KNOCK, KNOCK…ANYBODY THERE?
What in the…
Not me…
How did this happen?
ED. Two little letters that strike terror in the minds of men. Of all ages. ED. Erectile dysfunction. If you think working out makes you sweat, having your friend decide not to work is enough to cause a tsunami of nervous sweats. The point is, just the thought of ED is enough to make any guy go limp.
GET THE FACTS STRAIGHT
Here’s a good one (as if there could be anything good about ED.) Erections happen early. Like in the womb early. Male fetuses can experience erections in the womb. Early obsession. So it’s strange that about 30 million men in the U.S suffer from ED, according to the National Institutes of Health. ED, which is often called impotence, varies in severity. The definition of erectile dysfunction is not the same for every guy. It’s usually defined as the inability to get and keep an erection that’s satisfying enough for sex. But while some guys have problems getting erections in the first place, others have difficulty maintaining an erection that lasts long enough for sex. And in other cases, a man may get an erection, but it won’t be hard enough to allow him to penetrate during sex.
ED. LOW T. LOW LIBIDO. WHAT’S UP WITH THAT?
There are several forms of male sexual dysfunction, and they often interact; low libido, Low T, and ED. The perfect trifecta. Even with all the attention they get, it’s hard to know where one starts and the other ends. Low libido is defined as a lack of sex drive. Low T means your testicles do not produce enough of the male hormone testosterone. There are many links between ED and low T, but they are not the same condition: Low T can also cause low libido, which is different from ED. But ED refers specifically to problems achieving or maintaining an erection. Men with ED often have a healthy libido, yet the body fails to respond.
WHEN YOUR HEAD TAKES A NOSEDIVE
Several things can cause ED. The most common cause is poor circulation of blood to your penis. ED can happen when health problems limit blood flow or damage nerves in the penis. Heart disease, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar can all cause ED. Oh, and here’s one you probably don’t want to hear… overtraining can cause disrupted sleep, hypertension, and ta-da erectile dysfunction after just two weeks.
ED can also be caused by stress or emotional reasons. Gee, stress? Got any? Depression, relationship conflicts, stress at home or work, which for many is at home which is unbelievably stressful. Especially if you’ve got any kids around to homeschool. Just worrying about sexual performance can short circuit the process that leads to an erection. Combine physical and psychological issues, and you’re just not going to shake the sheets. Because of anxiety, ED is rising in Millennial men. There’s an epidemic of young men getting kicked where it hurts. In fact, doctors have given this phenomenon an unofficial term:Millennial ED. Couldn’t make this stuff up.
OPPS, THERE GOES YOUR TESTOSTERONE
You can’t talk about ED without talking about testosterone. Testosterone levels naturally drop as you age. About 1 in 5 men over 60 have low testosterone levels, but by the time you hit 30, your levels are already on the way down. Taking something else with it. It’s well established that testosterone can improve erections in most men who take it. Maybe that’s why the number of men beginning testosterone treatments has nearly quadrupled over the past years. That’s a lot of testosterone.
WAYS YOU CAN MAN UP
There are some ways to avoid ED. Now that we’ve got your attention, we’ll get right to them:
- Manage your blood pressure
- Cut down high cholesterol
- Treat sleep apnea
- Get diabetes under control
- Try, try hard to manage stress
- If you smoke, quit
- If you drink, go easy on it
- Know which medication could be the culprit. Muscle relaxers, diuretics, antidepressants, antihistamines, and even antacids can cause a slump.
- Get your testosterone tested
IT’S ALL UP FROM HERE
Most men feel uncomfortable talking about ED. They feel embarrassed, disappointed, even emasculated. They’ve lost their confidence. And maybe even relationships. At Sculpted MD, ED is serious business. That’s why in every way, the physicians at Sculpted MD are serious about what they do and how they can help you. This means you can trust both their concern and their expertise. Sculpted MD will determine your testosterone levels, evaluate the results and create a unique treatment plan that includes nutrition, fitness, and hormone replacement options. You don’t have to think about ED. You don’t have to worry about ED. And most importantly, you don’t have to live with ED. Call Sculpted MD for an appointment now. And finish strong.
