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Proteins and Erections

Believe it or not, rats and humans share similarities that mimic many relevant features of human erectile dysfunction.

Researchers at the Bronx, New York, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and Case Western Reserve University have identified molecular changes in rats.

These molecular changes accompany the onset of diabetes-induced erectile dysfunction, which could gain insight and help identify erectile dysfunction risk leading to potential new drug discoveries into erectile dysfunction.

One of the most common problems induced in men with diabetes is erectile dysfunction. Over 70% of men with diabetes suffer some form of erectile dysfunction, and in many cases, actually develop more drug-resistant forms of erectile dysfunction.

Researchers noted that the corpora, which are the tissues that expand along the length of the penis by filling with blood during an erection, had the same reaction in rats with diabetes.

Mark Chance and colleagues used a proteomics approach to examine the relative abundance of proteins at two different stages of progression of the onset of diabetes.

These two different stages were one week after the outset and then at two months. They identified 57 different proteins in the tissues of the penis that had either decreased or increased during these controlled tests by comparing them to other age-matched healthy rats.

Mechanics of erectile dysfunction

These proteins revealed some of the mechanics of erectile dysfunction. Collagen proteins that provide the strength and hardness in an erection were not surprisingly down-regulated in the diabetic rats. The proteins that transport sex hormones were also down and also revealed up-regulated proteins. The ones related to fat metabolism, which are responsible for the hardening and narrowing of blood vessels, were among the up-related ones and proteins involved in the death of cells (apoptosis).

The researchers believe these insights into the proteins involved with erectile dysfunction could very well lead to the discovery of the medicines that may help diabetic men maintain a better quality of life with their partners.

Being Loved is Healthy

Reports aimed at a specific topic sometimes reveal other issues never even thought of in a study reported by the DailyMail done in Italy over an eight-year period that tracked almost 1700 men to monitor their health. For most men treated for various levels of erectile dysfunction, the main objective was to look at the risk of stroke or heart disease and relationships.

Here are some of the variables that came to unexpected light; men are less likely to have a heart attack than a partner who finds them attractive. However, the opposite responded for those whose partners found them undesirable. These men who were found less desirable were as likely to have a coronary problem as overweight and smoked, even if they were NOT overweight or didn’t smoke.

Relationships are essential for human beings.

The Italian researchers surmised that your partner’s desire is more than fun, but it also benefits your overall health. They believe close relationships are essential for human beings, that feeling loved has a physical and psychological benefit.

These benefits would make someone we all know, like Michael Douglas, 65, very happy. In a recent interview, his younger wife of nine years Catherine Zeta-Jones, 40, said she remained attracted to Douglas. “He knows what he wants and what life is all about. That impresses me. Michael can also be a real puppy dog. He sends me cries when his kids say something particularly pathetic. I need a man who is sensitive and caring,” she said.

Almost 1700 men were asked for three months whether or not they or their partners had more or less desire to have sex. They had a scoring system to measure the levels of libido.

Several known factors appeared.

The instance of stroke, high blood pressure, or heart disease was higher for those who smoked and were overweight. But the surprise was the results that showed men whose partner had low sexual desire for them had almost three times more likelihood of stroke, cardiovascular problems, or heart attack.

University of Florence Dr. Giovanni Corona summed it up with this statement, “A broken heart is bad for your heart.” Studies showed that organic factors were the reasons behind hypertension or diabetes, but their research is the first to link to actual relationships between people.

Being loved boosts not only our happiness but also our overall health and well-being.

We have written endless articles and blog posts about ways men can treat Impotence naturally and physically. Although we never address women in our seats, we thought it might be a good idea to give them some insight into how ED affects men and how they can help.

The last time we wrote about how women can tell if their men have ED was in 2009, let’s update that post and give some more insight.

When it comes to ED, facing the problem can be a difficult situation. Many women tend to jump to conclusions. Even worse, talking about it is a sensitive topic that most men prefer to keep to themselves, which is why most do nothing until they figure out how to handle it.

Some common questions they ask themselves are:

1) Is my husband cheating on me?
2) Does he not find me attractive anymore?
3) Did he lose his sex drive?

If a man has ED, then all of the answers to these questions are NO! It is not that he doesn’t find you attractive or that he is cheating on you, but men do not want to let their wives or partners down and make them feel as if they were the problem. Initially, ED is hard to overcome. Men should contact their doctor right away and find some treatment plan.

Talking to someone, whether it’s their doctor or a friend, is another problem. Men do not like to talk to other men or women about erectile dysfunction, so their wives need to identify it and support him. If you have confirmed that he has ED, then find a way of talking to them about it. Let him know you understand, and you support him in finding a way to fix this.

