Four Ways To Combat Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED), also known as impotence, affects about 40 percent of men in their 40s, rising by an additional ten percent with every decade that passes. While erectile dysfunction is often characterized as a minor embarrassment, many men who suffer from it can find impotence totally debilitating, causing stress, depression, and relationship problems. Luckily, there are several treatments and lifestyle changes that can help to improve erectile dysfunction, or in some cases, eliminate it entirely.

Several studies have demonstrated that high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and excess body fat all have a severely negative effect on erections. In one trial, a group of overweight impotent men was separated into two groups. One group lost an average of 33 lbs over two years, while the control group stayed overweight. Only 5 percent of the men in the control group had restored erectile function at the end of the study, while 31 percent of the men in the weight loss group had their erectile function restored. That’s a one in three chance of curing erectile function simply through weight loss.

The positive effect of losing weight on erectile dysfunction is probably a combination of two factors. Not only does excess fat put an increased strain on the heart and vascular system, but it also has a negative effect on a man’s self-image and body confidence. So a weight loss regime may help to treat your ED whether it’s physical, mental, or a combination of both.

If you suffer from erectile dysfunction, you should consider reducing or eliminating any alcohol and tobacco from your diet. Both of these substances are known to constrict the body’s blood vessels and reduce the flow of blood around the body. One Australian study found that men who smoked more than a pack of cigarettes per day were about 40 percent more likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction than non-smokers. Interestingly, the same study found that moderate alcohol consumption (less than four drinks per day) actually reduced the chances of erectile dysfunction. So you don’t have to cut out beer entirely. Simply cutting back may be enough to do the trick.

The underlying cause of erectile dysfunction is quite commonly psychological, not physical. According to some studies, 58 percent of men who sort counseling for their ED saw an improvement in their ability to get and maintain an erection. Stress, anxiety, and depression are all believed to be contributing factors to impotence, and a good counselor or sex therapist should be able to help you with any psychological barriers stopping you from getting an erection.

Viagra hit the market more than two decades ago, and in that time it has helped millions of men to get an erection, sometimes for the first time in years. Since Viagra was launched, several other medications have also hit the market, each working in a slightly different way. You may have tried Viagra in the past and found that it doesn’t work for you, but that doesn’t mean that other medications won’t work. Tadalafil, Vardenafil, and Avanafil are the main three alternative drugs to Viagra.

Many of the problems associated with ED medicine in the past are no longer an issue. The high price of these drugs has now fallen, and many of them are produced by pharmaceutical companies in a cheaper generic form. For example, the generic version of Viagra is called Sildenafil, and it’s available for much cheaper than the name-brand version, despite being chemically identical.

Getting these medicines no longer necessitates an embarrassing visit to the doctor’s office either. Most online pharmacies can dispense ED medicine as long as you’ve got an online prescription, which you can obtain by filling out a quick medical history form on the pharmacy’s website. Depending on where you live, you may even be able to buy ED medication without any sort of prescription at all, as it’s sometimes available as an over-the-counter drug.

If you’ve tried all of the above, and you still don’t see an improvement in your ability to get or keep an erection, you should get yourself checked out by a doctor or medical professional as soon as possible. Erectile dysfunction can sometimes indicate more serious underlying medical issues such as heart disease, nerve damage, and diabetes. While the link between erectile dysfunction and these problems is comparatively rare, it’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your health.