If you are one of the millions of men who suffer from Erectile Dysfunction, you have wondered at some point if your symptoms will get worse. We are telling you all about Erectile Dysfunction, what it is, and if your chances of it getting worse are high or low. Stay tuned.
What Is Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile Dysfunction is a condition that is mainly brought on by old age. As men age, Erectile Dysfunction is most often a by-product of the body getting older. It is characterized by the inability to form or keep an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse. Around 30 million men around the world live with ED.
How Do I Know If I Have Erectile Dysfunction?
If you are a healthy man that is between the ages of 20-40, chances are your Erectile Dysfunction is not brought about by your old age. If you find that you are experiencing symptoms of fatigue, and more than half the time have problems forming or keeping an erection- it is time to get checked out. Although it is more rare to develop ED when you are young, it is still possible. You can start by taking this ED self test. It is a short test with a series of questions that can give you a better idea of where you stand with your symptoms of Erectile Dysfunction. The test is as follows:
1. How would you rate your confidence that you can get and keep an erection?
Very Low/Low/Moderate/High/Very High
2. When you have erections with sexual stimulation, how often are your erections hard enough for penetration?
Never/A Few Times/Sometimes/Most Times/Always
3. During sexual intercourse, how often were you able to maintain your erection after you had penetrated your partner?
Never/A Few Times/Sometimes/Most Times/Always
4. During sexual intercourse, how difficult is it to maintain your erection to completion of intercourse?
Extremely Difficult/Very Difficult/Difficult/Slightly Difficult/Not Difficult
5. When you attempt sexual intercourse, how often is it satisfactory for you?
Never./A Few Times/Sometimes/Most Times/Always
By answering the above questions on the website, your answers will be submitted and reviewed by a doctor. You then have the opportunity to talk to a professional about your test for a discounted price.
When Could I Develop ED?
The older you are, the higher your chances of developing ED will be. That’s just the way men are naturally and intricately made. This does not mean you cannot develop Erectile Dysfunction when you are young. This encounter can still happen. Now, it is not uncommon to experience some issues or trouble here and there in the bedroom. Men around the world have some minor problems forming or keeping an erection at some time in their life. That is not the issue. It becomes a problem when this occurrence happens more often than not.
What Can I Do to Prevent ED?
Believe it or not, there are things you can start doing now that will improve your chances of not developing ED in your lifetime. If you feel like you may be looking this disorder straight in the face over the next few years of your life—listen up. The first thing you can consider is where your physical health is standing. Would you consider your lifestyle healthy? If you answer “no” to this question, you can start today on improving how you live. The truth is, there is more to living a healthy lifestyle than meets the eye. Here are 4 categories to take into account when trying to improve your overall health.
Nutrition
Nutrition is the number one place you should start if you are trying to increase your chances of not developing Erectile Dysfunction in your lifetime. If you have ED, it is also the first place you can try at home to improve your symptoms. Food is medicine. It truly is medicine for the human body. The problem is, the world and society is so fast-paced that it often gets the least of your attention or the least of your effort. In reality, planning your meals, preparing your food, eating a variety of fruits and vegetables, drinking water, and limiting access to sugar, will all take you leaps and bounds toward improving your health. Here are 5 things you can do now to jumpstart this area of your life:
- Drink 100 oz. of water each day.
- Eat protein at each meal.
- Eat a vegetable with each meal.
- Limit sugar intake.
- Plan your meals ahead.
These are just 5 simple ways to boost your health that will create lasting results. Pick one of those from the list above and begin there this week. Just choosing one habit will allow you to take time to work on it day in and day out until it becomes a part of your life and just what you do. You won’t have to set reminders or write notes to yourself. It will become a healthy habit that will create lasting change for you and improve your quality of life now and in the future.
Along with the list above, there are certain foods you can include in your diet that can aid in relieving some of your symptoms of Erectile Dysfunction. There are also foods that you should avoid, which have been shown to quicken symptoms arriving or making them worse. Let’s start with foods you should include in your diet. For starters, you can eat whole foods: Fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, whole grains, olive oil, fish, etc. Research has shown that eating a whole foods diet and protein-rich foods decreases your chances of developing ED. As far as foods to avoid, limit sugar, processed foods and any saturated fats.