How can Erectile Dysfunction be treated?

ED treatments in many different ways; hormone treatment, injection therapy (severe cases), and medications like Cialis or Viagra are all great options.

There are even specific exercise programs and natural alternatives that can treat light cases of Impotence. Sexual therapy is also becoming a popular way of eliminating Impotence as well.

We have written endless articles and blog posts about ways men can treat Impotence naturally and physically. Although we never address women in our seats, we thought it might be a good idea to give them some insight into how ED affects men and how they can help.

The last time we wrote about how women can tell if their men have ED was in 2009, let’s update that post and give some more insight.

When it comes to ED, facing the problem can be a difficult situation. Many women tend to jump to conclusions. Even worse, talking about it is a sensitive topic that most men prefer to keep to themselves, which is why most do nothing until they figure out how to handle it.

Some common questions they ask themselves are:

1) Is my husband cheating on me?
2) Does he not find me attractive anymore?
3) Did he lose his sex drive?

If a man has ED, then all of the answers to these questions are NO! It is not that he doesn’t find you attractive or that he is cheating on you, but men do not want to let their wives or partners down and make them feel as if they were the problem. Initially, ED is hard to overcome. Men should contact their doctor right away and find some treatment plan.

Talking to someone, whether it’s their doctor or a friend, is another problem. Men do not like to talk to other men or women about erectile dysfunction, so their wives need to identify it and support him. If you have confirmed that he has ED, then find a way of talking to them about it. Let him know you understand, and you support him in finding a way to fix this.

How can Erectile Dysfunction be treated?

ED treatments in many different ways; hormone treatment, injection therapy (severe cases), and medications like Cialis or Viagra are all great options.

There are even specific exercise programs and natural alternatives that can treat light cases of Impotence. Sexual therapy is also becoming a popular way of eliminating Impotence as well.

Fake ED Drugs are Not worth It

Without stringent copyright laws, China copies most everything and markets it. It is never as good as you get with the original, but it always looks close and is generally a lot cheaper.

Fake’s are often okay when you are talking about iPhones, tools, and knock-off Rolexes. But when it comes to medicines, your very health can be at risk.

Take 33-year-old Zhang Yan (for personal reason’s he did not use his real name) in Changchun. He was never concerned about his sexual performance until he was laughed at because his sexual encounters only lasted 5 to 10 minutes, he told the New Culture Daily Newspaper.

A friend recommended he try Viagra, so he decided to seek out Viagra to protect his self-esteem. Viagra is a prescription-only drug, and he thought it easier and more economical to try counterfeit ones instead, and they just turned out to be promising. He pushed others on the market, too, over three months.

Promising was out the window when he was unable to get an erection of any kind without warning.

Urinary Tract Infection

“I was shocked, and I immediately went to the hospital,” Zhang reported, “and I later found out I had a urinary tract infection, but I almost completely lost my sexual ability because I carelessly took impotence drugs.” The doctor at the hospital said that the counterfeit drugs might have caused the infections.

The people who produce counterfeit Viagra drugs regularly bypass the rules followed by actual pharmaceutical companies and find their way into these fake drugs.

The newspaper visited almost 40 sex shops in the Jilin Province, where Changchun resides. Nearly half of them sold counterfeit Viagra. Some owners claimed they had medicines to keep you erect for 96 hours.

The packages containing these fakes were nearly identical to the packaging Pfizer uses for the natural Viagra. The boxes were even in English, leading to authenticity.

In China, any sex shop selling Viagra should be considered fake. Only hospitals and registered medicine shops can sell the originals with a prescription.

The cost of a fake can be hard to pass up. An actual Viagra pill will cost USD 80. While some fake Viagra pills retail for less than $1.00, one sex shop owner claimed he had the real stuff for $17.30.

Over 50,000 of these counterfeit Viagra’s are sold each year in the Jilin province, which can be a heavy price to pay once you hear of some of the side effects of these fakes.

A man surnamed Wang had taken fake Viagra for over six years and ended up with complete liver and kidney failure.

Yang Daqing, a urologist at the Changchun Liulong Man’s Hospital, was quoted after seeing many cases of men with terrible side effects due to these fake medicines. “A fake Viagra may lead to erectile dysfunction, heart disease, and high blood pressure.” After hearing about the potency of the sex shop’s medicine, he added, “The only thing that could happen after getting an erection for 96 hours is death.”

