Sleep Apnea and Erectile Dysfunction: There May Be a Link

Few things are as of great a concern to a man as erectile dysfunction, and understandably so. Men take pride in the manner in which their penis operates and when there is a “kink” in the machinery, it can create anxiety. Clearly, erectile dysfunction is linked to the greater area of penis health, but it can also be related to more general health matters. In this regard, one area which has received more attention in recent years is the possibility of a link between sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction.

Sleep apnea

Most people have heard of sleep apnea, but not everyone really knows what it is. According to the Mayo Clinic, sleep apnea is defined as “a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts.” Those with sleep apnea tend to snore very loudly and they often awake from a night’s sleep feeling unrested.

There are three types of sleep apnea:

– Obstructive, which is caused by the manner in which the throat muscles relax or tighten;

– Central, which means the brain isn’t properly sending messages to the muscles to regulate the breathing; and

– Complex syndrome, which is a combination of the other two forms of.

In addition to loud snoring and feeling unrested, a person with may experience periods of wakefulness during the night, insomnia, dry mouth, irritability, attention issues, sleepiness or morning headaches.

The erectile dysfunction connection

So is unpleasant, but what might it have to do with erectile dysfunction? Well, there definitely seems to be a connection – many men with also report issues with obtaining or maintaining an erection.

Although studies are ongoing to provide a definitive answer, there seem to be two ways in which sleep apnea may contribute to poor erectile function.

– Testosterone production. Studies (both in animals and humans) have found when male subjects are placed in a situation in which they receive an inadequate amount of sleep, their testosterone levels are negatively affected. Since chronic sleep apnea impacts a man’s sound sleep, this may result in lowered testosterone – which in turn has an impact on libido and erectile function.

– Nitric oxide production. In addition, some studies have shown that men with sleep apnea produce less nitric oxide, which is valuable for increasing blood flow to the penis. When that blood flow is impeded, erections are more difficult to achieve and maintain.

Treatment

Men who think they have sleep apnea (whether it is affecting their erectile function or not) should consult with a doctor. Treatment often involves using what is called a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine, which is used at night to keep a continuous flow of air going into the body. But sometimes there are other options that can be equally effective, such as losing weight or stopping smoking.

Erectile dysfunction from sleep apnea (or other causes) may require specific strategies for treatment, but regardless of the course chosen, it pays to keep the penis in good general health. Daily use of a first class penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) is always a plus. It may interest men to know that some cremes contain L-arginine, an amino acid that is very helpful in creating nitric oxide. As mentioned above, nitric oxide plays a role in keeping blood flowing to the penis in an appropriate manner. Try to make sure that the crème also contains vitamin C, which is a key component of collagen, a tissue in the body that gives skin its tone and elasticity and is vital for penile erections.

How to Get a Rock Solid Erection in Seconds

Inability to perform in bed can make you feel like a complete loser. As a matter of fact, ED is one of the most common sexual dysfunctions that men suffer with. Lack of blood flow to the penis and low testosterone levels are two of the most basic factors that affect your sexual health.

Apart from these two, there could be a couple of other factors at play resulting in weak or soft erections that can make penetrative sex almost next to impossible.

Fortunately, there are ways to ED beat and ensure rock solid erections even without using harsh drugs that have a lot of side effects.

Listed below are some of the most effective ways to boost your sexual potency:

1. Begin Working Out

The single most important factor that affects rigidity of your erections is blood flow to the penis. Lack of exercise is one of the main reasons behind a drop in blood circulation in your body and the best way to ensure a turn-around is with the help of regular exercise.

Exercises that involve lower parts of your body are great for enhancing blood flow to your genitals. Thus, make it a point to include squats, lunges and other leg exercises in your workout routine.

2. No More Smoking

While a lot of people are aware of the fact that smoking is bad for lungs and respiratory health, not many people speak of the damage it can do for your sexual health. Nicotine and other dangerous chemicals in cigarettes constrict your arteries and reduce blood flow throughout the body, including the extremities.

Lack of blood flow to the penis makes it extremely difficult for you to get a rock hard erection. Not just this, smoking also damages the DNA structure of your sperm resulting in fertility issues.

Keep in mind that with every cigarette that you smoke you are taking a step towards poor sexual and reproductive health.

3. Try To Reduce Stress

Whether stress relates to work or relationship issues, it’s certain to take a toll on your sex hormones and the ability to get a solid erection.

Stress is a major testosterone killer and a drop in your testosterone levels is likely to trigger erectile dysfunction as well as a drop in your libido.

