Tag Archives: Erectile Dysfunction

smoking and sexual health

April 30, 2012 8:13 pm /

Impotence or erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to attain or maintain an adequate erection for sexual satisfaction. It affects up to 30 million American men.

An erection depends on an intact nervous system and adequate blood flow to the penis. When a man is sexually stimulated, the brain sends signals to the arteries in the penis causing them to dilate and fill up with blood. Special sponge-like erectile structures that run the length of the penile shaft, two corpus cavernosa and the corpus spongiosum, become engorged with blood causing the penis to become firm. The swollen erectile tissue compresses the veins, preventing the blood from draining and thus the erection is maintained.

The penile arteries are very small, about 1/3 the size of the coronary arteries so they are very vulnerable to damage. Damaged blood vessels do not allow adequate blood flow, and low flow equals a weak or non-existent erection.

The four most common causes of erectile dysfunction are smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes, and high blood pressure. All of these heath problems damage blood vessels. Of the four, only smoking is a otherwise healthy young man’s problem. Smoking doubles the risk of moderate to severe erectile dysfunction.

A man who starts smoking at the age of 18 and continues for 20 years may have his sex life seriously derailed by the age of 38. Smoking is the most common cause of ED for men under 40. The more cigarettes smoked, the greater the risk. As men age other conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease, may develop further compounding the problem.

This kind of damage is very hard to reverse – only 25% of men will see improvement in their erectile dysfunction if they quit smoking. Other options include drugs like Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis; however, these therapies are most effective when combined with smoking cessation.

The good news – smoking rates in California are on the decline and are the second lowest in the United States. The bad news is 17% of Californian men and 9% of women still smoke.

In Canada, graphic pictures of smoking related diseases, including erectile dysfunction, appear on cigarette packages; in studies more than 70% of adults and 90% of teenagers found these warnings effective and 44% of smokers said these images increased their motivation to quit. Why don’t we have these warnings on cigarette packages in the United States? Maybe the $100,000 a day Big Tobacco spends on Washington lobbyists has something to do with it.

May 31 is World No Tobacco Day. Pass it on.

http://www.examiner.com/article/cigarettes-are-hazardous-to-your-erection-smoking-and-sexual-health

Posted in: Men Health / Tagged: , , , ,

Fixing Erectile Dysfunction Naturally – No Drug Needed

April 10, 2011 9:46 am /

It is a well known fact there are over 200 million men , suffering from erectile dysfunction all over the world. And yet, most of these men refuse to change their lifestyle, and they rather rely on a magic pill to regain their lost erection. If you are reading this, then I am sure you are aware of the side effects of using sildenafil drugs, or the most popular brand name Viagra.

Sildenafil can cause many side effects. Some common side effects include headaches, sneezing, dyspepsia (abdominal pain), palpitations (extreme heart beating, just like what you get from drinking too much coffee), flushing (red face, even more red than blushing) and some less common side effects are:

* Abnormally low blood pressure
* Priapism (A painful condition when an erection for more than 4 hours)
* Severe increased heart beat rhythm (Ventricular tachycardia which can lead to sudden death)
* Stroke and even
* Heart attack

This is why men all over the world are finding alternative treatments for fixing erectile dysfunction.

The only way to naturally get your erection back is by making changes in your lifestyle. Sedentary lifestyle is the major cause of erectile dysfunction.  You can fix your erectile dysfunction problem by quitting this inactive lifestyle.

But first of all, be sure you plan a health diet. Don’t take processed food,fast food, and alcohol. Stay away from these things , as they can cause obstructions in your arteries and reduce blood flow which could disturb your body system.

Eat a lot of potassium rich food. Bananas, orange juice, tomato products, milk and beans are a rich source of potassium. Potassium regulates nerves heartbeat and blood pressure, and remember you gushing blood running towards your penile area to get a hard erection.

Fish is also a great sex booster and it contains healthy fat, fatty acids and omega-3, especially fish with lots of fat, such as tuna, mackerel and sardine. Fish is heart friendly as it clears up plaque in your arteries and boost blood flow in your body.

Also include zinc rich food in your daily intake. Zinc is very useful and it repairs your cells. The lack of zinc can disturb your reproductive functions and processes and thus results in erectil dysfunction. Some of the rich sources of zinc are lean beef, oysters, shellfish, and green beans.

