Erectile Dysfunction or Brewer's Droop?

For men, it’s an unfortunate fact of aging that after decades of jumping to attention whenever asked (and when we were both younger, whenever ‘he’ felt like it), once we hit 40, our best little friend, wedding tackle, little buddy, call him what you may, starts to become a little lazy. He even starts to forget some of his long time obligations, like standing up every day to say “good morning”.

The sad truth is that as we grow older, our little friend ages with us. Much research has gone into studying the effect of his aging, but almost all research comes to the same findings. It’s now an accepted fact that more than half of the male population starts to have at least some erection problems or some form of erectile dysfunction after they reach 40. This is not to say that after reaching 40 you or your partner won’t be able to say those three little words so important to an adult relationship, (“we got wood”), rather that you may not be able to say them quite so often, or as quickly.

Luckily, the news is not all bad. Men can take some actions to at least offset erectile dysfunction – and I’m not just talking about popping the little blue pill!

Lifestyle Factors

Lifestyle can have a profound effect on how well (if at all) a man can perform. Overindulgence and erectile dysfunction have a direct correlation. For example, one area that has a direct effect on how well (and often) an older man can, shall we say, ‘function’ in the bedroom, is the amount of alcohol he consumes. Excessive alcohol may give you the will and desire to perform, but can also reduce or even prevent operation of the ‘means’ to do anything with those desires – making the term ‘brewers droop’ an all too accurate explanation in many cases.

Good blood flow is essential for proper erectile function, so smoking, which causes constricted blood flow, can lead to a fall off in performance, as can another major contributor to poor blood flow, high levels of cholesterol.

Vitamin deficiencies, notably in vitamins A, B, C, and E, and minerals deficiencies in zinc and selenium can cause a low sperm count and reduced your sex drive, sometimes quite considerably. This is another reason to consider some minor lifestyle changes, such as a little exercise and making sure you have a well balanced diet. If you are one of the many older men that take antidepressant drugs or sleeping pills, as these can actually cause some vitamin and mineral deficiencies, you may even consider the worth of a daily vitamin supplement.

Aphrodisiacs, Stimulants, and Sex Aids

Erectile dysfunction or failure to get or hold an erection is not a new problem; men have sought ways to overcome it since we first walked upright. Through thousands of years a vast number of remedies have been tried, everything from garlic to dried rhinoceros horn. Sometimes, some of these natural aphrodisiacs can be beneficial, for example, they may contain specific vitamins or minerals your body needs or, like garlic, somehow help improve blood flow. There effect may also be psychosomatic – meaning that because the user believes it will work, it does. But, the truth is that thousands of years of study have not identified any single surefire natural remedy. Quite simply, natural aphrodisiacs are not that potent - as I found out first hand on my wedding day when I ordered a dozen oysters but only half of them worked!

Natural stimulants often fall into the same category as the aphrodisiacs – although because some people use excessive amounts, the results can be dangerous. The new range of chemical stimulants, most notable and popular being pills, capsules or jellies containing Viagra or Cialis, have proved very effective in some cases, but care must always be taken. Almost all stimulants work by increasing blood flow (Viagra was actually first developed to treat heart conditions) and excessive use, or use by someone with a pre-existing medical condition can be disastrous. Remember that the objective of taking stimulants is to make your penis stiff enough to perform, not leave your whole body with ‘stiffness of death’ - Rigor Mortis!

For sex aids, items like penis pumps, vacums, strap on pads, knobs and extensions have been around for many years. The very fact of their longgevity proves that these sex aids work for some people. With internet ordering and plain package deliveries, obtaining such devices is extremely easy, no matter how shy you may be.  

Don’t Suffer in Silence

Although most men are quite happy to tell the naughtiest bar jokes or bluest stories, it is a different matter when it comes to discussing problems we may be having with our ‘little buddy.’ Quite simply, most men that are experiencing problems getting or retaining an erection find the topic embarrassing to talk about.

It may be an embarrassing topic, but it is not one that should be ignored. Not only can a trip to the doctors help in finding ways to improve the situation, but your doctor may find an underlying cause. In the case of erectile dysfunction due to constricted blood flow, new research findings have even shown that impotency and inability to get or hold an erection can often identify those at high risk of a stroke, often two or three years in advance.

Simple stress and worry can actually make the problem worse, so quite apart from anything else, if you are suffering bouts of erectile dysfunction, a trip to your doctor can help. Talk to your doctor and the more you let out, and the more you learn, the more you ease the stress and worry of being unable to perform as you used to. 

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