Is erectile dysfunction inevitable?

As a man gets older, there are some inevitabilities: Your joints are going to creak, your hearing will get worse, you’ll slow down. But is losing your erection one of those inevitabilities?

Unfortunately, yes. The day is going to come when you won’t be able to achieve an erection like you used to. But depending on how you live your life, when this inevitability strikes isn’t entirely set in stone.

Erectile dysfunction becomes increasingly common as you grow older, with a recent study from the National Institute of Health finding that 17% of men in their 60’s experience erectile dysfunction. So most men seem to think that erectile dysfunction will become a serious issue as they enter their 60’s, but the truth is that your lifestyle choices can drastically affect when it happens to you.

If you live a life of fast food, no exercise, smoking, and drinking to excess, erectile dysfunction could strike when you’re young. But if you look after your body, stay active, and eat well, it could be well into your golden years before your erection kicks the bucket.

That’s not to say a lifetime of neglect to your body can’t be undone. Making serious positive lifestyle changes later in life could help your chances at saving your erection. But the key is starting these lifestyle choices sooner rather than later; if you decide to make these changes in your 80’s, it will already be too late for your erection.

So, yes, ED is going to strike eventually. But it is entirely up to you when exactly it does strike.

How can I determine if I have erectile dysfunction?

Every man is going to have the occasional missed erection. Maybe you’re tired, or your mind is preoccupied, or you’re just not in the mood. It happens. But when you begin to see consistent missed erections, it can be easy to panic. You’ll run through the mental list of causes, combing through your memory to determine what recent events lead to this issue.

But it’s important to determine if you truly have erectile dysfunction or you’re just having an off day.

Thankfully, you don’t need to pay a costly doctor’s bill to determine if you have erectile dysfunction. There is a simple test that can be performed in the safety of your own home that can help to determine your erectile health.

Here’s how it’s done:

  1. Pick up some stamps: Stop by your local post office and grab a roll of stamps, the kind with dry glue on the back.
  2. Get ready: Before you go to bed, pull your flaccid penis through the fly in your underwear. Make sure your pubic hair is out of the way, and check to make sure the shaft of your penis is exposed and easily accessible.
  3. Apply the stamps: Moisten the stamps on the roll, and then wrap them around your penis. Make sure the stamps overlap, with no break in the chain. Once the stamps are secured, put your penis back in your sheets and go to bed.
  4. Check the results: When you awake, check to see if the ring of stamps have been broken. If the stamps are broken, that indicates that you had an erection in your sleep, and are capable of achieving an erection. If the stamps are unbroken, that indicates that you are unable to achieve an erection.

Once you’ve performed this test, you can then determine how best to address the issue. If you did not achieve an erection, that could indicate something is wrong physically with your erection, and a doctor should be consulted.

How can I talk to my partner about erectile dysfunction?

Communication can make or break a relationship. If you aren’t able to effectively talk with your partner, your relationship will suffer, and things will eventually fall apart. Whether it be about the firmness of your erection, what you want to do for dinner, or your feelings on the in-laws, communication is key.

But even the most seasoned of couples might find it a little difficult to open up when it comes to the subject of erectile health. It’s an incredibly personal subject, and many men will shy away from the subject, even if their ability to achieve an erection is suffering.

But erectile dysfunction affects both members of a relationship. Relationships require a healthy physical aspect, and erectile dysfunction can put a serious damper on this. When a couple is unable to connect on a sexual level, feelings can begin to bubble up that could place your relationship at risk.

Instead of suffering in silence, open up a dialogue about the issue. Talk about how the erectile dysfunction affects both of you, and open the floor for questions from both sides. Work together to determine the best way to overcome ED, be it from medication, weight loss, or an alternative solution. If you should decide to seek medical help, invite your partner to accompany you.

The ultimate goal of talking about erectile dysfunction is to build support. For a relationship to thrive, both parties need to feel as though their partner has their back. If you both clam up and simply let the problem get worse, it’s going to lead to a serious strain on the relationship.

So remember: If you’re a man suffering from ED, you’re not in it alone. Talk to your partner, open up, support one another, and you’ll get through this.

Can smoking cause erectile dysfunction?

Some men choose to smoke because they like having something to do with their hands. Some men choose to smoke because they started when they were young, and just can’t imagine stopping now. Whatever the reason, the truth is that lots of men choose to smoke, even though it is general knowledge that smoking is really, really bad for you. While some smokers can wave off the cries of “It will kill you!” by reasoning that they’re going to die eventually anyway, it’s a lot harder to ignore “It will make you lose your erection!”

Yes, it’s easy to write off the various health problems that smoking is known to cause, but no man can ignore potentially losing their beloved erection. Research has found that men who smoke are twice as likely to develop erectile dysfunction than nonsmokers. Furthermore, research has found that a whopping 20% of men who smoke will one day experience some form of erectile dysfunction.