Fake ED Drugs are Not worth It

Without stringent copyright laws, China copies most everything and markets it. It is never as good as you get with the original, but it always looks close and is generally a lot cheaper.

Fake’s are often okay when you are talking about iPhones, tools, and knock-off Rolexes. But when it comes to medicines, your very health can be at risk.

Take 33-year-old Zhang Yan (for personal reason’s he did not use his real name) in Changchun. He was never concerned about his sexual performance until he was laughed at because his sexual encounters only lasted 5 to 10 minutes, he told the New Culture Daily Newspaper.

A friend recommended he try Viagra, so he decided to seek out Viagra to protect his self-esteem. Viagra is a prescription-only drug, and he thought it easier and more economical to try counterfeit ones instead, and they just turned out to be promising. He pushed others on the market, too, over three months.

Promising was out the window when he was unable to get an erection of any kind without warning.

Urinary Tract Infection

“I was shocked, and I immediately went to the hospital,” Zhang reported, “and I later found out I had a urinary tract infection, but I almost completely lost my sexual ability because I carelessly took impotence drugs.” The doctor at the hospital said that the counterfeit drugs might have caused the infections.

The people who produce counterfeit Viagra drugs regularly bypass the rules followed by actual pharmaceutical companies and find their way into these fake drugs.

The newspaper visited almost 40 sex shops in the Jilin Province, where Changchun resides. Nearly half of them sold counterfeit Viagra. Some owners claimed they had medicines to keep you erect for 96 hours.

The packages containing these fakes were nearly identical to the packaging Pfizer uses for the natural Viagra. The boxes were even in English, leading to authenticity.

In China, any sex shop selling Viagra should be considered fake. Only hospitals and registered medicine shops can sell the originals with a prescription.

The cost of a fake can be hard to pass up. An actual Viagra pill will cost USD 80. While some fake Viagra pills retail for less than $1.00, one sex shop owner claimed he had the real stuff for $17.30.

Over 50,000 of these counterfeit Viagra’s are sold each year in the Jilin province, which can be a heavy price to pay once you hear of some of the side effects of these fakes.

A man surnamed Wang had taken fake Viagra for over six years and ended up with complete liver and kidney failure.

Yang Daqing, a urologist at the Changchun Liulong Man’s Hospital, was quoted after seeing many cases of men with terrible side effects due to these fake medicines. “A fake Viagra may lead to erectile dysfunction, heart disease, and high blood pressure.” After hearing about the potency of the sex shop’s medicine, he added, “The only thing that could happen after getting an erection for 96 hours is death.”

Reproductive Health Means Staying Fit and Active

Professor Rob McLachlan of the Prince Henry’s Institute has a warning for younger males. “They need to realize today’s 30 years old, overweight, diabetic, and sedentary man in 10 years will be 40 if you start your middle age in less than ideal circumstances it gets no easier.”

Recent studies in Australia show that physical fitness means good overall health and powerful sexual capabilities reconfirms many studies out there. Overall fitness equals a vibrant sex life.

It is crucial for older men worried about sexual performance need to consider exercise. Everything will automatically fall into place, including the libido. Other studies also show other factors related to erectile dysfunction (ED), including depression. But this Australian study only showed the link to ED and lack of fitness.

Bio-Med Central (BMC Public Health) recently published a study that shows strong links between the lack of testosterone and ED with the lack of physical activity.

There are also links between diabetes, cardiovascular disease, lower urinary tract problems, and perceived symptoms of androgen (all-male sex hormones are in a class called androgen, testosterone being the predominant one) deficiency with erectile dysfunction.

Professor McLachlan says the study highlights unhealthy reproductive symptoms with these other health matters. More often than not, ED can be an early warning sign for more severe blood circulatory issues. He went on to quote, “Erectile dysfunction is a canary in a coal mine for other diseases that may not be apparent.”

Exercise and staying active is the first step.

The study suggests that doctors should play a more active role in discussing reproductive health and chronic illnesses such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes with men. Staying active is an essential first step into a healthier population. And re-enforce at all times the importance of remaining engaged and maintaining fitness into middle and old age.

The findings from the Australian study where over 6000 men were surveyed and asked more than 90 questions come from a telephone survey in 2003, which involved men over 40 years of age. The questions touched on occupation, sexual health, marital status, education, and general health and lifestyle.

The study results made it impossible to determine the exact amount of exercise to maintain a healthy reproductive system free of erectile dysfunction because the survey was self-reported, says Professor McLachlan. But he says to follow a standard nutritional heart guideline which tends to be a half-hour of rigorous exercise. Something that gets you breathing heavy and makes you sweat.

