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Just because you’re suffering from erectile dysfunction (ED) or showing ED symptoms doesn’t mean you have to take ED medications or undergo a medical procedure. You can restore your erectile function by making lifestyle changes that can complement a medically sound ED treatment plan.
A healthy lifestyle can help to prevent erectile dysfunction altogether.
If you want to learn how to prevent ED from happening or if you want to reverse the effects that erectile dysfunction may have done to you through lifestyle modifications, this post can help.
Here are some powerful lifestyle changes that can help you prevent erectile dysfunction for a happier sex life.
Manage Your Weight
Nearly 1 in 3 or 30.7% of adults are overweight. If you don’t want to suffer from erectile dysfunction, then it’s important to start managing your weight.
Losing weight will not only help prevent heart disease but also raise your testosterone. And when your testosterone levels go back to normal, so will your erectile function.
In addition, losing weight results in better blood flow throughout the body. Weak blood vessels can worsen erectile dysfunction. But when you have a healthy body weight, risk factors like poor blood flow are eliminated.
How do you manage a healthy weight? The best way would be to go on a healthy diet. That means taking in fewer calories per day and avoiding high-cholesterol foods. This may also include incorporating aphrodisiac foods like pomegranate, or adding pineapple to your daily regimen.
If you’re having trouble managing your weight, you can consult with a certified dietician to help you create the right meal plan for you.
It’s also better to have someone keep you in check since losing weight can be rough on people. And if you’re living with other people, let them know that you’re trying to lose some weight. That way, they can offer their support to make your weight loss journey more bearable. Who knows? They might even make it fun for you.
Exercise Regularly
Exercising regularly is one of the biggest favors you could do for yourself, especially if you want to avoid erectile dysfunction.
You want to be as close to peak physical health as possible. If you pull yourself closer to a healthy weight, expect to see a drastic change in your sexual performance.
Why will exercise help avoid ED? Obesity is a significant risk factor when it comes to heart disease and high blood pressure. And it’s one of the leading causes of erectile dysfunction. Having an exercise routine will help you keep your weight down and improve your blood pressure.
There are also cases where erectile dysfunction is caused by psychological factors like not having enough confidence in oneself. You’ll find a boost in confidence once you see the results of your physical training.
It’s also worth mentioning that there are exercises specifically for improving blood flow to the penis. These are called Kegel exercises and they are worth looking into.
Quit Smoking
12.5% of US adults smoke cigarettes as of 2020. If you’re a smoker yourself, it’s time that you consider quitting.
Smoking increases the likelihood of you developing erectile dysfunction. It addresses other issues too like having high blood pressure.
When you smoke, you do damage to your blood vessels. And you’ll need these vessels to supply blood to your penis. If you continue to smoke and you’re already showing signs of ED, you’ll continue to suffer from sexual dysfunction.
To avoid facing any issue regarding your sexual health, you should quit smoking while you’re still ahead. Don’t wait for it to affect your sexual function and start causing relationship problems.
On a related note, illegal drugs can also cause erectile dysfunction. So you should also quit using those.
Drink Less Alcohol
Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can also cause ED. Not only does drinking lower your testosterone, but it also causes less blood to flow to the penis.
Alcohol also causes issues that affect your sexual function. For instance, alcohol can cause premature ejaculation. In some cases, alcohol can have the opposite effect where men find it harder to have an orgasm.
So if you’ve noticed that you’re having problems getting an erection after a night out, try drinking less or stopping altogether to see if that fixes your problem.
Control Blood Sugar
Those who are diabetic are at risk of developing erectile dysfunction. If your family has a history of diabetes, control your blood sugar level. Doing so will increase your chances of not developing ED.
To control your blood sugar, you’ll need to:
- Consume fewer carbohydrates
- Drink lots of water
- Avoid processed foods if possible
- Stick with natural foods
You should also consider talking to a specialist to see if you need to take prescription drugs.
If you already have diabetes and it’s starting to affect your sexual health, talk to your doctor about ED medications and other solutions to see what’s best suited for you.
Mind Your Mental Health
There is such a thing as psychogenic erectile dysfunction where men are unable to get an erection because of psychological factors. These include depression, stress, and low self-esteem. A terrible breakup can also be a factor.
That means a person’s mental health has a direct link to sexual desire. If you’re having trouble getting or maintaining an erection but don’t think it’s related to a health condition, it could have something to do with psychological factors.
In this case, it’s best to:
- Seek medical attention to know for sure what’s causing the problem.
- Step away from things that are making you stressed.
- Talk to someone if you don’t think you’re doing well.
Your mental health can do more than just affect you sexually. It could lead to other mental health conditions too. So always take care of your mental and emotional state.
Make Regular Doctor Visits
Make it a habit to visit your doctor to see how well you’re doing. By going to the doctor, you can ask questions about why you’re feeling the way you are. This will also make it easier to catch any issues that could lead to erectile dysfunction.
For context, the average American will visit a doctor four times a year.
Your doctor can also tell you if certain prescription medications you’re taking could affect your ability to get an erection.
If this is the case, you should ask if there are alternative treatments you could take. If there are physical factors that are keeping you from sexual arousal, the doctor will tell you that as well.
Ft. Lauderdale’s Leading ED Clinic Can Help Men Regain Their Sexual Vitality
Need medical assistance to overcome ED?
If you’re having issues with erectile dysfunction (ED) or premature ejaculation (PE), contact Ft. Lauderdale’s Preferred Men’s Medical Center now to schedule an appointment to have a consultation with their experienced and specially trained medical staff. We are South Florida’s leading men’s clinic providing ED therapy, PE therapy, Low Testosterone therapy, RestoreWave therapy, hormone therapy, and much more.
Don’t miss out on any opportunities you can find to get the proper treatment and achieve a happy and fulfilling sex life. Give our team a call today to schedule your appointment.