Try to cut out on stress in your life if you really want to enjoy a healthy sexual life. One of best ways to beat stress is with the help of a regular workout. Some of the other excellent ways include yoga, meditation etc.

4. Go for L-arginine

L-arginine is an amino acid that is simply great for your sexual health. First of all, it’s clinically proven to boost testosterone production in your body. Secondly, it plays an important role in dilating blood vessels so that more blood can flow into your penis when you get sexually aroused resulting in a hard and stiff erection.

Red meat is a great source of this amino acid. Some of the other sources include dairy and poultry products, oats, nuts and beans etc. Try to include these foods in your diet.

5. Try a Natural Erection Gel

Last but not the least, you can also try a natural erection gel. Such a gel is a far better option as compared to pills since it works within seconds of application. The ingredients get absorbed into the bloodstream through skin pores and increase blood flow to the penis so that you can get a rock solid erection quick and fast.

Such a gel also helps you last longer in bed. Good quality gels are made with clinically proven ingredients and do not have any side effects.

Erectile Dysfunction Can Be a Result of Hemochromatosis

Iron deficiency is a fairly common problem, but in some people – such as those with the hereditary disorder hemochromatosis – iron overload can become an issue. Numerous health complications are associated with hemochromatosis, including one – erectile dysfunction – that has a distinct bearing on a man’s penis health. Knowing more about this disorder can help a man know what to do if he is experiencing erectile dysfunction related to this iron overload situation.

What is hemochromatosis?

Often called hereditary hemochromatosis, this is a genetic disorder, meaning a person is born with alterations in his genes that will ultimately cause iron overload. It is therefore not a condition one “catches” from another person; however, iron overloading usually does not become a problem for a man with hereditary hemochromatosis until he is in his 40s or 50s. He may therefore feel as if this is something that he contracted from another source, but the fact is that it is something that has been in his body since his birth.

A man develops iron overload in these situations because his body can’t regulate the amount of iron he absorbs from food. Too much iron is absorbed and not enough is released through urine or feces.

When the iron can’t be released from the body, it can settle into the heart, liver, pancreas, testicles and other parts of the body, causing damage over time. About 5 out of every 1,000 Caucasians have the genetic mutations that can result in symptomatic hemochromatosis, although not everyone who has the disorder will experience symptoms.

Those symptoms may include joint pain, fatigue, weight loss, stomach pain, and loss of sex drive. Common complications related to iron overload are diabetes, cirrhosis, arthritis, heart issues and erectile dysfunction.

Who does it affect?

Although anyone can be born with the genes that cause hereditary hemochromatosis, it is primarily associated with Caucasians whose heritage can be traced back to northern Europe.

As mentioned, both a diminished sex drive and erectile dysfunction may be associated with hemochromatosis. Why should this be? Again, this is related to the excess iron circulating through the blood and over time being deposited in the testicles. The iron causes damage to the organ and interferes with its ability to fulfill its functions properly, such as the production and release of testosterone levels. When the testosterone levels drop, a man’s sex drive decreases.

Testosterone levels also play a role in proper erectile functioning, but this is equally impacted by the cardiac issues that may arise due to hemochromatosis. These result in both a weaker flow of blood throughout the body and a weakening of the arteries and vessels, including those in the penis. When blood cannot vigorously flow into the penis, it results in weaker erections – or sometimes in no erection at all.

Treatment

In most cases, doctors treat diagnosed hereditary hemochromatosis through phlebotomy, which is another word for blood-letting. After the diagnosis is confirmed, a person will have a pint or so of blood drained on a regular basis – sometimes weekly, sometimes more or less. This continues until the iron level in the body is back in an acceptable range. After that, they will be phlebotomized much less often – perhaps every few months or so, just to maintain the proper iron level.

With treatment, erectile dysfunction due to hemochromatosis is generally reversible. It helps, though, to take steps to keep up the overall health of the manhood through daily use of a top drawer penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). Crèmes that contain vitamin C are especially advisable, as this vitamin is crucial for collagen production and penile tissue firmness. It’s also beneficial if L-arginine is among the ingredients in the crème. This amino acid helps keep blood vessels dilated, allowing for an easier flow of blood to the penis.

Does Heart Attack Recovery Lead to Penis Problems?

Many men worry about a variety of potential penis problems, and understandably so. Even with the best regular penis care, a man might run into issues of dryness, redness, itching and lack of sensitivity from time to time. But for some men, those issues are a bit of a moot point; they are simply worried about whether they can still have a good sex life after a major medical event.

