Can drinking too much soda cause erectile dysfunction?

You know what they say: Nothing good in life is good for you. This goes double for soda, the sickly sweet beverage that millions of men across the world swear by. Whether it’s the neon green Mountain Dew or the more subdued Coca-Cola, soda drinkers drink the syrupy liquid refreshment with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. But while the occasional pop never killed anyone, can the same be said about habitual soda drinking? After all, with soda chock full of sugar, all that sweetness can’t be good for the body, or for the erection. But does drinking soda cause erectile dysfunction?

Like all exceedingly sugary things in life, soda is meant to be enjoyed in moderation. This is because sugar not only packs on the pounds, but it can also mess with your heart. And for this reason, drinking too much soda really can cause erectile dysfunction.

The erection depends upon a steady flow of blood to function properly. Should blood flow to the penis falter, this can lead to missed erections and, eventually, erectile dysfunction. When a man regularly drinks soda, the sugary sweetness can actually clog up arteries and prevent proper blood flow to the penis.

This is because the small arteries in the body are always the first affected by artery clogging, and there are no smaller arteries in the body then the batch that lead to the penis. As a result, by ritually drinking soda, this cluster of arteries becomes obstructed, leading to blood struggling to reach the penis, causing erectile dysfunction.

That’s not to say that one or two sodas a week will guarantee erectile dysfunction. But daily consumption of soda can put a man on the fast track to a wider waistline, type 2 diabetes, and, yes, erectile dysfunction.

What are the warning signs of erectile dysfunction?

Like the worst things in life, erectile dysfunction always seems to strike at the most inopportune time, arriving without warning to totally ruin your sex life. But what if that erectile dysfunction isn’t arriving without warning? After all, many body affecting issues are precipitated by warning signs of some kind; i.e., tingling in the arms before a heart attack, numbness in the face before a stroke, etc. Working from this logic, shouldn’t erectile dysfunction have some telltale signs to alert a man that the affliction is right around the corner? If so, what are the warning signs of erectile dysfunction?

Unfortunately, as much as man wish it were true, there simply aren’t any warning signs for ED. The issue tends to crop up unexpectedly, and the body does not offer any white flags to alert the body that the issue is on the horizon.

But while ED doesn’t have any tried and true warning signs, erectile dysfunction itself can serve as a warning sign for its root cause. You see, by paying attention to your ED, a man can actually get some insight into what is causing the ED, and then seek appropriate help.

Erectile dysfunction breaks down into two categories: Physical and mental. ED that is physical in nature is typically caused by issues related to the heart; i.e. weakened blood output, blocked arteries, etc. If the ED is related to a physical issue, the man will incapable of achieving an erection even while unconscious. If the man never wakes up with an erection, this is an indication the root cause is physical.

But if the man struggles to achieve an erection during intercourse, but often finds himself waking up with an erection, this indicates the root cause is mental in nature. This means the body is physically capable of producing an erection, but a mental hang-up (depression, anxiety, guilt, etc.) is causing the men to not be able to achieve an erection consciously.

So, no, you won’t be able to look for telltale clues to let you know when ED is coming. But by paying attention when it rears its ugly head, you’ll be able to shake it off that much quicker.

I’ve heard that men with a Vitamin D deficiency are at a higher risk of developing erectile dysfunction. Is this true?

Odds are, if you’ve heard the term “Vitamin D,” it was in a commercial. As the cheery woman in the commercial angles the body of juice towards the camera, she offers a big smile and yelps “It’s a great source of Vitamin D!” And while having plenty of Vitamin D in something sounds good, most men would be hard pressed to tell you what exactly Vitamin D does. But this mystery Vitamin is actually important to the body, and men looking to avoid erectile dysfunction would be wise to learn what it is and how to get it.

In technical terms, Vitamin D is a secosteroid that aids the body in increasing intestinal absorption of vital chemicals such as calcium and iron. With plenty of Vitamin D in the body, these chemicals get absorbed properly and assist in pumping and moving blood.

But when a man is Vitamin D deficient, the body will not have the proper levels of Vitamin D acquired chemicals, which can lead to issues relating to the heart (i.e. heart disease, heart attacks, congestive heart failure, etc.)

In relation, when the heart begins to suffer due to a lack of Vitamin D intake, this can lead to issues with the penis. As the heart falters, blood output will slow and the arteries will begin to harden, making it difficult for the body to supply parts of the body with the blood needed for tasks such as erections. As the body continues to struggle with heart issues, the small cluster of arteries near the penis can harden to the point that the required blood for an erection can no longer be received, leading to erectile dysfunction.

Thankfully, Vitamin D is remarkably easy to get. Aside from the Vitamin D rich rays of the sun, this little vitamin can be found in foods such as eggs, mushrooms, salmon, milk, and small servings of pork and beef.

