{"id":14243,"date":"2024-03-10T00:00:17","date_gmt":"2024-03-10T00:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fitolympia.com\/?p=14243"},"modified":"2024-03-10T18:21:44","modified_gmt":"2024-03-10T18:21:44","slug":"what-can-you-do-to-reverse-erectile-dysfunction-ed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fitolympia.com\/na\/what-can-you-do-to-reverse-erectile-dysfunction-ed\/","title":{"rendered":"What Can You Do to Reverse Erectile Dysfunction (ED)?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Overview<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Erectile dysfunction (ED)\u00a0is common in men at midlife. For many men, it may be possible to improve your erectile function and reverse ED.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read on to learn what you can do to improve erectile function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a>Lifestyle factors<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4291878\/\" target=\"_blank\">Research<\/a>\u00a0suggests that lifestyle improvements can improve your erectile function. In a\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1111\/jsm.12483\/abstract\" target=\"_blank\">study<\/a>\u00a0of Australian men age 35 to 80, nearly a third reported erectile problems over a five-year period. These problems spontaneously improved in 29 percent of the men, suggesting that factors that can be controlled, like lifestyle, were behind the ED reversal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Enhance heart health<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Poor cardiovascular health reduces your body\u2019s ability to deliver blood needed to produce erections. In a\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/15093875\" target=\"_blank\">study<\/a>\u00a0published in 2004, researchers followed male participants for 25 years. The researchers found that heart disease risk factors predicted which men were most at risk of future ED. Numerous studies have strongly tied four major cardiovascular risk factors to ED:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Smoking.<\/strong>\u00a0Not smoking, or quitting if you do smoke, prevents ED.<\/li><li><strong>Alcohol.<\/strong>\u00a0Reduce alcohol consumption. Heavy drinkers experience ED more often.<\/li><li><strong>Weight.<\/strong>\u00a0One\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC1479584\/\" target=\"_blank\">study<\/a>\u00a0found that in overweight men with ED, losing weight helped to improve erectile function in about a third of the study participants.<\/li><li><strong>Exercise.<\/strong>\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/21597089\" target=\"_blank\">Studies<\/a>\u00a0show that physical activity, especially when combined with a healthy diet, can improve erectile function.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Avoiding these risk factors may help improve erectile function and reverse ED.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Boost testosterone<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Taking steps to counteract low levels of testosterone, the male sex hormone, can improve erectile health. To naturally increase testosterone levels:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>lose weight<\/li><li>reduce stress<\/li><li>exercise<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These tips can also improve heart health, which may further reduce your ED symptoms<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Get to sleep<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Lack of restful sleep substantially impacts your sexual performance.\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1111\/j.1743-6109.2012.02968.x\" target=\"_blank\">Studies<\/a>\u00a0show that men with interrupted breathing at night, or\u00a0sleep apnea, improved their erectile function after using a CPAP breathing machine at night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Replace your bike seat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Some studies have linked bicycling to ED, though\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/www.goldjournal.net\/article\/S0090-4295(14)01413-7\/fulltext\" target=\"_blank\">more research<\/a>\u00a0is needed to confirm the connection. Bicycle seats put pressure on nerves and blood vessels in the pelvic region. If you\u2019re a frequent or long-distance cyclist, consider buying a seat specially designed to reduce pressure on your perineum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Increase sexual frequency<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Frequent or regular sex can help you improve overall performance. One\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/18538297\" target=\"_blank\">study<\/a>\u00a0found that men who had intercourse less than once a week were twice as likely to develop ED at least once a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a>Psychological factors<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Psychological factors, such as\u00a0performance anxiety, can lead to ED. Addressing psychological roots of ED can help reverse the condition. Relationship problems, anxiety, and depression lead the list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Healthy relationships<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Erections sufficient for sex depend on arousal and desire, whether you take\u00a0ED medications\u00a0or not. Strife and dissatisfaction in an intimate relationship can have a negative impact on libido, arousal, and ultimately, erectile function. Relationship counseling is an option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Address mental health issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Anxiety, stress, and depression can lead to ED. In a\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1111\/and.12129\/full\" target=\"_blank\">small study<\/a>, 31 men newly diagnosed with ED either took tadalafil (Cialis) only, or took tadalafil while also following an eight-week stress management program. At the end of the study, the group who participated in the stress management program saw more improvement in erectile function than the group who took only tadalafil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mindfulness meditation, yoga, and exercise all reduce stress and anxiety. You may also want to see a therapist who can help you manage anxiety and depression. Medication may also help anxiety and depression, though some medications can suppress sexual function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a>Medical causes<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Some medical causes of ED are difficult to reverse, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Low blood flow.<\/strong>\u00a0For some people, ED is caused by blocked arteries to the pelvic area. That\u2019s because once you\u2019re aroused, you need sufficient blood flow to inflate the spongy erectile tissues in the penis that create an erection.<\/li><li><strong>Nerve damage.<\/strong>\u00a0In men who have their prostate glands removed because of cancer, even careful \u201cnerve sparing\u201d surgery won\u2019t entirely prevent ED. Even with gradual improvement after surgery, many men often need to use ED medications to have sex.<\/li><li>Parkinson\u2019s disease<strong>.<\/strong>\u00a0Up to\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.michaeljfox.org\/understanding-parkinsons\/living-with-pd\/topic.php?sexual-health\" target=\"_blank\">70 to 80 percent<\/a>\u00a0of men with Parkinson\u2019s have ED as well as low libido, premature or delayed ejaculation, and inability to have orgasms.<\/li><li>Peyronie\u2019s disease<strong>.<\/strong>\u00a0This condition causes extreme curving of the penis that can make intercourse painful or impossible.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>ED medications, like sildenafil (Viagra), can often help men with ED caused by medical conditions, but you won\u2019t be able to reverse or cure the ED.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Check your meds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Drug side effects are one medical issue that can be tweaked to reverse ED. Common culprits include antidepressants and thiazide, a drug used to make your body shed water to lower blood pressure. If you think medication is causing ED, talk to your doctor. You may be able to substitute another drug or reduce the dosage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a>Outlook<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Men occasionally have trouble getting or keeping an erection that is firm and long-lasting enough for satisfying sex. In many cases, erectile problems come and go, and can be improved by improving your general health. In men with medical causes like nerve damage or insufficient blood supply to the penis, ED may require use of medications.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Overview Erectile dysfunction (ED)\u00a0is common in men at midlife. For many men, it may be possible to improve your erectile 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