Erectile Dysfunction and Obesity

University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Image via Wikipedia

Probably caused by hypertension of atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease or alteration in the hormones due to obesity, obese men are prone to higher risk of erectile dysfunction, according to a recent article on Obesity and Weight Management. Around 30 to 40 percent of men above the age of 50 may suffer from erectile dysfunction. The development of atherosclerotic plaque of the arteries in obese men could cause damage to the arterial lining and lead to elevated blood pressure. Apart from atherosclerosis, the changes in the hormones that come along with obesity, including reduction of testosterone, contributes to high risk of erectile dysfunction. The changeable risk factors of heart disease like diabetes, over weight and hypertension are similar to those for erectile dysfunction.

David Sarwe, Phd, of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and Adam Gilden Tsai, MD, MSCE, of the University of Colorado, Denver, have described a 48 year old man with a weight of 197 pounds and body mass index of 32.6kg/m2, that can be considered mildly obese. He also has mil hypertension complaints. This man is suffering from erectile dysfunction. Even with the usage of erectile dysfunction medicines, he wasn’t able to get an adequate erection for intercourse. He went through 4.6 percent weight loss and took medications for lowering his blood pressure to the normal range. When he used the ED medication after that, he was able have an erection necessary for sexual intercourse.

The author of the article stresses that “the complicated interplay of weight and other health conditions relate to common medical symptoms, such as ED. We are reminded that atherosclerosis can cause not only macro vascular disease such as heart attack and stroke, but also micro vascular disease, of which ED is one example.”

“If you are looking for another reason to lose weight, research now suggests that erectile dysfunction can improve with weight loss,” suggests James O. Hill, PhD, Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine, Editor-in-Chief of Obesity and Weight Management, Director of Colorado Clinical Nutrition Research Unit at the University of Colorado Denver and Director of the Center for Human Nutrition.

Enhanced by Zemanta

Is Viagra Responsible for STDs?

A new study has found that use of drugs like Viagra, which cure erectile dysfunction, may lead sexually transmitted diseases. These diseases can however be caused more due to the behavior of a person rather than the consumption of ED drugs. However, it is true that the rates of STD are more among ED drug consumers than those who do not take them.

This claim has been made after men consuming ED drugs aged above 40 filing a higher number of insurance claims for STD’s. The percentage of ED consumers among the STD victims in the age group of 40 and above was almost 70 percent. Anupam Jena, MD, PhD, in Massachusetts General Hospital has talked about this fact. Jena has further commented that the use of ED drugs does not have an impact on contracting STDs, but rather what kind of men use such drugs. But, still the connection between a higher presence of these drugs and exposure to STDs can’t be ignored. It’s implied that the availability of such drugs may have made men more vulnerable to exposing themselves to risky sexual relationships. However, as Dr Jena later noted that the data collected so far does not indicate existence of any such correlation. Thus, he has also observed that his findings are going to be medically useful. He says that when a doctor finds that his middle aged patient is using erectile dysfunction drugs, he can remind them about healthy sexual practices. The same recommendation is also mentioned in an added editorial in the findings composed by Thomas Fekete, MD, who hails from Temple University in Philadelphia.

He has written in his editorial that the all the erectile dysfunction prescriptions should now contain an evaluation of the STD risk for any patient and advise for safe sex. The Center for Disease Control has also found that the rates of AIDS in men who are aged above 50 in 2005 were more than those who are just 20 years old. These rates are now increasing in older men, but rates among other groups have been on the low.

Enhanced by Zemanta

Time For A “Penis Monologues”?

The women have their”Vagina Monologues”. What about their male counterparts? Where is the understanding and acceptance of shortcomings that every human being craves for? Gender roles in society are supremely rigid. All over the world, stereotypes have been created that define the role of a man versus a woman. From something immensely basic like”pink is a girlie color” to rigidly ridiculous notions that “boys don’t cry”, stereotypes abound around us.