Take regular exercise. Make a focused walk routine every day. Stick to your walking plan and feel the magic happening in your body in a few days. Below is a sample walking program which has benefited many erectile dysfunction sufferers, you can customize it according to your needs and stamina:

1- Light walk ( for warm up)     3 minutes

2- Light Jog           1 minute

3- Walk            1 minute

4- Light Jog           1 minute

5- Walk            1 minute

6- Light Jog           1 minute

7- Brisk Walk           2 minutes

8- Light Walk ( for cool down)     3 minutes

This is a sure fire remedy for building stamina in you gradually and soon you will feel incredible power and stamina in your penile area too. One more exercise which can work wonders when taken in many variations is the PC muscle exercise. These exercises of PC muscle are real boon for men as the more they are practiced, the more benefits are reaped. But avoid overdoing these exercises. Just make a routine and then stick to it and you will soon see your erectile dysfunction gone and a powerful lovemaking tool between your legs to make love for as long as you want.

Erectile dysfunction is a problem which can be treated in a natural way. And for this you just need a reliable manual which tells you the natural ways and various sex boosting exercises. Erectile Dysfunction No More is the manual which has helped thousands of men worldwide in fixing their erectile dysfunction without taking any over the counter drug.

Author: Wasim Dhar ; harderectionregained.com

Posted in: Men Health / Tagged: , , ,

Use of saffron in different system of medicines:

January 10, 2011 5:35 am /

Ayurveda: - Saffron is widely used in ayurveda preparations to treat acne, pimples, dark circles, dark pigments as it helps to increase fairness and glow of skin. It is also added as an active ingredient in preparations which help in erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation and to increase quality and quantity of semen.

Chinese medicine: Saffron is known as fan hong hua in Chinese medicine. It is used in blood Stagnation including amenorrhea, retained lochia, fullness and stifling sensation in the chest and diaphragm due to emotional distress . It is also used in treatment of high fever and to expel toxins.

Unani System of medicine: Saffron is used as an ingredient in Unani preparations to treat heart and liver diseases. It is used as an antidote for toxins. Saffron is used as body coolant, diuretic, general tonic and aphrodisiac in Unani system of medicine.

Posted in: Herbs and uses / Tagged: , , , , , , , , ,

Causes of Low Libido in Male – Diminished Sex Desire in Men

November 29, 2010 4:56 am /

Condition of low libido or diminished sex desire is less common in males compared to females. It is difficult for any man to accept the fact that he is having lower drive for sex but it can happen to anyone because there are several physical and psychological reasons responsible for it.

The basic reason for diminished sex drive in men is low level of testosterone hormone however lack of production of this hormone in a healthy body is rare but if it happens due to any psychological or physical reason, gives rise to low libido. Lack of production of testosterone shall be treated with herbal supplements for effective alleviation and without side effects.

Stress is a major cause for low testosterone levels in males. In today’s life style where everyone has jumbled daily routine proper sleep and rest are hard to get. Stressful life style promotes hormonal imbalance causing low production of testosterone to reduce desire for sex. Depression is another most common cause for low sex drive. Person suffering with this disorder feels withdrawn and feels as if he does not have enough energy to carry out his normal activities. This leads him into a serious situation of low libido. Depression is also treatable by herbal medicines and shall be taken care of at initial stage to avoid complications.

Certain medicines have also been found to cast a negative effect on testosterone production to cause low libido in males. Commonly used medicines for depression and high blood pressure or certain drugs like cocaine and heroine reduce sex desire. Diseases like diabetes, de la chapel syndrome, adrenalin cortex and genetic disorders also causes low sex drive, proper treatment for the disease is necessary to overcome the problem.

Sexual dysfunctions in males like Premature ejaculation or erectile dysfunction may also take away their interest in lovemaking as these situations make them feel embarrassed. The fear of failure and embarrassment push people to avoid getting into a situation where they have to perform lovemaking activity, which slowly reduces their overall desire for sex. Renal and urinary infections may cause discomfort and pain in the genitals which also makes a person loose interest in getting involved in sexual activity. Kidney related problems or UTI infections also promote low libido in males. Persistent pain or any physical problem also takes away the pleasure of lovemaking which pushes sex low on priority list, this situation in the long run cause loss of interest in the activity.

