction blog to learn more today.

The content in this article is intended for informational purposes only. This website does not provide medical advice. In all circumstances, you should always seek the advice of your physician and/or other qualified health professionals(s) for drug, medical condition, or treatment advice. The content provided on this website is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.