In
this longitudinal study, researchers analyzed 765 men between the ages
of 35 and 80 in Australia, with the majority of the men on the older end
of the
spectrum. The researchers used a questionnaire to collect data on their sexual desire, sexual activity, and sexual preferences. Then they assessed the men’s erectile function using another questionnaire. The participants were also asked about their overall health—things like weight, alcohol intake, physical activity, depression, and sleep. When they followed up with these men after five years, they found that the guys whose habits and health improved over time tended to see an improvement in sexual function.
spectrum. The researchers used a questionnaire to collect data on their sexual desire, sexual activity, and sexual preferences. Then they assessed the men’s erectile function using another questionnaire. The participants were also asked about their overall health—things like weight, alcohol intake, physical activity, depression, and sleep. When they followed up with these men after five years, they found that the guys whose habits and health improved over time tended to see an improvement in sexual function.
And
although this study mostly looked at older men, erectile issues
commonly occur in younger men, too, says Darius Paduch, M.D., urologist
and male sexual medicine specialist at New York-Presbyterian/Weill
Cornell Medical Center. He has plenty of patients in their thirties and
forties, “and with them, I suggest they make changes in their
lifestyles,” says Paduch. He warns that sexual dysfunction in men is
often caused by something that is also life threatening—namely,
cardiovascular problems. “I’ve seen patient’s sexual function improve
with healthy lifestyle changes and consistent healthy habits,” says
Paduch. “These men are often able to go off of medication without seeing
a decrease in their sexual function.”
Here, five modifiable factors that can improve a guy’s erections without a prescription:
Weight
Maintaining a healthy BMI may help your guy get his mojo back. Men who are obese have much lower testosterone levels, “which obviously plays a major part in sexual function,” says Paduch. For that reason, he first suggests men change their diets and lose weight when they are having erectile issues.
Maintaining a healthy BMI may help your guy get his mojo back. Men who are obese have much lower testosterone levels, “which obviously plays a major part in sexual function,” says Paduch. For that reason, he first suggests men change their diets and lose weight when they are having erectile issues.
Sleep
If
you notice your man’s morning wood has gone MIA, it might be because of
his sleep patterns. “When I see a patient with ED, I ask his partner
if he snores. If they say yes, I have him evaluated for sleep apnea,”
says Paduch. This is because sleep apnea will interrupt your sleep
cycle, affecting the normal cycles of erections that happen during the
night. Of course, sleep deprivation affects sex drive as well so Paduch
urges his patients to get enough shuteye each night.
Exercise
You
know that fit women have much better sex, but the same is true for
guys. “A few weeks ago a patient told me that when he goes to the gym
regularly, his sex drive is much better and if he stops, it goes down,”
recalls Paduch. Of course, physical activity is a great way to lose weight and
decrease obesity, but it also helps a guy feel better about himself,
making him feel even more confident with his clothes off. Plus, a great
sweat session will boost his testosterone, which can help rev up his
desire.
Diet
You
might want to skip the latest comfort food joint on date night in favor
of these better-sex foods. Lowering cholesterol can help increase a
man’s testosterone levels, so diet is crucial when it comes to sexual
function. Plus, high sugar levels in men with diabetes can affection the
function of the nerves in his penis, says Paduch. In these cases,
simply losing weight can help with sugar control and get the signals to
these nerves going again.
Alcohol Intake
Surprisingly,
a little alcohol can actually help men with ED. One to two drinks a day
decreases the risk of cardiovascular problems—a major cause of ED.
However, don’t let him go overboard. Animal studies have shown that high
volumes of alcohol caused the penis to contract, says Paduch, which is
the opposite of what should be going on during sexual arousal (but, you
knew that already). “Alcohol is a suppressant, and the suppression of
the central nervous system will cause a decrease in sensitivity to
sexual cues,” Paduch adds.
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