Relationship shall be maintained transparent and communicative for avoiding the situation of low libido occurring unnecessarily. Each partner shall communicate his or her feelings to the other partner and clarify doubts as and when they surface to maintain a proper understanding and transparency in the relation. Sometimes complacency of male partner may push other partner to feel unwanted which promotes lack of interest in love making to diminish the sex desire in both the partners. If there are any issues in the relationship those should be resolved as early as possible because it is almost impossible for a male to get in the lovemaking act if he is not mentally at peace.

Article source : http://EzineArticles.com/?Causes-of-Low-Libido-in-Male—Diminished-Sex-Desire-in-Men&id=4219100

Posted in: Men Health / Tagged: , , , , ,

Effects of stress

November 17, 2010 11:52 pm /

Stress and depression leads to low body energy level, disturbed sleep and feeling of exhaustion. Sleepless nights and exhaustion can cause dark circles, wrinkles, acne and pimples which make you look unhealthy and unattractive. Stress can also affect liver hindering its process of toxin expulsion.  Thus accumulation of toxins is also a contributing factor for dark circle.

The stress also affects male reproductive system. It causes erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, low sperm count and infertility. Smoking and alcohol consumption exaggerate the effects of stress.

Try to conquer stress through natural ways. Avoid consumption of anti stress medications as much as possible.

  • Learn relaxing techniques like Yoga and Meditation.
  • Attend aerobic classes or take a walk in morning.
  • Make friendship with persons who have positive attitude
  • Keep away from people who create negative energy. Negative energy increases stress.
  • Drink a glass of vegetable juice in early morning. Do not add sugar or salt to it. Do not forget to add a spoon of fresh ginger juice to it. This healthy drink helps to cleanse body and expel toxins.
  • Drink plenty of water.
  • Include fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet.
  • Avoid deep fried foods and fast foods.
  • Take a good sleep for 7 – 8 hrs in night.
  • Take long deep breath in between your work.
  • Involve yourself in hobbies which you like. Gardening, painting, listening to music or reading books  help to relax your mind
  • A good body massage with herbal oil help to relax body and mind.
Posted in: Health care / Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

Measurement of Cholesterol

October 19, 2010 10:55 pm /

There are four types of cholesterol which are measured in milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dl). The body cholesterol level can be found through “Lipid Profile”

Total blood cholesterol - This measurement includes lipids in blood stream. ( LDL + HDL+ triglycerides and other fat particles). The normal value of total cholesterol must be less than 200 mg/dL

HDL (High Density Lipo protein) – This is a good cholesterol and helps to prevent atherosclerosis and prevents deposition of fat inside arteries. The normal value of HDL must be greater than 60 mg/dL

LDL (low-density lipoprotein)- This cholesterol is also known as bad cholesterol and this is an important risk factor for heart disease .The LDL level should be lower than 160 mg/dL

Triglycerides: These are used by our body for energy. But a high level of triglycerides leads to heart disease. The normal value of triglycerides must be less than 150 mg/dL

Health risks of increased cholesterol
Coronary heart disease
High blood pressure
Angina
Heart arrhythmias — an irregular heart rhythm
Transient ischemic attack (TIA, or mini-stroke)
Heart attack
Stroke
Peripheral artery disease.
Erectile Dysfunction

Posted in: Health care, Men Health / Tagged: , , ,

Blame stress for shaky gums, common colds

September 17, 2010 3:58 am /

NEW YORK: Stress kills. Its potentially fatal effect on the heart is well documented. But new research suggests that it is probably the reason for everything from decaying gums to common colds.

An article in Observer, the monthly magazine of the Association for Psychological Science, cites new research across psychology, medicine, neuroscience and genetics to conclude that stress is at the root of a whole range of health problems.

Stress encompasses the strains experienced by living organisms in their struggles to adapt and cope with changing environments. When danger is perceived, a chain reaction of signals releases hormones like epinephrine (‘adrenaline’), norepinephrine and cortisol from the adrenal glands.

These hormones kick up the heart rate, increase respiration, and up the glucose levels in the blood — enabling the ‘fight or flight’ reaction. As these responses take a lot of energy, cortisol tells other physical processes — including digestion, reproduction, physical growth and some aspects of the immune system — to shut or slow down.

When the threat passes, the body’s stress thermostat adjusts accordingly.Cortisol levels return to normal and the body resumes its usual functions.

But problems occur when stresses don’t let up, or when, for various reasons, the brain continually perceives stress even if it isn’t really there.

