For a man, nothing is worse than not being able to perform in bed. It crushes both your self-esteem and the relationship with your partner. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a chronic problem for men of all ages, but the condition tends to worsen with age.It is a pretty well-known fact that stress can have a huge impact on your ability to come to a full salute at the right time. However, here are six surprising things that you might not have known can also contribute to ED.
1. Porn
Yes, too much porn can be a problem. Doctors even have a name for it, ‘pornography-induced erectile dysfunction’ or simply PIED.
The trouble with watching an excessive amount of porn is that it desensitizes you to the real thing. It’s like an addiction that can only be satisfied by that type of visual stimulation.
A study found that otherwise healthy men who gave up porn for 3 weeks showed improvement in their ED symptoms. Cutting back on this indulgence can pay off in spades. Heck, why not become the star of your own full feature flick.(1)
2. Bad Oral Health
You may have thought the only benefit to regular flossing and brushing were pearly whites and healthy gums. But, can it also help with rock-solid erections?
Several research studies found that men with ED are nearly 3 times as likely to have gum disease. It’s thought that bad oral health could be linked to decreased blood flow, which can impact your erection.(2)
3. Bad Gut Health
The Greek original physician Hippocrates is known to have said, “All disease begins in the gut.” He was more right than he could have ever imagined. A recent study found that men with intestinal issues, such as IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), had almost double the rate of ED than men with a healthier gut.(3)
Your gut has billions of neurons that play a crucial role in emotions, making it essential for your libido and arousal. To improve your GI tract, and your erections, try a high-quality probiotics supplement and limit the number of processed foods you consume.(4)
4. Snoring
Snoring is a sign of sleep apnea, which is when you stop breathing for small periods while you sleep – from 10 to 30 seconds at a time. Not only does this affect your energy from having a lack of sleep, it can also impact your sex drive and ability to get erections.
There’s also a more scientific explanation. Sleep apnea lowers the amount of oxygen in your blood, which impacts sexual and overall health. According to a study from the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, this can reduce both libido and the ability to get and stay aroused.(5)
5. Cycling
Cycling is excellent for getting around, relaxing, or staying in shape. However, if you ride your bike daily, or 3+ hours a week and are experiencing erectile dysfunction, there could be a correlation.
With most bikes, you lean forward to pedal and steer. And because cycling seats are typically hard and narrow, this puts a lot of your weight pushing down on your sensitive family jewels, cutting into the circulation.
A Massachusetts Male Aging Study showed that large amounts of bike riding could be damaging the blood vessels and nerves in your scrotum and penis, which could be causing your erection issues. Make sure your bike and riding posture support your body adequately to avoid problems.(6)
6. The Little Blue Pill
Although this seems counterintuitive, if you don’t address the root causes of erectile dysfunction, such as emotional or physical issues, the prescription blue pill won’t help much.
After all, if you have circulation problems, like those associated with diabetes or heart problems, the blue pill is ineffective because you’re addressing the symptoms, not the real causes, of your erection problem.
Even worse, it comes with a host of alarming side effects, including eye problems, headaches, and indigestion – even heart and hearing trouble.
Key Takeaways
- If you find you can only get it up with porn, you might want to reduce the amount you consume.
- Brush and floss at least daily. Visit your dentist twice a year and get your oral health back in order.
- Add a quality probiotic supplement, eat a healthier diet, reduce stress, and exercise more to improve your gut health – and your erections.
- If snoring from sleep apnea is disrupting your sex life as well as your overall life, seek professional medical help.
- Reduce the amount of time you spend riding your bike each week and adjust the way that you sit and/or get a softer, wider seat for more support.
Sources:
1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC50395...
2 http://www.issm.info/sexual-health-qa/what-is-the-...
3 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC40089...
4 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC37881...
