How Stress Contributes to Erectile Dysfunction (ED)

;

The emotional and physical symptoms of stress can have a devastating impact on your life. It has been shown that chronic stress weakens the heart, increases blood pressure, disrupts the digestive system, and can cause depression and anxiety. With all of this in mind, is it really a surprise that stress would affect the quality of your erections? The erectile process involves signals flowing from the brain to stimulate blood flow in response, but stress can interrupt this communication between your mind and body, leaving you psychologically aroused but without an erection. An overwhelming amount of stress can be triggered by a number of factors. There is pressure from work, psychological issues like anxiety or low self-esteem leading to more serious conditions such as depression; there are also traumatic events, such as financial problems, that give us severe stress. If you think stress might be the cause of your ED, talk with a healthcare provider and discuss how it’s affecting other aspects of life.

How to Treat Stress Related ED 

If stress or high-stress events are the cause of your ED, there are many strategies to help reduce it.  

One of the best options for alleviating stress is through talk therapy, whether it’s personal counseling or couples’ sessions; exploring different approaches can help you find healthier means for dealing with any stress or anxieties you may be having.  

You may find that making lifestyle changes improves your mental and physical well-being. These include cutting back on the amount of tobacco or alcohol you consume, getting more exercise each day by walking (or even taking up yoga), practicing mindful thinking techniques like meditation which can help reduce stress levels while also enhancing erectile function through improved blood flow at rest. 

You should discuss these options with a doctor if they are unfamiliar territory for anyone who has frequent trouble achieving an erection during sex because there could be other underlying health conditions causing it – but this does not need to stop them altogether.  

Exercise is an incredible way to not only lower stress levels, but also help reduce symptoms of ED. Staying physically active can bolster testosterone levels, provide an emotional boost, increase self-confidence, and reduce depression. All of these factors have been shown to improve sexual health in men.  

High-fat and processed foods should be avoided in order to lower stress levels and a strive for a healthier libido. Adding more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains into your daily diet is the best way to improve your mood, and therefore your sexual performance and intimacy. The time it takes to see improvement in erectile health after adjusting diet varies for every individual. Some people may experience noticeable changes within weeks, while others only notice minor changes over a few months. 

Many men will increase tobacco and alcohol use during stressful times, but this only increases stress levels and lowers libido. Alcohol is actually a depressant, which means that if you are drinking regularly or heavily then both your libido and your mood are going to be down. Regular tobacco use causes the chemicals found within cigarette smoke to injure the lining of your blood vessels and damage the function of your heart, lungs, and yes, your erectile health. However, quitting smoking can improve symptoms for those with erectile dysfunction. 

If stress reduction is not enough to resolve your ED, you still have options. 

There are plenty of prescription options for treating erectile dysfunction if you can’t, or don’t want to, go the natural route. Two of the most common medications for ED are Sildenafil and Tadalafil, which come in pill form for oral consumption. Sildenafil and Tadalafil are the generic versions of Viagra and Cialis, which means you can have all the same benefits of a name-brand prescription without paying the high price. There is no chemical difference between the name-brand or the generic version- the only difference is how much you pay for your prescription. 

Stress is unavoidable, but it does not have to be a debilitating force in your life. You can take proactive measures to lower stress levels that may contribute to ED by adopting healthy habits and engaging in self-care strategies you enjoy. Erectile dysfunction is not something that should go unmentioned; instead of shying away from this tough topic with embarrassment or shame, it is time to learn all about erectile dysfunction so you will know what it means for your health. When it comes to erectile dysfunction, you have options for treatment. It can be difficult to keep your sex life alive when you’re experiencing ED, but do not delay in talking with a healthcare provider. They will help find the solution that is right for you and resolve other health problems before they become bigger than what should be happening. 

You May Also Like

5 Tips for Losing Weight In The New Year

Losing weight isn’t easy. It took time to add up, so give yourself some time to lose it. Make the decision to make some changes. It’s your choice. Here are a five tips to make your weight loss goal attainable. 

Read More

Weight Loss Injections – What Is The Best Injection for Weight Loss? 

You’ve tried everything else... Eating kale and broccoli until you turn green, doing push-ups until your shoulders hurt, running up and down hills until you’re nauseous. Yes… Weight loss isn’t easy. To make matters worse, once you’ve passed a certain body mass index, the work it takes to lose a pound of fat becomes incrementally more difficult. 

Read More

HIV Prevention Starts at Home

HIV is still a major health issue in the United States and around the world. In fact, according to hiv.gov, there are approximately 1.2 million people living with HIV in the United States alone. About 13% of those are unaware they have it and require testing to determine their status.

Read More

5 Ways to Handle Anxiety and Reduce Stress

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health problems in the United States. It can be caused by many different things, including stress, genetics, and chemical imbalances in the brain. Anxiety can lead to a number of physical and emotional symptoms, including chest pain, rapid heartbeat, sweating, dizziness, and nausea.

Read More

Hyaluronic Acid: The Powerhouse Skincare Ingredient

Hyaluronic Acid is a powerhouse skincare ingredient that plumps and tightens skin, deeply moisturizes, and reduces the appearance of wrinkles. It is an ingredient that can be found in facial serums, moisturizers, lip balms, and other cosmetics. While Hyaluronic Acid may seem intimidating to pronounce, the ingredient is not as scary as it sounds- Hyaluronic Acid is naturally occurring.

Read More

Protecting Against COVID-19 and its Variants

In these uncertain times, it has never been more important to stay informed and aware. The rise of the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 has resurfaced concerns in some over how to stay safe during the continuing pandemic, and we want to help alleviate your fears as much as possible and help you practice healthier hygiene habits.

Read More

6 Ways to Improve Your Mental Wellness All Year

It is more than okay to not be okay sometimes, but we all want to be mentally well and happy. Mental wellness is integral for living a fulfilling life but maintaining it can come with its challenges. And yet, we often neglect our own mental health in favor of other priorities like work, family, relationships, obligations, or friends.

Read More

Talking to Your Partner about ED

A lot of men do not want to talk about their erectile dysfunction (ED), but the truth is that it can affect more than just themselves- their partners are also affected by the condition. The right communication will help avoid any embarrassment and allow room for understanding and support to grow.  

Read More

HIV Today: A Look at the Progress We’ve Made

In the early 1980s, HIV was a death sentence. Today, it is manageable with medication and can be treated as just another chronic disease. With new medical advancements and increased awareness, we have made considerable progress in combating HIV/AIDS since its outbreak 40 years ago.

Read More

The Effects of Hormonal Birth Control

Many women are concerned about the effects that hormonal birth control might have on their health. If you are thinking of starting the pill, or if you have been on the pill for a while, it makes sense that you may have concerns about how long-lasting any side effects might be.

Read More