4 Common Habits That Can Cause Erectile Dysfunction and Impact on Senior Men and Women
Several common habits can impact a senior man’s ability to achieve an erection or otherwise engage in gratifying sex. What many senior men do not realize is that four common habits can increase the risk a senior man will experience erectile dysfunction. These are:
- Smoking
- Alcohol consumption
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Mouth breathing
This article concludes with a candid discussion about how erectile dysfunction also impacts the lives of senior women.
Overview of Erectile Dysfunction
Before diving into our discussion of common habits that can cause erectile dysfunction, we take a moment to visit about erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction (ED), also known as impotence, is a common condition that affects men of all ages and can impact their quality of life. It is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual intercourse. ED can be caused by various factors, including age, underlying medical conditions, lifestyle choices, medications, and psychological issues such as stress or depression.
The most common physical cause of ED is the narrowing of the arteries in the penis that restrict blood flow. This restriction may be due to diseases such as atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) or other circulatory problems. Psychological causes like performance anxiety or depression can also contribute to ED.
There are many treatments available for ED, including medications such as sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), and vardenafil (Levitra). These medications help relax muscles in the penis and increase blood flow allowing men to achieve and maintain an erection when sexually stimulated. Other treatments include lifestyle changes such as exercise, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, maintaining a healthy weight, reducing stress and anxiety levels, and counseling with a psychologist or therapist if needed.
In addition to these treatments, surgical procedures are available that involve implanting devices into the penis that aid in achieving erections more easily. However, discussing all treatment options with your doctor before deciding the best course of action for you is important. Though it may seem embarrassing at first, talking openly about ED with your doctor can help you get back on track to living a healthy sex life again.
Smoking and Erectile Dysfunction
Smoking cigarettes or marijuana can lead to erectile dysfunction by impairing the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively and constricting blood vessels in the genitals. Quitting smoking can stop ED in its track – and fast.
Alcohol Consumption and Erectile Dysfunction
Too much alcohol can lead to disappointment in the bedroom because it interferes with messengers in the brain that tell your genitals to fill with blood. Alcohol can also cause ED by reducing testosterone production. Fortunately, alcohol’s influence on your inability to stay hard is temporary, and you should be good to go once the booze is out of your system.
Sedentary Lifestyle and Erectile Dysfunction
Lack of physical activity is a modifiable risk factor for ED. Not exercising or moving regularly can lead to weight gain, obesity, and an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases—all significant contributors to ED. However, even moderate exercise regularly can reverse ED and improve your ability to get an erection.
Mouth Breathing and Erectile Dysfunction
In a 2019 study published in the Journal of Oral Health and Dental Science, researchers found that 68 percent of participants who were mouth breathers encountered sexual issues, including ED, premature ejaculation, and reduced libido. Interestingly, the mouth-breathing participants who experienced ED ranged in age from their 20s to 50s, reinforcing the association between heavy mouth breathing and ED. “Certain types of breathing, such as mouth breathing, increase the risk of sleep disorders. Sleep interrupted for long periods can lower testosterone levels and increase the risk of erectile dysfunction,” explains Justin Houman, MD medical director at Bastion Health.
Erectile Dysfunction Statistics and Senior Men
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common and often distressing condition that affects an estimated 30 million men in the United States. ED can have many causes, both physical and psychological, and it can have a significant impact on a man’s quality of life, as well as his self-esteem and relationships.
Statistics show that more than half of all men over the age of 40 suffer from at least mild forms of ED. This increases with age to over 80 percent for men over 70. For many men who experience ED for the first time in their 40s or 50s, it can be very upsetting – particularly when dealing with other health issues related to aging.
Impact of Erectile Dysfunction on the Lives of Senior Women
Erectile dysfunction is a condition that affects many men, especially as they age. While the focus of most conversations and research around erectile dysfunction has been on men, it can also significantly impact the quality of life for senior women. As their male partners struggle with this issue, elderly women often feel overwhelmed and isolated by the situation.
There are many physical, psychological, and emotional effects that women may experience when dealing with their partner’s erectile dysfunction. Physically, some elderly women may feel neglected or unworthy due to their partner’s inability to perform sexually in the bedroom. This can lead to feelings of insecurity or inadequacy, damaging a woman’s self-confidence and self-esteem.
On the psychological side, senior women may feel a lack of connection with their partner due to his erectile dysfunction. This could cause them to question the strength of their relationship or if their partner still desires them. Feelings of loneliness can start to take over and make it difficult for an elderly woman to enjoy her sex life with her partner.
Furthermore, mental health issues such as depression or anxiety can arise when an elderly woman constantly deals with her partner’s erectile dysfunction. This type of stress can lead an elderly woman to be withdrawn from her friends and family as she struggles internally with her situation.
In addition, there are financial implications for senior women dealing with this issue. Medication used to treat erectile dysfunction is expensive and often not covered by insurance plans. This could strain household finances if an elderly couple resorted to purchasing these medications out-of-pocket to remedy the situation.
Fortunately, there are options available for couples struggling with this issue that do not involve medication or surgery in some cases. Many couples incorporate lifestyle changes such as diet modifications or exercise regimens into their relationship to create better intimacy without relying on drugs or invasive treatments. Other couple’s therapy sessions have been known to be incredibly beneficial in helping senior couples cope with the problem together while improving communication between one another at the same time. In any case, seeking medical advice from a professional is always recommended before attempting any treatment plan alone so that potential risks can be assessed beforehand and addressed appropriately within any given context.
It is important to recognize that while erectile dysfunction may primarily affect men, it also has far-reaching implications for seniors’ female partners. The physical discomfort associated with mental health concerns like depression should not go overlooked when attempting solutions addressing this issue among elderly couples today. Therefore, it is vital for seniors’ female companions facing this dilemma to get proper support from loved ones – whether through talking about how they feel openly or through counseling sessions – so they don’t fall victim to its long-term effects without proper guidance.