Tips for Preventing Erectile Dysfunction

What Is Erectile Dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability of a man to maintain a firm erection long enough to have sex. Although erectile dysfunction is more common in older men, this common problem can occur at any age. Having trouble maintaining an erection from time to time isn’t necessarily a cause for concern. But if the problem is ongoing, it can cause stress and relationship problems and affect self-esteem.

Keeping ED at Bay

For people who are at risk of developing Erectile Dysfunction, taking active steps to prevent its occurrence will not only help you maintain erectile function, but also help you lead a healthier life overall.

Some steps you can take to prevent ED include:

♦ Stop smoking

♦ Exercise regularly

♦ Maintain a healthy weight

♦ Review your medications with your doctor and ask about possible substitutions for those that may cause ED (never stop or change a medication without first talking to your doctor).

♦ Make sure you take preventative measures to control your diabetes if you have it.  Diabetes can have an effection on erectile dysfunction, so make sure you watch your diet and take preventative measures for diabetes.

♦ Take prescribed medications as directed.

♦ Avoid excessive use of alcohol (more than two drinks a day).

♦ Avoid the use of illegal drugs.

♦ If you have a chronic illness such as diabetes or kidney disease, follow your doctor’s guidelines to keep these conditions under control.

Sex Is Good For Keeping Erections

Researchers have found that men who said they had sexual intercourse less than once a week had twice the risk of developing erectile dysfunction, compared with men reporting having sexual intercourse once a week.

Among men who had sexual intercourse less than once a week, there were 79 cases of erectile dysfunction per 1,000 men. That number dropped to 32 cases per 1,000 among men who said they had sexual intercourse once a week, and it dropped even further, to 16 per 1,000, among men who said they had sexual intercourse three or more times a week.

If you do have erectile dysfunction, there are some helpful resources out there to learn more about ED.  You can join an erectile dysfunction forum or read an erectile dysfunction health blog.  You can even see how much erectile dysfunction medications cost by looking at a EDrugstore.md  pharmacy price list for Viagra, Cialis, and Levita.