Numerous erectile dysfunction or ED treatments are available including drugs, surgery, shockwave therapy, pulse wave therapy such as GAINSWave® (which is both a drug free and surgery free non-invasive technique that uses pulse waves to improve sexual performance), plus various natural or "do it yourself" remedies. Let's take a closer look at some of them, because several including exercise or eating a healthier diet are certainly beneficial to almost everyone (whether they suffer from ED and its symptoms or not). Researchers and ED experts all note that, even if erectile dysfunction medication is suggested or required for an individual patient, it's likely to be more effective if you implement some of these healthy lifestyle changes and always follow your doctor's recommendations.
Exercise is a great way to treat Erectile Dysfunction
While there are many suggested lifestyle changes that you can make that are touted to be erectile dysfunction remedies, the most important and all-around healthy change that a man can immediately make is to start an exercise program as a part of his ED treatment. Exercise works on many fronts to reverse the development of erectile dysfunction, plus exercise has been proven to help prevent future occurrences once it has become a problem. Remember to be extremely cautious if you've not routinely exercised recently but establishing a new habit of exercising regularly can also help with other conditions that an ED patient may also have suffer from (like diabetes or cardiac cholesterol issues).
Exercise also helps to improves your blood flow, which is of extreme importance to achieving a strong healthy erection and improves blood pressure by increasing the nitric oxide levels in your blood vessels (which is exactly how the prescribed medication Viagra actually works). Weight-bearing exercises will also increase the natural production of testosterone in the male body, the most significant factor in both erectile strength and a man's sex drive.
Australian researchers also noted that even if erectile dysfunction medication is suggested or required, it's likely to be more effective if you implement healthy lifestyle changes and follow your doctor's recommendations.
Another Erectile Dysfunction Remedy Is Eating a Healthy Diet
The everyday foods that you eat may have a direct correlation and a huge impact on erectile dysfunction and its symptoms. A Mediterranean diet recommended by the Mayo Clinic for heart health that is rich in fruits, veggies, whole grains, fish and healthy fats is a good start to eating healthier. Restricting the servings and the ingestion of red meat and refined grains are also proven to help decrease many ED symptoms, complications and the potential risk for developing erectile dysfunction.
A healthy diet is also necessary for both losing weight and maintaining a healthy body weight. This is important because men who have a 42-inch waist have a 50 percent increased risk of having ED symptoms when compared with men with a 32-inch waist. Obesity also greatly increases the risk for vascular related disease and diabetes, two risk factors that are proven to contribute to ED in men.
Sleep can also be a Natural Erectile Dysfunction Treatment
A man's poor sleep habits may also be a contributing factor for erectile dysfunction symptoms being present. One review published in the journal Brain Research emphasized that there is an intricate and complicated relationship that exists between the level of an individual's sex hormones (like testosterone in men), sexual function, and sleep. The study noted that testosterone levels increased with improved sleep, and that lower hormone levels are directly associated with sexual dysfunction. Hormone secretion is controlled by the body’s internal clock, and a person's sleep patterns likely helps the body determine and regulate when to release certain hormones. Adhering to a good and routine sleeping schedule is a natural erectile dysfunction remedy that all men can try, as it can help ensure that those signals are clear and consistent to the related bodily organs.
Quit Smoking to Stop Erectile Dysfunction
If you smoke, there are numerous and well publicized and documented health risks and concerns, but one important major risk is the development of vascular disease which affects your ability to achieve an erection. Erectile dysfunction may sometimes occur when the blood supply to a man's penis becomes restricted because of blockage or narrowing of the arteries (often from smoking). It's not just smoking cigarettes though, it's the use of all nicotine products that needs to be looked at. Even smokeless tobacco can cause the narrowing of important blood vessels and have this same negative impact for many men.
If you smoke, talk to your doctor about quitting and whether prescription aids such as Wellbutrin can help you in your treatment program.
Limit Your Alcohol Intake to Improve ED
Mostly everyone knows that Alcohol is a depressant, yet most men are not aware that it additionally can cause both temporary and long-term erectile dysfunction. The central nervous system is responsible for releasing a chemical called nitric oxide, which is essential for producing and maintaining an erection. Studies have shown that heavy alcohol consumption depresses the central nervous system, causing it to function less efficiently, eventually resulting in a decrease in a man's nitric oxide levels. Not enough nitric oxide translates to erectile dysfunction and ED's symptoms.
Monitor Your Medications (Prescription and OTC)
Erectile dysfunction often occurs as a side effect of taking certain other medications that may have been prescribed for the treatment of a totally separate health condition. Common "culprits" are high blood pressure medications, antidepressants, certain diuretics (or water pills), beta-blockers, heart medications, cholesterol meds, antipsychotic drugs, hormone drugs, corticosteroids, chemotherapy, and medication for male pattern baldness. Please take notice that there are many other medications and drugs that have been linked to having ED as a side effect of their being taken.
If you think your medication might be causing ED in your case, talk to your physician, BUT do not discontinue using it on your own. Some medications require tapering off under a doctor's supervision when safely discontinuing their use in a patient.
Acupuncture May Help with Erectile Dysfunction
Research so far has been "mixed" on the use of acupuncture as an erectile dysfunction cure. Yet one study published back in November of 2013 in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that acupuncture proved to be beneficial for men experiencing erectile dysfunction as a side effect of antidepressants, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). Obviously one study does not guarantee this will be a quick fix, however perhaps it's worth noting it as a possibility and keeping a close eye on any future research that's released.
Questions About Treating Erectile Dysfunction?
At Philadelphia Urology Associates, Dr. Bruce Sloane is a nationally renowned specialist in Men's Health issues and Age Management Medicine. Throughout Philadelphia and the surrounding areas, patients seek his expertise to treat erectile dysfunction and other sexual performance issues. Using state-of-the-art equipment, plus having extensive specialized education and training, Dr. Sloane will find the treatments and solutions that will work best for you.
Having two separate offices and physical locations in both Philadelphia and Darby allows Dr. Sloane the ability to treat patients throughout Philadelphia and the surrounding areas like Delaware County. If you have any questions about the treatments available for Erectile Dysfunction (ED) and its symptoms, or any other urological disorders, we urge you to contact us now online or call us at (215) 563-1199 today to discuss how we can help you!