This causes prolonged exposure to cortisol, which inhibits the growth of new neurons and can cause increased growth of the amygdala, the portion of the brain that controls fear and other emotional responses. It also affects the hippocampus, an area that helps form new memories.

Researchers now say these brain changes are at the heart of the link between stress and depression as well as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Besides heart disease, PTSD, and depression, chronic stress has been linked to ailments as diverse as intestinal problems, gum disease, erectile dysfunction, adult-onset diabetes, growth problems, and even cancer.

economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/ET_Cetera/Blame_stress_for_shaky_gums_common_colds/articleshow/2688354.cms

Chronic rises in stress hormones have been shown to accelerate the growth of pre-cancerous cells and tumours; they also lower the body’s resistance to HIV and cancer-causing viruses.

Posted in: Men Health / Tagged: , , ,

Stress on health

September 17, 2010 3:46 am /

hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2005/04/07/stories/2005040701500100.htm

THIRTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD RADHA is your typical middle-class working mother. Mother of two children studying in the third and fifth standards, her worst fear in life is the milkman or the maid not showing up in the morning.

“I have so many things to do in the morning. Cook, clean, dress up the kids, pack lunchboxes, put the kids in the school van, send my husband to work and then myself go to work. I just lose it when something goes wrong,” she says. That is if the milkman or the maid fails to show up, the utensils, the kids and the husband pay the price for it.

Twenty-two-year-old Richard passed out of college a year back. He now works on night shift in a call centre. After a long night dealing with irate credit card users, he longs to get some sleep in the morning. But morning is the time when his house is buzzing with activity.

“I just can’t get sleep in the morning. There is so much noise. Everyone wants to do everything in the morning. So I end up sleeping just five hours a day,” he complains. His workload and lack of sleep have ensured that his temper is always on a short fuse. But anger is the least of his problems; he suffers from everything, indigestion to anaemia.

Meanwhile, 28-year-old Amit, an art director with an advertising agency, has problems of a different kind. Married for two years, his wife was unable to conceive. Worried, Amit and his wife went to a fertility clinic where doctors found that Amit had very low sperm count, coupled with erectile dysfunction.

All three mentioned above — Radha, Richard and Amit — suffer from excessive stress. And today on World Health Day, it is America’s number one and Bangalore’s growing healthcare problem.

There are no reliable numbers available for people suffering from high stress levels in the city, but it is believed that over 75 per cent Americans have “great stress” once a week.

High stress levels lead to a range of health problems in addition to accompanying psychological problems. And the number one source remains job stress, though stress levels have increased in all sections of the society. “We cannot live without stress. Our body is always stressed but it is high levels of stress that lead to various problems. We are stressed while running, but the stress is anticipated. When you have emotional upsets or suppressed anger, then you start doing some real damage to the heart because the strain lasts for a longer time and is repeated over and over again. It hastens build-up of cholesterol in the coronary arteries and weakens the heart muscles,” warns K.S.S. Bhat, Consultant Cardiologist, Manipal Hospital, and President of the Indian College of Cardiology.

Though the heart is one of the first organs to be affected by excessive stress, symptoms are first noticed when the behaviour of a person changes. Classic symptoms include insomnia, low energy levels, feeling of inadequacy, decreased concentration levels, social withdrawal, excessive anger, self-pity and tearfulness. Marital relations are often the first to be affected by this drastic change in behaviour.

“Often people come back so tired from work they are reluctant to have sex. But it is interpreted as not liking the partner. Also, as stress levels increase, it leads to impotence. About one-third cases of erectile dysfunction are due to stress. So sex takes a backseat and the relationship suffers,” says Vinod Chebbi, psychotherapist and sex and marriage counsellor.

He also points out to another interesting source of stress that prevents people from enjoying sex:

“In India, there is great stress to become pregnant after marriage. The pressure from relatives often becomes so unbearable that sex becomes an act for just having a child. If it fails, the couple go to the extent of even seeking donor semen or fertility treatment,” says Dr. Chebbi.

Both Dr. Chebbi and Dr. Bhat prefer to relieve that extra stress without medication. Exercise, regular food habits and good time management is the mantra, they say.

“There is nothing like a brisk walk in the morning or evening,” says Dr. Bhat.

And to solve marital stress, Dr. Chebbi advises: “The couple must spend time together. They must get used to each other and enjoy time together. About 95 to 97 per cent of stress-related sex can be treated with just non-drug therapy.”