This high percentage is due to the fact that smoking is notorious for narrowing your arteries, which plays a vital part in slowing blood flow to your erection. When your arteries are constricted, blood flow is greatly diminished. Your erection requires blood, and lots of it, to function properly. So when blood can’t quickly reach your penis, that means lots of missed erections.

“But 20% is kind of low,” you might reason. “Erectile dysfunction won’t happen to me! “

Erectile loss due to smoking is very real, and it afflicts many men. 20% of millions of smokers is still a very large number, so chances are good that you could one day be a part of this percentage.

So do yourself a favor and kick smoking to the curb. Your general health will improve, you’ll live longer, and your erection will be safe.

Is Watermelon really nature’s Viagra?

Medication, while useful, can get expensive. If you’re a man struggling with erectile dysfunction, it may seem like getting down to business in the bedroom is going to cost you a pretty penny. Surely there must be a natural solution to this issue? A friend told you that watermelon has Viagra-esque qualities, but you didn’t buy it. But to save a couple bucks, you’re willing to do anything.

So, should you toss out your ED medication and invest in a watermelon garden?

Well, the jury is still out on how effective watermelon is at overcoming erectile dysfunction, but it is true that watermelon does work similarly to Viagra and other established ED medication.

So how can watermelon help with your ED? It works like this: Watermelon is chock full of an amino acid called citrulline. When citrulline enters the body, it is converted into a new amino acid, called arginine.  This arginine is then distributed throughout the body, where it aids in blood vessel dilation. When your blood vessels are dilated, blood can efficiently flow through the body, reaching important parts of the body quickly.

With blood flow improved, blood can then reach your penis, which leads to improved chances at achieving an erection.

Erectile dysfunction medication works in the same way, so, theoretically, watermelon should be able to do what Viagra does. But the difference is that Viagra is an exact science, while eating watermelon for ED is more hazy.

Despite extensive research into the ability of watermelon to overcome ED, researchers have not been able to pinpoint how much watermelon it takes for your erection to spring back to life.

So while Viagra may take a single pill, you could be munching on several watermelons before you see the effects.

So while it may sound tempting to go au natural with fighting your ED, stick with the sure thing.

Can caffeine cause erectile dysfunction?

You’re not much of a morning person, and work starts at 8 o’clock sharp. This has lead to you developing a solid 2-cups of coffee a morning habit, with occasional extra cups as the day goes on. Also, you’ve been known to have a Coke with lunch, which means even more caffeine for your body to process. So you’re nice and wired, but you’ve heard rumors that too much caffeine can lead to complications downstairs. Is your dependence on coffee killing your erection?

Well, yes and no.

You see, despite extensive research, no direct link has been found between caffeine consumption and erectile dysfunction. Even if you’re averaging 10 cups of Joe a day, you’re not going to see your erection kick the bucket.

So you won’t see the caffeine directly affecting your erectile health. But that’s not to say that caffeine can’t lead to ED.

When consumed, caffeine causes the blood vessels to constrict, thus slowing blood flow. If you’re constantly consuming caffeine, this causes the blood vessels to be perpetually constricted. This blood vessel constriction can lead to hypertension and heart disease. Hypertension and heart disease can lead to, you guessed it, erectile dysfunction.

So while caffeine won’t directly cause you to lose your erection, it could lead to ED in a roundabout way.

Space out your coffee throughout the day, limit your caffeine intake, and cut down on sugary soft drinks, and you’ll be doing your blood vessels a big favor. When your blood vessels are okay, that means your erection is safe. And when your erection is safe, that means you’re happy.

Are there any side effects for erectile dysfunction medication?

You’ve lost the ability to achieve an erection, and you’re willing to do anything to get it back. You’ve heard from friends that medication such as Viagra and Stendra have been known to work wonders, but you’re hesitant to buy medication that you aren’t fully informed about.

After doing ample research on which brand is right for you, what time to take the medication, and generally getting all of your burning questions answered, you’re left with only one more question: Can these erectile dysfunction lead to any side effects?

If you’re scared that popping a Viagra is going to cause your hair to fall out, worry not. Erectile dysfunction drugs are safe, and have been thoroughly tested to ensure they can be taken with no problems.

However, like all medication, ED medication is best when taken under certain circumstances. How much you drink, how much you eat, and your lifestyle choices can all factor into how your ED medication affects you. But ED medication can also be affected by other medication you might be taking.

If you’re looking to avoid side effects, avoid taking ED medication with these medications:

–       Nitrates: Like ED medication, Nitrates cause the blood vessels to dilate. When taken together, this can lead to an unsafe drop in blood pressure.