Physical Exercise
Another outstanding way to improve your health and decrease your chances of acquiring ED is to get your body moving and active. Exercising has many benefits to the body aside from not developing Erectile Dysfunction. You will have decreased risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other ailments. There is not a one size fits all exercise program or regime to follow for you to experience positive results. Just getting your body active every day can do the trick. Even working out just 30 minutes every day can give you immense amounts of benefits to your body and decrease your chances of ED in your future. There are a myriad of different activities you can do to get you started. Here are a few ideas:
- Swim
- Go Running
- Ride a bike
- Start a kickboxing class
- Join a gym
- Go for a walk
- Lift weights
- Jog
- Go for a hike
- Rowing
Above are just 10 ideas you could choose from to start moving your body today. Some individuals might say that riding your bike should be considered an activity that can bring about symptoms of ED. Although it can be true that depending on your bike seat, position and type of cycling you are doing, it can affect some soreness and pain in the groin area—there is no link between bike riding and Erectile Dysfunction. If you are a biker, or are considering including this in your activity for the week, you can start by getting a soft bike seat. Wear padded biker shorts and try to avoid tilting your seat forward. You can also make sure that your seat height is the correct height for your body and that your handlebars are where they should be to keep you upright.
Working out consistently does not mean you have to be at the gym every single day of the week and work out for 1-2 full hours. You won’t meet many people who have time for that in their day to day life. Look at your schedule and pick 3 days each week where you can exercise for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour. Choose a moderate-intensity aerobic activity. Once you have established this baseline schedule, add in 2 days per week for strength training.
Mental Health
Surprisingly, your mental health has a large impact on whether or not you develop ED and if your symptoms get worse over time. The man’s sexual response is more than just physical. In fact, it all starts in the brain. What’s on your mind affects what’s outside of your mind. If you are stressed and have anxiety and worry, you are more likely to produce signs of Erectile Dysfunction. Relationship issues, depression, anxiety, etc., can all quicken your body’s pathway into developing ED at some point in your lifetime. Taking care of your physical health can look a lot like taking care of your mental health first. Here are 5 ways you can be proactive about your mental health today:
- Schedule time for yourself or self-care.
- Talk to a therapist or counselor.
- Cultivate healthy relationships.
- Ask for help when you need it.
- Rest.
As mentioned previously, choose one thing on the list above and start there. Trying to do each of those five things all in a week can seem overwhelming. Choose one and do what it takes to have it accomplished. You will see the rewards in how you feel mentally, big and small. Oftentimes for individuals who experience Erectile Dysfunction, it can be brought about by stress. So you get stressed and you experience ED. Then it causes more stress on your relationship and this in turn makes your symptoms worse. It can be a cycle similar to this if you do not get help and talk to a trusted professional. Rest here is also key. In society and work-life today, it is rare to see someone rest as much as they ideally need to. The world is so fast-paced day in and day out that individuals do not take time off work or time for self-care in general that they so desperately need.
Emotional Health
Emotional Health is also very important when it comes to lessening your symptoms of ED or not developing it at all in your lifetime. Answer the series of questions below to get a better idea of where your emotional health lies:
- Do I have friends in my life?
- Do I have a trusted support network?
- Do I have healthy ways of expressing my emotions?
- Do I know how to effectively communicate my feelings?
- Do I have positive and encouraging relationships in my life?
If you answered yes to all of the questions above, you are well on your way to a healthy emotional well-being. If you answered no to 2 or more, you now know places you can start to improve. If you need more trusted friends in your life, start by joining social groups, going to events, and mingling to broaden your social circle. If you need help knowing how to positively express your emotions, and need help with communicating successfully, seek out a therapist you can talk to for help. If you feel your relationships in your life are not positive and encouraging, start setting boundaries and eliminating toxic people from your social life. The path to wellness is not a quick one, but it is one worthwhile.
So I Have ED, Will My Symptoms Get Worse?
If you are living with symptoms of Erectile Dysfunction, know you are not alone. Whether your current symptoms are mild or intense, you can still improve your chances of them getting worse. By fine-tuning your nutrition, implementing a solid and consistent workout schedule, and taking priority over your mental and emotional health, you can positively impact your symptoms of Erectile Dysfunction. Certain foods as listed above can make your symptoms get worse over time. It is important to be mindful of what you eat. It has such an impact on ED in your life.
Visit Genesys Men’s Health for Your Erectile Dysfunction Needs
At Genesys Men’s Health, we have a staff of skilled professionals that are ready to help you on your journey toward answers. We offer a variety of treatment options for Erectile Dysfunction. Come in and chat with one of our doctors, or give us a call at (801)-fast-paced671-7456. Contact us today! We are located in Sandy, Utah.