Beat Erectile Dysfunction the Natural Way

Things ain’t what they used to be when you’re a man over 60. Some men experience it even earlier. I am referring to a condition that puts a man out of the game – Erectile Dysfunction (ED). As a clinician, I heard older men complaining about “all talk, but no action.” ED is not only an old man’s personal problem; it is also a problem between spouses. After all, they say: “A happy wife equates to a happy life.” With all the ads and TV commercials claiming to be “the miracle of science” or the instant cure to ED, it is important to be aware that simple lifestyle changes can be the real natural solution to triumph over it.

What causes ED?

Older men suffer from ED because of many reasons. These include not only medical problems, like vascular diseases (hypertension, diabetes, varicosities), neurological diseases (post stroke), rheumatologic (lower back problems, degenerative conditions), prostate problems, or surgeries; but also psychological problems, such as stress, anxiety, and depression. Complex problems that include more than one cause: combination of psychological and medical, as an example; occur in more than 75% of older men.

Diagnosis

See your doctor for a check-up and discuss your concerns. He will perform examination of your penis and testicles.

Laboratory tests include: Blood tests, urine tests, and ultrasound.

To some men, psychological tests may be indicated.

Natural ways to trounce ED (Source: Harvard Health News, November 3, 2018)

1. Start walking. According to one Harvard study, just 30 minutes of walking a day was linked with a 41% drop in risk for ED. Other research suggests that moderate exercise can help restore sexual performance in obese middle-aged men with ED.

2. Eat right. In the Massachusetts Male Aging Study, eating a diet rich in natural foods like fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and fish — with fewer red and processed meat and refined grains — decreased the likelihood of ED.

3. Pay attention to your vascular health. High blood pressure, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, and high triglycerides can all damage arteries in the heart (causing heart attack), in the brain (causing stroke), and leading to the penis (causing ED).

4. Size matters, so get slim and stay slim. A trim waistline is one good defense — a man with a 42-inch waist is 50% more likely to have ED than one with a 32-inch waist.

5. Move a muscle, but we're not talking about your biceps. A strong pelvic floor enhances rigidity during erections and helps keep blood from leaving the penis by pressing on a key vein. In a British trial, three months of twice-daily sets of Kegel exercises (which strengthen these muscles), combined with biofeedback and advice on lifestyle changes — quitting smoking, losing weight, limiting alcohol — worked far better than just advice on lifestyle changes.