–       Blood Thinners: Medication such as warfarin and enoxaparin cause the blood in the body to thin. When taken in conjunction with ED medication, which causes blood vessel dilation, you could begin to experience splitting headaches, dizziness, and even blackouts.

–       High Blood Pressure: If you’re on any medication that is used to regulate high blood pressure, don’t mix it with ED medication. When taken together, it can lead to, you guessed it, a drop in blood pressure.

So while erectile dysfunction medication is perfectly safe on it’s own, it can lead to complications when taken with the wrong medication. So be smart and talk to your doctor and make sure you’re in the clear before picking up some Viagra.

Can excessive masturbation lead to premature ejaculation?

We’ve all heard the old wives tales about masturbation before. Do it too much and you’ll grow hair on your palms. Or maybe you’ll go blind. Or maybe your penis will stop working. Obviously, none of those rumors are in the least bit true. But that’s not to say that excessive masturbation can’t lead to issues. In fact, an overreliance on masturbation could very well lead to problems in the bedroom.

No, masturbating won’t cause you to develop erectile dysfunction or anything medically severe like that. But masturbating too much can affect your ability to last in the bedroom.

This is because masturbation can put emphasis on achieving orgasm. If you rush to reach orgasm when masturbating, this can translate to crossed wires upstairs. You see, this “race to the finish” mentality when masturbating will lead to your body and brain associating anything sexual with a quick orgasm. So when it comes time to get down to business between the sheets, your brain will remember that you want to finish quickly, leading to your tryst ending quickly.

Normal masturbation is in no way harmful to your ability to last during sex, but how you masturbate is what matters. If you find that your masturbation is causing you to finish quickly in the bedroom, adjust your masturbation habits. Make it enjoyable instead of a mad dash for the finish.

When you’re able to pace yourself while masturbating, you should see this translate into intercourse. Just take your time, enjoy yourself, and remind yourself that it’s about the journey, not the destination.

Are there any at-home remedies for erectile dysfunction?

If you’ve clicked upon this article, you’re probably desperately searching for something you can implement at home that might help to save your erection. Perhaps you’ve decided that medication just isn’t for you, and you want to work through this the natural way.

But the simple truth is that there isn’t any one exercise, any yoga stretch, any positive thinking affirmations, that will bring your erection back. ED is a serious problem, and it can only be overcome with hard work, dedication, and by admitting that you might need help.

The first step to regaining your erection is making positive lifestyle choices.

-Eat a balanced diet, drop all the sugary soft drinks and teeth rotting candy and stick with healthy veggies and whole grains.

– Get up and get active. Daily exercise will help you to slim down and get healthy.

– Quit your vices. Throw away the cigarettes, cut down on the drinking; anything that could cause you problems in the long term should be dropped.

After taking the necessary steps towards living a healthier, more fulfilling life, it’s time to get your mental headspace in order.

– Find ways to cope with the stress in your life.

– If you’re dealing with depression, seek help from a medical health professional.

– If you constantly feel anxious, figure out the root of the problem and figure out how to deal with it.

Once you’ve gotten your life straight physically and mentally, it’s time to seek help. Speak with a medical professional to determine what might be causing your erectile dysfunction. A doctor can offer medication that can help with health-related ED issues, while a psychologist can help you to overcome your mental-related ED hang-ups.

So there isn’t any miracle workout that’s going to eliminate your ED, unfortunately. But with hard work, dedication, and smart choices, you can beat ED and get your erection back to normal.

Could stress be causing my erectile dysfunction?

You’ve got a major report due Friday, and your computer just crashed on Thursday. The boss has been in an out of your office all week, emphasizing that he’s depending on you. Your partner isn’t able to pick up the kids from school, so you need to leave early to get them. Also, your in-laws are coming to stay with you for a while.

When you’re feeling stressed, it can be difficult to focus on anything else. You can feel like your obligations are mounting, and there simply isn’t enough time in the day to take care of everything.

Stress can become so all-consuming that it can begin to leak into other aspects of your life. You may struggle to fall asleep at night, or maybe you aren’t as hungry as you used to be. Stress can even invade the bedroom.

When a man has a head full of stress, it can become distracting. So distracting, in fact, that your body can opt to focus on the stress instead of achieving an erection. Yes, your stress can become so overwhelming that it can actually begin to physically affect your body.

What’s worse, stress induced ED is a slippery slope. When a man finds he can’t achieve an erection, this can lead to more stress, which can just cause the problem to get worse.

If stress is affecting you in the bedroom, you must find a way to cope with the stress. Find a way to prioritize your tasks, relax, and get your mental headspace in order. Everyone copes with stress differently. It’s important to find a way to overcome these feelings, especially if your erection starts to suffer because of it.