For as much pride as you take in your penis, you sure go to great lengths to screw it up.
“A lot of guys know their lifestyle is harming their health, but it isn’t until it begins to affect their sex life that they start to listen,” says Charles Walker, M.D., assistant professor of urology and cofounder of the Cardiovascular and Sexual Health clinic at Yale University. Low testosterone, a shoddy sex drive, and trouble getting the plane off the ground are all caused by high-risk behaviors that at some point become irreversible and turn into full-blown erectile dysfunction (ED), Dr. Walker says.
Here are four habits you need to clean up if you want to keep your hard-on healthy.
1. Clean your medicine cabinet.
Certain antidepressants, some blood pressure medications, and even the popular hair-growth drug Propecia all list erection problems as potential side effects. But the most surprising culprit may be your allergy or cold medicine. “The mechanism behind an erection is the exact opposite of having an adrenaline rush, and Sudafed acts very similar to epinephrine—the adrenaline hormone—killing any ability to get aroused,” says Harry Fisch, M.D., clinical professor of urology and reproductive medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College/New York Presbyterian Hospital, and author of Size Matters. Read labels for any side effects, and stick to Sudafed-free prescriptions.
2. Leave your work at the office.
“Work-related stress is a huge issue for sexual function,” says Dr. Walker. “I see a lot of guys in their 40s and 50s who are highly successful but in high-stress jobs, and a lot of them have ED.” How come? Men with demanding jobs have a hard time leaving work at the office, which means their anxiety is in high gear for most of the day—keeping them from ever reaching full-throttle in the bedroom.
Plus, when you’re a workaholic, sleep and exercise—two big contributors to ED—tend to take a backseat. Knowing when to turn it off can help you get it up, Dr. Walker reassures. “Don’t work when you get home, don’t work on vacation, and incorporate more stress-relieving activities like exercise,” he advises.
3. Hit the sack at a reasonable hour.
Scoring more sleep is always important, but even a few late nights can stifle your stiffy: Researchers from the University of Chicago found that sleeping 5 hours or less tanked testosterone levels of young, healthy guys by 10 percent after only a few days. “Sleep affects free testosterone, the part that isn’t bound by proteins and is free to do what your body needs it to do, including support your libido and sexual function,” Dr. Walker explains.
Plus, the balance of brain hormones that have an effect on your erection—like dopamine and serotonin—are regulated by sleep. Solid shuteye is most important in younger guys, for whom low T plays a larger part in their ability to get it up, Dr. Walker adds. Aim for at least 6 hours a night, but 7 or 8 is ideal.
4. Brush up.
A Turkish study found that men with ED are three times more likely to have gum disease than guys without penis problems. And the odds go up the worse your impotence: The British Dental Health Foundation reports that 4 out of 5 men with severe erectile dysfunction also had gum disease. What does your mouth have to do with it? As your teeth decay, your immune system attacks pathogens in your mouth. The bacteria then seep into your bloodstream, damaging blood vessels and blood flow, the researchers explain. Luckily, regular flossing and brushing (twice a day!) can help more than just your gums.
Source: Naijas