While it can be easy to not think about your Vitamin D levels, men definitely want to avoid the pitfalls that come with Vitamin D deficiency. So make sure to get plenty of that healthy vitamin and your life, and your heart, and by association your erection, should be just fine.

I have recently turned 60, and I now find it difficult to achieve an erection. Is it normal to struggle to achieve an erection at my age?

Some things are inevitable in aging: Wrinkles, creaky bones, getting the senior discount at the movie theater. But while many aspects of aging are set in stone, there is one malady that men seem torn over: Erectile dysfunction. For many men, ED is seen as a normal aspect of aging, as inescapable as white hair. For others, erectile dysfunction is not definitive, and can be kept at bay until the day a man dies. So which camp is right exactly? Will you develop erectile dysfunction once you hit a special age, or is ED avoidable as you age?

Ultimately, it all depends upon how you have lived your life. While ED is typically developed as men age, this is only because the body has been conditioned to develop this issue; if a man makes the right health choices, a man’s erection can stay healthy and strong until he kicks the bucket.

This is because the erection is reliant upon the heart’s ability to supply a steady stream of blood. If the heart is performing properly, blood will be quickly and efficiently sent to the penis, allowing the penis to engorge and become an erection.

If a man makes poor health choices, such as consistently eating poorly and not exercising, the heart and associated blood vessels will begin to degrade with age. This will cause blood output to slow, eventually leading to the man no longer being able to achieve an erection.

That’s not to say that a lifetime of bad choices guarantees that man will develop erectile dysfunction as soon as 60 rolls around. Rather, if a man makes positive changes in his life and works to stay heart healthy, it is possible to undo years of damage to the heart and keep your ticker pumping as it should.

Sure, as you age, probably the last thing you’re going to want to do is work out and eat greens, but being healthy could be the only thing that stands between losing or keeping your erection.

Can tight underwear cause premature ejaculation?

There are two kinds of men in life: Those that swear by boxers, and those that swear by underwear. Men are fiercely loyal to what they put on under their pants, and the difference between the two has sparked many a drunken debate between men over which is better. Sure, boxers are looser and less constricting, but underwear keeps everything situated. While the debate over the superior underwear rages, another underwear conversation refuses to be settled; namely, does wearing tight underwear cause premature ejaculation?

The story goes that men that wear tight underoos are at a higher chance of developing premature ejaculation, while men in boxers stand less of a chance of developing the embarrassing problem thanks to the relaxed fit of their underwear. But this has led to intense debate over the validity of this old wives’ tale; after all, how could tight underwear affect your sexual performance?

Well, it’s time to settle this debate once and for all. To be clear, wearing tight underwear will not put a man at a higher risk of developing premature ejaculation. But that’s not to say that tight underwear can’t affect a man’s sexual performance in other ways.

It has been found that tight underwear can cause infertility, due to the underwear consistently pulling the testicles too close to the body, which causes the heat of the body to slowly “cook” the sperm in the testicles. Testicles are meant to hang away from the body, so constant closeness to the body will have an adverse effect on a man’s sperm count. If a man goes years and years rocking tighty whities, eventually his sperm count could pay the price.

So no, tight underwear will not affect your ability to last in bed. But it just might affect your ability to produce children. As such, either wear less constricting underwear, or make the switch to boxers, and your sperm count should be just fine.

Can tight underwear cause premature ejaculation?

There are two kinds of men in life: Those that swear by boxers, and those that swear by underwear. Men are fiercely loyal to what they put on under their pants, and the difference between the two has sparked many a drunken debate between men over which is better. Sure, boxers are looser and less constricting, but underwear keeps everything situated. While the debate over the superior underwear rages, another underwear conversation refuses to be settled; namely, does wearing tight underwear cause premature ejaculation?

The story goes that men that wear tight underoos are at a higher chance of developing premature ejaculation, while men in boxers stand less of a chance of developing the embarrassing problem thanks to the relaxed fit of their underwear. But this has led to intense debate over the validity of this old wives’ tale; after all, how could tight underwear affect your sexual performance?

Well, it’s time to settle this debate once and for all. To be clear, wearing tight underwear will not put a man at a higher risk of developing premature ejaculation. But that’s not to say that tight underwear can’t affect a man’s sexual performance in other ways.

It has been found that tight underwear can cause infertility, due to the underwear consistently pulling the testicles too close to the body, which causes the heat of the body to slowly “cook” the sperm in the testicles. Testicles are meant to hang away from the body, so constant closeness to the body will have an adverse effect on a man’s sperm count. If a man goes years and years rocking tighty whities, eventually his sperm count could pay the price.

