Zinc and erectile dysfunction

Zinc is a naturally occurring metallic element. Certain types of vegetable, meats and seafood are rich in zinc.

Erectile dysfunction is a man's inability to achieve a penetrable erection. It is one of the most common sexual problems faced by men of all ages. Zinc helps the body to produce testosterone and thus the levels of zinc in a person's body may affect erectile dysfunction.

A host of factors ranging from nutritional deficiency to clinical depression can lead to the condition. In recent years, deficiency of zinc has been found to be the cause of ed. Apart from producing testosterone, zinc is used for metabolism purposes, DNA and protein production and cell division.

Most studies related to male infertility show a clear concise relationship between zinc and ed. During a study some young men were given a diet which included very little amounts of zinc and thus they developed a zinc deficiency. When testosterone levels were measured after 20 weeks of low-zinc diet it was found that the level of the hormone had drastically reduced. The study also found that in elderly men, with an increase in the uptake of zinc, testosterone levels nearly doubled.

Research on animals established the fact that relationship rats who were given 5 milligrams of zinc supplement a day, were found to be sexually active to a greater extent. It concluded that zinc had an impact in the arousal and maintaining of an erection in men.

Zinc deficiency can also reduce the sense of smell in person. A sense of smell is vital to libido, especially more in young men. Thus, it can cause a person to lose the ability to detect certain chemicals that stimulate arousal.

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Related Tip: Knowing Erectile Dysfunction. PART 2: Management and Treatment

Zinc and Erectile Dysfunction - How is it related?

Erectile dysfunction is a disorder where the person affected is unable to maintain or achieve an erection during sexual intercourse. As diabetes is a disorder that affects blood supply to organs, so the ability to achieve or maintain erections are impaired, as erections are dependent on proper blood supply to the penis. Fortunately, there are treatments for these symptoms and they are:

1. Injection therapy and oral medications

Some medications are directly injected to the penis in order to facilitate erection, while certain other oral drugs are administered to treat symptoms of erectile dysfunction which have a higher success rate in treating people who are diabetic than those who are not.

2. Regular exercise and a healthy diet

Exercising on a regular basis combined with a healthy diet can reduce the symptoms of both diabetes as well as erectile dysfunction.

3. Reviewing medications

Some medications used to treat blood pressure and depression can often cause erectile dysfunction. So, the medications should be reviewed by a doctor and, if necessary, should be changed.

4. Usage of vacuum constriction devices

These devices are used to create a pump in the penis which facilitate the ability to maintain an erection and engage in sexual intercourse. It is reported to work in 80% of the cases.

5. Penile implants

It is a surgical procedure where a penis implant is used to treat this disorder.

6. Intraurethral therapy

In this treatment, the medicine is placed in the urethra of the penis in the form of suppository by an applicator. These medicines improve blood flow and thus facilitate a normal erection.

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Link between Erectile Dysfunction and Premature Ejaculation

Erectile Dysfunction is the inability of a man to achieve a penetrable erection while premature ejaculation is a man's inability to take control of his ejaculations during or before sexual intercourse. These conditions are two of the most common sexual dysfunctions observed among men. The prevalence of these two conditions can be found among all socioeconomic groups and among men of varying ages.

The incidence of premature ejaculation is higher and hence more common among both young and old men. Studies show that an estimated 40% of men suffer from the condition of premature ejaculation. On the other end, research also reveals that erectile dysfunction is associated with advancing age though a host of other factors like diabetes, kidney and heart diseases and certain medications can also be responsible.

How are these two conditions actually related?

It is found that in most men who have been primarily diagnosed with erectile dysfunction, the secondary concern has been premature ejaculation. The reason for both the problems is more or less the inadequate flow of blood to the penis required for a penetrable erection.

Moreover, in some cases, it was found that premature ejaculation occurred when a person was diagnosed with both mild and acute erectile dysfunction. In a similar manner, it was found that among men who suffered from ED and required constant stimulation to maintain a penetrable erection found out the instances of occurrence of premature ejaculation was high.

In some cases, it was found that the chief cause of erectile dysfunction was premature ejaculation. Because of these reasons, the two conditions are often found to co-exist and overlap one another.

In cases where both the conditions exist, treatment for ED is recommended to be sought first.

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What is the Link between Erectile Dysfunction and Premature Ejaculation?

Impact of Weight Loss on Erectile Dysfunction

When a man fails to develop or maintain an erection, he is said to be suffering from 'Erectile dysfunction'. Intake of certain drugs, neurogenic disorders, aging, surgery, smoking, obesity, diseases like diabetes and kidney failure are among the primary causes of this condition.

What impact does excessive body weight have on erection?

Obesity is one of the most important causes of erectile dysfunction. It obstructs proper flow of blood to the penis. Also, research associates obesity with reduced levels of testosterone and lesser sex drive, in turn, causing problems related to erection. Therefore, reducing weight becomes very important in order to improve this condition.

How are weight loss and erectile dysfunction related?

Studies show that within a span of two months, losing 5-10% of the body weight helps a man to improve erectile function. Weight loss not only improves the health of the man significantly but also an improvement in the sex life is observed as a result of this. Men with this condition usually depend on pills like Viagra or Cialis to get erections. But once they start losing weight by doing proper physical exercises and maintain a proper diet, they do not feel the need to rely on them anymore.

