Protect Your Erection: 11 Tips

AYUSH DARPAN Special Report:

(ED) is common in older men. But it's not a normal part of aging.  How can you avoid ED? Here's what experts told Ayush Darpan.

1. Watch what you eat.

A diet that's bad for a man's heart is also bad for his ability to have erections.

Research has shown that the same eating pattern that can cause heart attacks by impeding blood flow in the coronary arteries -- few fruits and vegetables and lots of fatty, fried, and processed foods -- can impede blood flow to and within the penis. That blood flow is needed for the penis to become erect.

Anything that is bad for a man's heart is also bad for his penis.

Recent studies show that ED is relatively uncommon among men who eat a traditional Mediterranean diet, which includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, heart-healthy fats including nuts and olive oil, fish, and wine.

"The link between the Mediterranean diet and improved sexual function has been scientifically established..

2. Maintain a healthy weight.

Being overweight can bring many health problems, including type 2 diabetes, which can cause nerve damage throughout the body. If that affects the nerves affecting the penis, ED can result.

3. Avoid high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

High cholesterol or high blood pressure can damage blood vessels, including those that bring blood to the penis. Eventually, this can lead to ED.

Make sure your doctor checks your cholesterol levels and blood pressure.  You might also want to check your blood pressure between doctor visits. Some stores and fire stations offer free screening; blood pressure monitors are also sold for home use.

If your cholesterol or blood pressure is out of whack, get it treated.

Blood pressure drugs can make it hard to get an erection. But doctors say many cases of ED that get blamed on these drugs are actually caused by arterial damage resulting from high blood pressure (also called hypertension).

4. Drink alcohol in moderation or not at all.

There is no evidence that mild or even moderate alcohol consumption is bad for erectile function," Sharlip says. But chronic heavy drinking can cause liver damage, nerve damage, and other conditions that can lead to ED.