So no, tight underwear will not affect your ability to last in bed. But it just might affect your ability to produce children. As such, either wear less constricting underwear, or make the switch to boxers, and your sperm count should be just fine.

Can I take Viagra with alcohol?

Sex can often be a very spur-of-the-moment activity. One moment, you’re sitting and chatting with an attractive person, and the next you’re slinging your clothes around the room as you jump between the sheets. Oftentimes, this spur-of-the-moment activity can be brought on by alcohol. After a drink or three, people tend to throw their inhibitions to the wind, leading to impromptu boot knocking. But for men that suffer from erectile dysfunction, alcohol-induced intercourse can be a little trickier. After all, how is a man reliant upon ED drugs such as Viagra supposed to get ready? Is it safe to have another drink while popping one of those little blue pills? Men everywhere want to know: Can Viagra be taken with alcohol?

Short answer: No. Long answer: Definitely no. While it is true that drinking can lead to sexual situations, utilizing ED drugs while drinking is unwise. This is because erectile aids such as Viagra is still a drug, and drugs, be it over-the-counter or prescription, are not intended for consumption with alcohol.

This is due to the fact that both booze and Viagra lower your blood pressure. If you were to take Viagra while consuming alcohol, your body’s blood pressure levels could drop to a dangerous level. When a man’s blood pressure levels drop too low, he can begin to experience headaches, light-headedness, fainting, and even potentially deadly heart palpitations.

So if it comes time to get down to business in the boudoir after a few drinks, leaving Viagra and other ED drugs out of the equation. It might improve your sexual function, but it could also prove very dangerous.

Can consuming Yohimbe bark really help with erectile dysfunction?

As long as there has been erectile issues, there have been those that turn to Mother Earth to fight back. Before the rise of erectile drugs, natural solutions such as leaves, roots, and teas were offered by healers that promised to solve men’s erectile woes and make them dynamite in bed. While we now know that natural solutions to ED aren’t foolproof, there are still many that swear by a natural remedy for this age-old problem derived from the bark of a tree. Yes, there are many that claim the bark from the Yohimbe tree is the perfect natural solution for ED.

For a little backstory, the Yohimbe is found primarily in Central Africa. With a full name of the Pausinystalia yohimbe tree, healers and shamans have been turning to the bark of the Yohimbe tree for generations, marketing the rough bark as a cure-all for everything from baldness to weight gain. But in recent years, yohimbe has caught on as a supplement for sexual function. The bark of the tree is ground up and sold at health stores around the world, but as marketing yohimbe as a sexual aid is illegal in the United States, it is marketed as a dietary supplement.

“Wait,” you might be saying, “it’s illegal to market yohimbe for sexual aid? Why’s that?” Despite many swearing by the bark, extensive research has found insufficient evidence in yohimbe’s effectiveness at treating erectile dysfunction.

Proponents for the bark point to the yohimbe bark’s ability to open up blood vessels, which assists the body in achieving an erection. But thorough research has not found any connection between the consumption of yohimbe supplements and improved erectile function.

So, despite all the hoopla, yohimbe is not a miracle ED curing natural supplement. If you want to beat ED, it’s best to stick with eating well, staying active, and good, old-fashioned modern medicine.

I struggle with controlling my bladder. Lately, I’ve also had problems with premature ejaculation. Could these two issues be related?

Imagine the body as a giant, complex machine. Much like a machine, the body is made up of thousands of tiny parts, each tasked with a job that helps the bigger picture. But, much like a machine, should one small part in the body experience issues, it can lead to larger problems. If a cog were to falter, this could lead to a grandfather clock becoming unable to toll it’s bell; in the same way, if your urethra begins to experience issues, it can lead to bigger problems down the line.

Incontinence, or the involuntary leakage of urine, is an issue commonly associated with older men, but it actually affects men of all ages. While many mark incontinence as an issue that develops with aging, the truth is that urinary leakage is not a result of getting a little grayer; rather, it all boils down to the urethra.

The urethra regulates all output related to the penis. In simple terms, think of the urethra as the doorman of the penis. When needed, it will open the doors and let whatever needs to go out go out. But if the urethra experiences issues, it will begin to struggle to keep things in; instead, it will begin to just let everything out, regardless of the timing. This leads to urine being released at inopportune times, but it can also lead to premature ejaculation.

The urethra also plays a vital part in the ejaculation process. When needed, the urethra will utilize a set of muscles to pump semen out, thus allowing the erection to meet its needs. But when the urethra is having issues, the urethra will often pump semen early, much in the same way as urine.

So, yes, if you struggle with incontinence, the chances of developing premature ejaculation are high. Like a machine, one problem can often lead to other problems; that is, unless that first problem is fixed. So if you struggle with incontinence, work with your doctor to overcome this issue, before premature ejaculation becomes a serious issue.