Pressure from the society one lives in leads to an internalization of these stereotypes that ultimately translates into “the way things are meant to be”. Women have suffered through the demands of the world for too long, but that doesn’t mean that men got a great deal either. Just like women are expected to shed tears to convey what they feel at every available opportunity, men are expected to “tough it out” and without a grimace.

Communication channels are limited for boys while they are growing up. Even as an adolescent, a boy learns that there are things that they must not talk about because they might then be perceived as weak. Peer pressure instills the eternal fear of being branded a “weakling”.

Thankfully more and more men have begun to understand the pitfalls of these traditional stereotypes. Communication is no longer a myth. It may take a while but at least the path to be trodden has begun to be hewn. Feelings of inadequacy can now be conveyed to one’s mate as well as the doctor if the need arises. Issues like erectile dysfunction (ED), impotency, and premature ejaculation, no longer point at a flaw in a man. One in every five men is believed to have suffered from ED at least once in their life spans. Acceptance of the existence of these dysfunctions have led to the understanding that it is not “one’s fault”  to have a problem like this and even more important, that it can be treated by delving into its causes. Present generation is accepting it.

Free from stigma, a man can now discuss his problems. Maybe it’s time for a “Penis Monologues”¦

Enhanced by Zemanta

Foods that can curb impotence

Légumes
Image via Wikipedia
Medication is not the only remedy for impotence. Some of the best cures can come through natural avenues like the foods we choose to eat. The trick is knowing which foods can be the most helpful in combating this problem.
Foods rich in Vitamin E are a smart choice for a diet designed to prevent impotence. Vitamin E naturally helps improve blood flow throughout the body. Blood flow is, of course, essential for an erection. If you choose foods rich in vitamin E, it can provide an important element in making sure erections happen. Vitamin E can be found in soy, green vegetables, mangos, papayas and whole grain cereals. It may also be taken in tablet or pill form.
Foods with tons of zinc can also combat impotence. Zinc raises overall testosterone levels and improves prostate health. Sunflower and pumpkin seeds both are rich in zinc. Soybeans also contain generous levels of zinc. You should consume at least 15 milligrams of Zinc per day.
Eating a healthy diet in general can contribute towards curing impotence. Fruits, vegetables and whole grains are just some of the foods that are helpful in this area. Not only are they good for your body by promoting weight loss, but they can lower the chance of inflammation throughout the body – including in the groin – which lowers the risk of developing impotence. Foods that lower cholesterol such as almonds, walnuts, tuna and salmon can also help with impotence because they improve your heart health. People without heart problems are less likely to experience impotence.
While eating certain foods to treat impotence, it is important to also know what foods you should avoid consuming to prevent it from developing in the first place. Always be wary of foods that are high in saturated fats. These types of fats can be harmful because cause blockages in the blood flow to the penis. Loss of blood flow is a major cause of impotence. Eliminate red meats, butter and high-fat vegetable oils from your diet to avoid this potential problem area.
Enhanced by Zemanta

Ways to Combat Impotence

Street vendor selling herbal remedies in Patzc...
Image via Wikipedia

Impotence, also known as erectile dysfunction, has been reported to affect more than 20 million Americans. Given the shame and humiliation that men typically feel after becoming impotent, it is likely that this condition is underreported and that there are tons of additional men who have experienced erectile dysfunction and have never admitted it.
While dealing with impotence is an exhausting, challenging and trying period for almost any man, one of the benefits that impotent men in the 21st century have is that there are more remedies and ways to combat impotence than ever before. Furthermore, these treatments are much more available than they were in the past.
For many young and middle-aged men, the cause of their impotence is psychological. To be more specific, the cause generally has to do with heightened levels of stress and anxiety. It seems pretty obvious that to cure this cause of erectile dysfunction, a person needs to simply de-stress.
But how?
Well for starters, an impotent man can find new and interesting ways to spend his time. If a man spends his day running around an office building for 10 hours preparing reports and presentations and then returns home to a pile of empty dishes, unfinished homework and unopened bills, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise if he is feeling somewhat over-stressed.
An easy and highly beneficial solution to a situation like the one described above is to take an extra hour or two after work and go exercise. Lift weights, play a sport, just be active. It has been reported that men who maintain a healthy lifestyle have the lowest risk of becoming impotent as they age. The reason for this is that as a person exercises, he increases the amount of blood flow in his body. If a man has good blood circulation, it is likely that he will also be sexually potent.
Another treatment that men are using to cure their erectile dysfunctions is herbal remedies. Over the counter herbal medicine used in treating impotence generally include an extensive combination of vitamins and essential nutrients.