Also, most researchers share the view that weight loss achieved through lifestyle modifications helps in relieving you from erectile dysfunction in addition to enhancing your mental health and self-confidence. These lifestyle alterations generally include consumption of a healthier diet and increasing the amount of physical activity performed during the day and show better results than drugs and surgery used for losing weight.

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Can Erectile Dysfunction be Treated through Weight Loss?

A few physical conditions can render intense mental distress as well, and one such condition is Erectile Dysfunction in men. A majority of the men facing the problem feel uncomfortable disclosing the problem of erectile dysfunction. Affecting more than 30 million men worldwide, ED or erectile dysfunction continues to damage their sexual life. However, this condition is very much treatable and nothing at all to hide or embarrassed about.

How can you know that you have erectile dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction refers to a man's failure of having a firm erection for having sexual intercourse. Problems with having an erection are nothing uncommon and are experienced by men half of the time. But when this male sexual problem becomes extremely frequent, then it is termed as erectile dysfunction.

The symptoms caused by erectile dysfunction can vary from one person to another. However, some of the common symptoms that can make one certain that he may be suffering from ED are reduced interest in intercourse or sex, facing difficulty in getting a firm erection and trouble in maintaining the erection for long during different sexual activities. Apart from these, some sexual disorders like delayed ejaculation or premature ejaculation and inability to achieve an orgasm, even after enough stimulation are some its symptoms too.

What causes Erectile Dysfunction?
When it comes to the causes of erectile dysfunction, there is a variety of them. For every different individual, the factors making him suffer from erectile dysfunction can be different. Some of the very common causes of erectile dysfunction are, suffering from hypertension, anxiety due to relationship problems, alcohol or drug use, excessive stress, cardiovascular disease, being overweight, any injury or damage due to cancer or any kind of surgery etc. It is not necessary that any one cause to be responsible behind ED, several factors can also cause erectile dysfunction.

Treatment options-
Depending on the underlying cause of erectile dysfunction, there are various treatment options available. From different oral medications to implants or surgeries, psychological counseling, various treatments are now available for treating erectile dysfunction. There are even different erection creating device and exercises that can put an end to erection dysfunction. There are also penile implants and alternative medications available. However, one must look for the guidance of a medical professional before opting for any of the treatment options. Because it is only a medical professional who can analyze the condition of ED, find out the exact cause behind it and suggest the best treatment that can help one in dealing with this condition.

Experiencing trouble in erection from time to time is nothing to be concerned about. However, when this condition turns into an ongoing one that happens every time one feels interested in intercourse or is sexually aroused, then the person should not hesitate anymore in seeking a consultation with a doctor.

Erectile Dysfunction- Causes, Symptoms and Treatment!

There is a general misconception about impotence and erectile dysfunction being two separate conditions. In fact, impotence is just another term for erectile dysfunction. If you have a problem in achieving an erection more than 70% of the times when you want to have sex, you are suffering from erectile dysfunction.

Impotence is the same thing, but it also encompasses other concerns related to sexual health such as low libido and issues with ejaculation.

Causes of erectile dysfunction

Disruption of blood flow in the body or disruption in hormonal secretion and nerve supply to the body

Vascular and neurological causes

Occurrence of a disease known as atherosclerosis, which is caused due to smoking and diabetes. In this case, the arteries in the penis get narrowed and clogged.

Neuropathy, which occurs because of diabetes or diabetic neuropathy

Nerve damage because of a previous surgery around the pelvis area

High blood pressure or hypertension also result in damaged arteries throughout the vascular system. Blood flow gets impaired and proper erection is hampered.

Physical causes such as high cholesterol and obesity, Parkinson s disease and multiple cases of sclerosis

Smoking, excessive drinking and substance abuse

The reactions and side effects of certain medicines

Several psychological factors such as depression, excessive stress, tension, and performance anxiety, which reduce libido

Poor communication with the sexual partner

Intake of several medicines such as alpha adrenergic blockers, beta blockers, chemotherapy medications and central nervous system depressants

Treatment for erectile dysfunction

Different treatments may be used to treat erectile dysfunction. These include the following:

Medication: A group of drugs known as PDE-5 or phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors are used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Vacuum devices: Vacuum erection devices help in providing an erection in men. A mechanical procedure is involved where the penis is made rigid using a vacuum pump sealed around it. This device draws blood and an erection becomes possible.

Surgical treatment: Penile implants can be used to treat erectile dysfunction. Mechanical implants are used, which help to keep the penis hard. A vascular surgery is another option, which incorporates the correction of blood vessels responsible for erectile dysfunction.

Natural treatment: There are a number of lifestyle changes that help a man naturally treat erectile dysfunction. Regular exercising, especially weight-bearing ones, not only aids in increasing blood flow, but also improves production of testosterone. Following a balanced diet with more intake of fruits and vegetables, limiting alcohol and avoiding smoking also generate positive results.

The term impotence and erectile dysfunction are quite related as they indicate the same conditions. However, today the term erectile dysfunction is more popular over the term impotence. In case you experience any of the symptoms of this condition, you should consult a doctor immediately.

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