Men who suffer a heart attack can face many worries and concerns about their physical health, including doubts about their ability to resume sexual relations with a partner. And in fact, some men might not be cleared to resume sexual activity until several months after the incident. But for many, the fear of getting back into the sack can be enough to keep them rather celibate for a long while after they have been cleared to get back to it.

Penis problems and heart attack

Many men suffer from penis problems after a heart attack. The biggest of these is erectile dysfunction, which has been seen in up to a quarter of all those who are recovering from a massive heart problem. The question becomes what causes it: Is it a result of blood flow problems, which are certainly possible after a heart attack? Or is it the fear a man might have of sexual activity following such a severe physical scare?

Studies have found that 19 percent of those who have suffered a heart attack have absolutely no interest in sex in the months following the cardiac event; another 16 percent are anxious about whether they will be able to handle the physical exertion required to enjoy the sexual act.

But there is also another component that men might not consider: Penis problems might be a harbinger of heart problems. Many men might notice that they have trouble with getting or maintaining an erection, coupled with occasional shortness of breath, some minor chest pain, and other symptoms that could indicate blood clots or narrowing of arteries that often lead to a heart attack. Therefore, men who suddenly experience unusual symptoms – including penis problems – should visit their doctor to rule out any serious issues.

Getting back into the swing of things

When it comes to resuming sexual activity, a man who has suffered any cardiac event should listen to his doctor on when it is okay to get busy between the sheets. For some men that might be as little as a week; for others it might mean several months of rest before sexual activity is okay. Once a man is cleared for sex, a good rule of thumb is that any activity that leads to chest pain or tightness is a sign to stop immediately.

But in addition to the physical concerns, many men might be anxious about getting back into it – and understandably so. In this case, it might be a good idea to hold off on sexual activity until a man is entirely ready, emotionally and mentally. This might take some time, and could even require talking to a therapist about the obvious worries and concerns he might have.

Once it’s time to give it a go, a man should be careful to have sex in a familiar place, in his favorite position, and don’t try anything adventurous at first. It is very important to ease back into any physical activity after a heart attack, including sex.

In the meantime, a man can still look after good penis health and watch out for penis problems. He can do this by using a top-notch penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) on a regular basis. A man should look for a crème that includes vitamin C for proper blood flow and L-arginine, an amino acid that enhances blood vessel dilation, thus leading to firmer erections. Other vitamins are great too, all blended together in a high-end emollient like Shea butter.

Why DOT Drug Testing Should Be Done Sporadically

It’s essential to conduct DOT drug trying out. While you need to make sure that it is getting done, it is clearly better to do it sporadically instead of on a hard and fast schedule. You can then be sure that it’s completed, however in this kind of manner that employees may not know while they’ll be known as for the test.

Keep Your Drivers Guessing

The final factor you want is on your personnel to know exactly whilst they’re going to be drug examined. The concept is for it to be random that they in no way understand it’s going to occur. It will offer you with better results because you will realize whether they are the usage of or now not. If you hold a set time table, they may doubtlessly forestall the use of at just the time to offer a clear check – and then pass proper back to the usage of.

This is what you are seeking to keep away from. There were endless humans who’ve been capable of effectively pass worker drug testing due to the fact they understand when the enterprise goes to check. The organisation has failed because they may be predictable. While employees may additionally skip a drug test, you know all too properly that they’ve been able to manage the gadget.

Get Results You Can Count On

The primary purpose to behavior DOT drug checking out this is sporadic is so you can surely rely on the outcomes. If you know personnel are using, but the results come again bad every time, you’ve got your self a hassle. The sporadic aspect maintains every person on their feet. You can then recognise that while you test an employee, you could rely upon the effects.

If you can’t get outcomes you can expect, numerous troubles rise up.

  1. Employees will be on capsules
  2. You may be in opposition to regulations
  3. You open yourself as much as extra threat

The fact is, you don’t need to deal with any of these troubles. If your employees are the usage of, whether or not it’s far on work premises or not, you need to discover. Further, in case you are in an enterprise that regulates employees and requires drug trying out, including freight transport, you need to make certain which you are following all the important protocol with regards to DOT drug trying out. You don’t want to examine that your drug checking out requirements aren’t DOT compliant, consequently ensuing in fines or other issues.

You do not should do all the testing on your own. You can paintings with a consortium to control the complete software for you. This will ensure that every one of the offerings you want are at your fingertips, and they would be legal to carry out diverse capabilities in order that there may be less in order to fear about.

Employees who drive for a living expect to be drug examined. It’s part of the activity. When you conduct the assessments sporadically, you may depend greater closely on the results – and minimize the risks which you expose your commercial enterprise to for the duration of the year.