Enhanced by Zemanta

What Types of Contraception are There?

sex education
Image via Wikipedia

Although having sex is an enjoyable and vital function of humanity, there are also a few risks. As well as certain diseases that can be transmitted sexually, there is also the danger of an unplanned pregnancy which be a stressful time. Obviously abstinence is the best form of preventing these problems, although there are also a number of different types of contraception you can use if you want to have sex.

The most common forms of contraception are barrier methods. These products, which include condoms and diaphragms, work by preventing sperm ever reaching the egg and fertilizing it. Condoms are worn over the penis during intercourse, while diaphragms are inserted inside the vagina to block sperm internally. There are also additional creams and spermicides that can be spread on the contraceptives to increase the chances of killing all the sperm.

Many women choose the natural method of judging their body’s own clock to prevent pregnancy. This is done by carefully measuring the menstrual cycle to make sure that no sex is had when the women is most likely to conceive. A period of abstinence lasting for a week or ten days is also needed during the ovulation period.

Hormonal therapies are also popular, the most common of which is the pill. This is a form of medication that must be taken once a day to prove effective. The pill prevents the ovaries from releasing an egg into the uterus where it can be fertilized by the sperm. However, it is important to remember that the pill MUST be taken every day. If a tight schedule is not adhered to when taking the drug then none of the pills that have been taken will work and there is a risk of pregnancy.

Another slightly more drastic form of medication is the morning after pill. This is a pill that must be taken with 72 hours of any sexual act to prevent any chance of the egg fertilizing. Although it works well, the drug has a number of powerful hormones in it and should only really be used in an emergency.

Enhanced by Zemanta

How do Live Events Affect Depression

missing the vision
Image by Untitled blue via Flickr

Depression can have many causes. Although some people think that depression is due to chemical imbalances in the brain, one factor that can have a great effect on depression is life events. Everyone has to deal with certain occurrences during the course of their life, and the way these are handled by ourselves and others can have an effect on our feelings, including depression.

One problem that arises with trying to deal with life events is determining whether the events are dependent of independent. For example, a person may lose their job because of symptoms related to their depression i.e. lack of concentration and withdrawal from the social scene of the workplace. However, it can be unclear in many cases which came first – the person losing their job because of depression of the person becoming depressed and thus losing their job.

Studies have shown that people who are depressed are more likely to have had an excess of major life events occur in the three months prior to them become afflicted with the disease. Two factors are often cited as aggravating depression, which are long-term stresses and an individual’s vulnerability. Long-term factors can include anything from a stressful relationship to an ongoing health issue. Certain key live events have been shown to affect a person’s vulnerability, including having young children to take care of or losing one’s mother at a young age.

One question that is often asked regarding live events is why they don’t affect everyone in the same way. We all have to go through certain things in our lives, but we do not all becoming afflicted with depression. The short answer is, no one really knows why live events can cause depression in some people and not others. It is also important to note that different events mean different things to different people, and so some people are not going to be as affected by them as others.

Enhanced by Zemanta

How Can Hypnotherapy Beat Depression?

One course of therapy that is not widely used to treat depression is hypnotherapy. Although some people feel that hypnotherapy can be an invasive and intruding treatment, delving deep into the patient’s mind and psyche, the results of hypnotherapy can be impressive in dealing with depression.