Question:

Hi, my name is Saeed I am 69 years old and my wife is 57 years old. I have had a very good sex life but since the last couple of years I am experiencing ED. I have a weak erection which usually does not satisfy my wife. Also since the last 2 years I have had to use Viagra almost all the time, but now since a few months these pills also don’t seem to work, I have a short lived weak erection inspite if taking Viagra. Perhaps I am using counterfeit Viagra ? I have tried Cialis also but to no effect Even at this age my wife is very passionate when aroused, but we are not having any sex as she says she doesn’t get climax with a soft penis I am mildly hypertensive and I take amlodepine / telmisarten combination pill daily, apart from it I don’t take any medicine. What should I do ?

Answer:

Hi Saeed,

High blood pressure over time is one of the most common causes of ED, and to treat erectile dysfunction in such cases, you have to lower high blood pressure. It’s always better to do that through lifestyle changes alone, but since you already on blood pressure medications, I recommend you consult with your doctor to see how’s your blood pressure control is going, and there might be a need to change doses or use other BP drugs (which can help improve your ED).

It’s unlikely that you have been using counterfeit Viagra, since the same problem happened with Cialis as well, but it still very important to make sure you get your medications from a trusted source.
On the other hand, some patients have reported gradual losing the efficacy of Viagra especially after long-term usage (+2 years). However, this loss of Viagra efficacy could be attributed to tachyphylaxis (a form of drug tolerance), or to the progression in organic disease from associated comorbidities and aging.

In the first scenario, stay off oral ED medications for couple of months may help restore the efficacy. Other options may also include increasing the dose (under doctor’s supervision). if we don’t see desired results, then we can use a vacuum erection device (VED) along with ED medications (Viagra or Cialis before sexual activities). However, if that doesn’t work, we then consider adding a daily low-dose of Viagra or Cialis for at least 12 weeks (it shows some benefits in some cases), if it doesn’t work, we then consider alprostadil pellets, injections (intra-urethral and intra cavernosal prostaglandins) or topical alprostadil, and lastly a penile implant.

There are also other options such as Venous constriction devices, shockwave therapy, but again it all depends on your overall health and any medical conditions you may have, and it should be included as part of a systematic treatment program under the supervision of your doctor and not randomly tried.

I hope this answers your question.

Question:

Hi, my name is Chris should you only take your Viagra when you know you are going to have sex? What happens if you take it and sex unfortunately doesn’t happen?

Answer:

Hi Chris,

It is recommended to take Viagra only when needed (before sex), preferably on an empty stomach or at least two hours after eating the last meal, and 1 hour before the intercourse.
It takes around 30-60 minutes for Viagra to make the effect, but this duration can be affected by food or alcohol. You should know that eating any meal before you take Viagra would cause it to make the effect more slowly. Also, fatty meals are the enemy of Viagra, they can make it harder for the medicine to reach the bloodstream.
It’s also important to know that without any type of sexual stimulation (whether visual, physical or psychological), you will not develop an erection after taking Viagra. So, if you’ve taken Viagra and don’t have sex, there is no problem and it is unlikely to have any effect on you.

I hope this answers your question.

Question:

Hi, my name is Troy I’m 36 I did not have sex even once in my life. I can masturbate and take out the cum however I cannot get a feeling for erection.

Answer:

Hi Troy,

Masturbation to pornography frequently and over long time can cause a temporary ED, but once you participate regularly in a normal healthy sexual relationship and avoid self-masturbation especially while watching pornography this issue should gradually fade away.

However, erectile dysfunction could be due to many underlying causes, and for the best treatment option we need to identify the cause erectile dysfunction first. It’s kind of impossible to identify the cause without a full medical history and evaluation. Common causes include:
• Heart disease
• Clogged blood vessels (atherosclerosis)
• High cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Metabolic syndrome
• Parkinson’s disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Certain prescription medications (such as High blood pressure medications)
• Tobacco smoking
• Peyronie’s disease
• Alcoholism and other forms of substance abuse
• Sleep disorders
• Surgeries or injuries that affect the pelvic area or spinal cord
• Low testosterone levels
• Psychological or mental health, issues (depression, anxiety or other mental health conditions)
• Stress
• Relationship problems due to stress, poor communication or other concerns
• Watching pornography and masturbation more frequently can lead also to early climax or erectile dysfunction

As you can see there are a lot of factors that could contribute to ED, that’s why we need a complete assessment of your overall health and other health problems/current medications which may affect sexual function. That being said, please see your urologist to determine if a treatment is required for your current ED.

I hope this helps.