* * *
Fast lane to perdition

IF YOU’RE one of the lucky few who’ve coped well so far, here are some wicked tips to help you join mainstream society:

Never exercise

Eat anything you want

Gain weight

Take plenty of stimul-ants (nicotine, caffeine and alcohol)

Get rid of your social support system (friends)

Personalise all criticism

Throw out your sense of humour

Males and females alike — be macho

Become a workaholic

Discard good time-management skills

Procrastinate

Worry about things you can’t control (tsunamis, earthquakes and Osama Bin Laden)

Become not only a perfectionist but also set impossibly high standards for yourself

Posted in: Men Health / Tagged: , ,

25 per cent of infertility patients have sexual problems: survey

September 17, 2010 3:22 am /

www.thehindu.com/2006/02/13/stories/2006021315831000.htm

Sexual problems can be both the cause and the effect of infertility and infertility treatments themselves can often cause sexual dysfunction in normal couples, a study by the Indian Institute of  Sexual Medicine of Aakash Institute of Fertility and Research, has shown.

Out of a total number of 5,728 infertility patients surveyed by the institute from 1996 to 2005, 20 to 25 per cent were found to have sexual problems. Among male patients, 89 per cent had erectile dysfunction, 20 per cent suffered from anejaculation, 32 per cent had extreme premature ejaculation, and three per cent reported lower libidos, K.S. Jeyarani Kamaraj, infertility specialist of the institute said while presenting the results of the study during the First International Conference on Sexology organised by the institute here on Sunday.

Among sexual problems causing infertility, erectile dysfunction was found to be the main factor. While factors such as poor sex education, lack of sexual knowledge and conservatism were found to be the cause of unconsummated marriages, urban-life related stress, long working hours/working in shifts and lack of privacy were found to be the cause of infrequent intercourse between couples, she added.

In an interactive session devoted to lots of plain-talking on the myths and realities surrounding sex, renowned sexologist Prakash Kothari said sexual disorders were amongst the most common human disorders.

Anxiety over sexual performance bred a cycle of conflict, hostility, fear, shame and guilt and several myths and misconceptions paralysed sexual response. Masturbation was often found to be a safe sexual outlet as it could avoid unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases and did not result, as was often believed, in impotency.

Conditions such as diabetes and alcoholism affected sexual performance as they resulted in lesser blood flow to the genital organs. Lack of semen did not affect sexual performance and it was a myth to state that celibacy led to increased physical strength.

Another misconception was that the hymen was a proof of a woman’s virginity or that the size of genital organs mattered in sexual performance. Homosexuality and lesbianism were not aberrant sexual behaviour.

Aphrodisiacs may provoke desire but if overdosed, they could also affect performance, he said.

Posted in: Men Health / Tagged: , , ,

Men’s Health – Diabetes

September 17, 2010 3:11 am /

http://www.healthnews.com/family-health/mens-health/mens-health-diabetes-458.html

Individuals who suffer from diabetes are at higher risk for kidney disease, arteriosclerosis, blindness, heart disease, nerve diseases, and are at greater risk for infections than the general population.

Because diabetes can cause problems related to the nerves and blood vessels it can cause neuropathy, a condition which causes nerve damage throughout the body. Erectile dysfunction, as a result of neuropathy is common in more than half of men who have been diagnosed with diabetes. Nerve damage does not allow proper communication to achieve an erection, and narrow blood vessel damage does not allow healthy circulation of blood in and out of the penis. The emotional response to engage in intercourse is there, but nerve damage and blood vessel constriction do not allow the proper physical response. This type of problem, diabetes related erectile dysfunction, does not respond as well to drugs such as Viagra as non diabetes related erectile dysfunction.

A diabetic male who is experiencing erectile dysfunction should speak to his health professional. This will determine if the problem is entirely related to diabetes.

Other ways to help with the diabetes related problems include:

• Controlling blood sugar
• Avoid all forms of tobacco
• Reduce or avoid alcohol consumption
• Seek treatment for cardiovascular risk
• Seek counseling if diabetes and erectile dysfunction are causing depression

Diabetes, if neglected, can lead to serious health issues besides erectile dysfunction. Proper diet and a healthy lifestyle can greatly reduce the consequences of diabetes and if treatment is started early and is persistent, the risk of erectile dysfunction and other health problems will be greatly reduced. If you believe you have symptoms of diabetes see your health care professional immediately.

Posted in: Men Health / Tagged: , ,