Lifestyle, erection and sexual performance
Many think that erectile dysfunction is a problem for older men only. Not the case. More and more young men are experiencing problems with sexual performance, and lifestyle appears to be a factor...
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Erectile dysfunction has numerous causes, both organic and psychological. However, in many cases, a change in habits and lifestyle can help overcome the problem, as alcohol, smoking and an overly rich diet can all spell trouble for a man’s sex life.
Alcohol and sexual performance
Winegrowers certainly know how to market their product, extolling its life-enhancing qualities and cultural chic. Alcohol is a stimulant and in small doses can have quite an exhilarating effect. It removes inhibitions and can delude even the shyest man into thinking that he is a natural born seducer. But when the moment of truth arrives, it can turn out to be a flop. Literally! In Macbeth, Shakespeare said that alcohol “provokes the desire but it takes away the performance.” He knows what he’s talking about
If you’ve had a few too many, it will take longer to get an erection; it’ll be harder to maintain and difficult to achieve orgasm. But it’s nothing to get het up about as these problems are short-lived and disappear once the alcohol is out of your system. However, if drinking becomes a habit, such problems can become more commonplace.
An American study carried out on 34,000 apparently “healthy” men, over a period of four years, showed that the risk of erectile dysfunction significantly increases if you have more than two drinks per day. This same study revealed that smokers also have a 40% greater chance of experiencing erectile problems than non-smokers.
Diabetes, obesity, cholesterol and sexual performance
Numerous studies show that obesity is one of the leading causes of male impotence. Men, whose body mass index (BMI) exceeds 27.6 are 50% more likely to suffer from impotence than men with a BMI of less than 23. Obesity is the most widespread complication of diabetes and the number of people affected is increasing.
Diabetic men experience erectile problems earlier than other men in their age group, even though conflicting scientific studies are unable to agree on whether erectile dysfunction is worse in men with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Glucose levels can be controlled with a balanced diet, reducing the amount of fat, avoiding excessively sugary or salty food and, of course, by restricting alcohol consumption.
A diet that is overly rich is saturated animal fats, and particularly meat and diary, raises cholesterol. The fatty deposits build up in the arteries, obstructing and reducing the blood flow around the body and even to the penis, thus affecting erection and sexual performance.
Sexual performance and exercise
Daily exercise is highly recommended in the treatment of sexual dysfunction. The equivalent of a 3km walk daily can reduce the risk of sexual dysfunction as well as burning at least 200 Kcal.
But even then, you need to be careful about which sport you choose as cycling more than three hours a week can adversely affect your erectile function*. Sitting in the saddle for long periods of time may lead to a loss of sensation and a decrease in blood supply to the genitals. So you might consider taking up jogging or swimming instead.
In the end, it can boil down to a choice between eating and drinking to excess or having good sex. The choice is yours, so you might want to consider putting down that glass, cigarette and handful of peanuts!
* Does bicycling contribute to the risk of erectile dysfunction? Int J impot Res. 2001 Oct; 13 (5): 298-302.
Copyright © 2010 Doctissimo
Posted 18.07.2011
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