Erectile dysfunction, a condition wherein a man is unable to achieve adequate firmness for sexual penetration, is a common sexual dysfunction that affects millions of men worldwide.
The reason for its widespread prevalence isn’t traced to just a single source. Erectile dysfunction is inherently multifactorial, meaning that it can be traced to multiple potential health risks in either physical or psychological dimensions, if not both.
One common condition that has been proven to lead to ED is metabolic syndrome. This syndrome is known for raising glucose beyond the normal threshold, causing a cluster of increased cardiovascular risks.
And if you think you’re metabolically healthy, think again: according to one recent study, only 1 out of 8 Americans are considered to be metabolically healthy.
Treating erectile dysfunction involves treating the underlying health condition that may be causing it; in this case, metabolic syndrome.
As such, if you want to overcome ED, you’ll have to be proactive about improving your metabolic health—and health at large. This way, you can enter the road to recovery more seamlessly.
Without further ado, here are some tips and tricks on how you can keep your metabolism under control and overcome ED.
What Encapsulates Metabolic Health?
Let’s first define what metabolic health is and what it entails.
Metabolic health measures how well our body metabolizes or breaks down chemicals for the body to absorb and use.
Our body shows good signs of metabolic health if the rest of our vitals are in good standing. A healthy person, metabolically speaking, has normal diastolic and systolic blood pressure, healthy blood sugar levels, and healthy cholesterol levels.
The good standing of these variables can make the body carry out its daily functions optimally. It also helps cells in the brain, muscles, and organs convert into energy more efficiently.
When our body shows signs of good metabolism, we can recognize it when:
- We recover from illness quickly
- We aren’t overwhelmed by stress
- We are energized
- We digest our foods easily
Our metabolism is influenced by a wide range of factors, from age, gender, and genetics to muscle mass and amount of physical activity.
Our metabolic rate tends to remain stable when we’re in our 20s to our 60s—assuming that we follow sound and consistent dietary and stress management habits. However, once we pass the 60-year mark, our metabolic rate slows by about 0.7% annually.
This slowdown in our metabolic state can give rise to a plethora of unwanted symptoms, which we’ll get into below.
Signs of Poor Metabolic Health: Metabolic Syndrome
When you have poor metabolic health, you become susceptible to a slew of future health issues.
A constant state of poor metabolism is medically referred to as metabolic syndrome—a state in which you’re facing high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar levels, insulin resistance, excess body fat, and abnormal triglyceride and cholesterol levels.
All these factors combined can increase your susceptibility to developing common age-related health conditions, such as:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Heart disease
- Stroke
That said, before patients go on to develop those aforementioned conditions, they may experience some symptoms relating to poor metabolic health first. These are the signs you may be suffering from metabolic syndrome:
- Frequent thirst
- Urination
- Chronic stress
- Darkened skin
- Blurred vision
If you’re facing these symptoms, consult a medical expert for detection and to prevent more severe complications.
Metabolic Syndrome and Erectile Dysfunction: The Connection
Studies show that ED severity is closely associated with the severity of metabolic syndrome.
The primary reason for this is that there are shared dynamics in both penile and vascular reactions from the worsening health state associated with metabolic syndrome.
For instance, insulin resistance can cause NO production to be impaired—a key vasodilator. This can cause blood flow insufficiencies to the penis.
High blood pressure can also cause blood vessel damage, which can interfere with the blood flow supply leading to the penis.
Increased cholesterol levels can reduce testosterone levels, which can diminish sexual arousal and desire for sex in men.
Furthermore, an obese weight can also leave men susceptible to a slew of health problems that can increase the risk of erectile dysfunction, among many other sexual dysfunctions.
Read here to know the average weight for men.
How to Overcome Erectile Dysfunction
If your health is chipping away at your self-esteem, know this: you are in control over your body.
For patients with ED, there are several ways they can overcome their condition in clinical settings.
Here are a few clinical treatments to help reduce negative sexual risk factors:
- ED therapy: This treatment uses gels, creams, injections, and medication to improve erectile function in males.
- RestoreWave therapy: This treatment uses a special probe-like device to break plaque and facilitate blood flow in the penis.
- Counseling: This treatment treats underlying mental health disorders that may be causing ED.
- VEDs: This treatment entails the use of a vacuum suction device and a ring to facilitate erections in men.
Furthermore, for people suffering from metabolic syndrome, they’ll have to undergo a series of lifestyle changes and medications to get better.
In particular, andropause therapy and hormone therapy can help patients overcome health problems that may arise due to metabolic syndrome.
Lifestyle modifications like undergoing a weight loss program and a stress management program can also be highly effective.
Treat Erectile Dysfunction With Jacksonville’s Most Trusted Male Health Specialists
Upholding good metabolic health is something you should strive for in the long term.
Having healthy blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure can drastically reduce the risk of developing life-threatening conditions. It can also play a significant role in reducing erectile dysfunction risk in males.
If you have suboptimal metabolic health that’s resulting in sexual dysfunctions such as ED, the medical professionals at Prime Men’s Medical Center are equipped and ready to help you overcome your condition long term.
Our men’s clinic can help you recognize underlying health risks relating to your metabolism, but they can also recognize symptoms of other sexual dysfunctions as well.
From ED treatment and PE treatment and RestoreWave therapy to low testosterone therapy, our male health clinic provides a range of high-caliber treatments that help men develop full-fledged recovery plans to overcome their sexual woes.
Schedule an appointment with us today, your initial consultation and first treatment are completely free.
