I can’t think of a more infuriating feeling for a man than being sexually impotent.
Imagine yourself as a man who is able to perform in all other areas of life, except the bedroom. That cuts deep for the masculine spirit.
There are countless reasons why this symptom is on the rise in this day and age, which is why I’m exclusively here to talk about the physiological health component.
Erectile Dysfunction Defined
ED is defined as the persistent INABILITY to achieve or maintain an erection which would interfere with sexual activity.
It’s a major problem for older men, but it’s even starting to creep its ugly head towards younger guys due to an unhealthy lifestyle, pornography and the abuse of performance enhancing drugs.
I’ll be clear here.
When your sexual appetite and performance go out the window, your health as a man (and woman for that matter) is at a critical level and needs to be addressed as soon as possible.
Sexual reproduction is the common thread which connects all living organisms.
This isn’t a small (pun intended) matter, gentlemen.
The very survival of our species depends on your ability to perform sexually.
The Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
Let’s go through some causes and risk factors:
Pre-diabetes & Diabetes
Chronically elevated blood sugar is bad news for anything associated with your health. It destroys your blood vessels, slows blood flow and annihilates proper hormone output.
Addressing your blood sugar from a holistic perspective is key. Everything from proper sleep to the way you move to what you routinely ingest.
For those who want practical bloodwork benchmarks:
HbA1c below 5.7% (the lower, the better). This measures your average blood sugar over the last few months by examining the part of your red blood cells where excess sugar can attach.
Fasting insulin below 9 mIU/L.
Glucose between 50-100 mg/dL.
That’s a solid place to start in regards to blood sugar.
Hypertension
Hypertension and erectile dysfunction are closely intertwined.
Anything that negatively impacts the cardiovascular system will inevitably spill over into sexual problems, especially in regards to maintaining an erection.
If your cardiovascular system is shot, there’s little chance of efficient blood flow and other factors working in your favor when it’s time to perform.
There are major concerns here with how your endothelium is functioning since erectile dysfunction is a severe sign of issues with blood flow, nitric oxide production, so forth.
You can read more about my exploration of the endothelium below.
Lower Urinary Tract Issues
Any problems with your bladder can increase your risk of ED.
These two conditions occur frequently as men age, with studies showing that sexual enjoyment declines and sexual activity decreases with increasing lower urinary tract problems.
Lower urinary tract symptoms commonly include:
an increased urgency to urinate
increased urination frequency
an inability to empty the bladder during urination
Metabolic Syndrome
It goes without saying that most chronic diseases, especially being overweight and obese, directly impact sexual function.
Obesity on its own is a significant risk factor for erectile dysfunction.
Smoking
Cigarette smoke damages the endothelium and impairs the process of erectile function. The good news is damage isn’t permanent and can be reversed by quitting for an extended period.
Some Medications
Some medications, such as SSRIs (used to treat depression), beta-blockers (used for high blood pressure), and medications used for insomnia, anxiety and prostate problems have a negative impact on sexual dysfunction.
They can cause decreased libido, impairment in arousal, erectile dysfunction, delayed ejaculation and delayed or absent orgasm.
Chronic Stress
To get an erection, your brain must signal to your body that it’s aroused and blood flow in your penis should be increased.
Yet.. when you struggle with ongoing stress, anxiety and depression, your brain won’t be able to send that signal and start the process.
Psychological erectile dysfunction is more common among younger men who are experiencing stressors from work, their relationships or any other environmental trigger.
What You Can Practically Do
There are many things you must do to address ED, but here are some very effective strategies to help:
Drop weight and visceral fat: Visceral fat releases inflammatory cytokines which creates chronic inflammation in the body (and that doesn’t help your sexual performance). You must drop weight.
Align your circadian rhythm in combination with following a solid sleep schedule that consists of all the previous things I’ve mentioned (check my other articles). Be asleep by 10 PM. Wake up early with the sun. Avoid blue light after sunset. Use red light therapy.
Train regularly: Get your body moving. I don’t care what you do so long as you’re consistent with it and can build up over time.
Stop smoking & cut out all processed “food”
Increase nitric oxide production by reading my past article below
Like I said, a man who can’t perform sexually is lost.
He desperately needs help to fix this problem.
Much love,
Zaid