Hypnotherapy works on the basis that most of life’s problems are experienced individually by people. Although one person may be affected with depression, there is a difficulty for anyone around them to understand just what the cause of this depression is. Hypnotherapy aims to delve deep into the mind of the person to discover the exact cause or causes of their depression.

Although it can be effective, hypnotherapy is not a quick treatment. It can take months and even years for the therapist to get to the bottom of the person’s trauma. Hypnotherapy also involves unearthing several layers of a person’s mental make up, which can lead to new problems and issues being discovered in the process.

It is important to undergo a treatment of hypnotherapy with a medical professional with whom you feel comfortable. Hypnotherapy works on the basis that you will reveal your inner most feelings and emotions to them in order to find a solution to your depression. Indeed, there may even be things revealed in the sessions that you did not know where there. Because of this, you have to have a sense of trust with your therapist – if you do not, you are going to either consciously or sub consciously hold back and not reveal yourself to your full potential.

Hypnotherapy can be effective in dealing with depression. By stripping away the layers of your mind and dealing with the problems therein, patients can experience an increased sense of worth and fulfillment from hypnotherapy sessions. Once you have found a therapist you are comfortable to share things with, the healing can begin.

Enhanced by Zemanta

How to Cure Erectile Dysfunction Without Drugs

If you are suffering from problems associated with erectile dysfunction, you may be thinking about what kind of drugs treatment you can take to alleviate your problems. However, drugs are not the best remedy for everybody, and certain types of impotence medication can even cause additional problems in some patients. Luckily there are a number of things you can do to try and cure your impotence without drugs.

The heart is obviously the centre of blood flow. If you are having problems with your erection, then it means that you are having problems pumping the required amount of blood to your penis in order to keep it erect. One solution for this is to make your heart stronger, and exercise is the best way to do this. As well as making your heart stronger, your confidence will improve as you start to melt away those extra pounds. You should try to get around 30 minutes of exercise a day.

Nitric oxide has been found in may studies to work in the same way that drugs like Viagra and Ciallis do. Although it does not replicate the exact same effects, it does operate in the same areas of the body and does affect the same chemicals. It is also a lot safer and can usually be bought at any local pharmacy without a prescription.

Similarly, two other medicines that work well against impotence are Pycnogenol and L-arginine. Although separately their effects are minimal, when taken together they have been shown to provide a significant boost to sexual reproduction. The drugs also have little or no side effects and can again be purchased with ease at pharmacies.

As well as other natural herbal remedies for impotence such as ginseng or green tea, these supplements and vitamins can help to alleviate many of the same issues of impotence as harder drugs like Viagra, with little of the side effects.

How to Cure Impotence Naturally

Vitex agnus-castus
Image by Paul Garland via Flickr

Impotence can be an embarrassing problem that leads to both men feeling ashamed that they can’t ‘perform’ as they should, while women wonder whether it is because they have become unattractive. Although serious impotence may require medical attention, there are a number of things you can do to reduce the effects naturally.

The first thing to realize when battling impotence is that it can be a totally natural occurrence. As men get older, certain aspects of their sex drive and muscular workings may not work as well as they did in the twenties. Most men experience an episode of impotence at some point in their lives and the key is to realize is that it is not your fault.

There are many medicines out that can cause impotence as a side effect and if you have just started taking new medicine, this could be the cause of the problem. Check with your doctor thoroughly about the side effects of any medicine you have been prescribed.

Diet can play an important part in dealing with impotence. Excess amounts of alcohol can both damage certain key organs that come into play during sex and decrease natural factors that cause arousal. Likewise, nicotine has a reductive effect on veins and muscles in the body, including the penis. Going without these substances for a while can do wonders for your libido.

Drinks like coffee and tea can also cause these negative effects of impotence, or at least accentuate them. It has also been shown that high levels of cholesterol can have a poor effect on the body’s ability to reproduce. Getting more exercise is a good idea as the activity will not only help you shed vital pounds, but will increase your mental image of your body shape and make you feel more positive about yourself. This will often lead to a better experience in the bedroom!

Enhanced by Zemanta