Did you know that your sexual health and wellbeing is also as important as your physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing?
Talking about sex in many settings have been frowned at most times but sex is also an important aspect of our lives. Some people started early in life, and some people very late in life depending on their social or religious perspectives.
Understanding our sexual health and factors that can affect our sexual wellbeing to engage and enjoy sexual activity is equally important. It is therefore not enough for us to know that only social, disease and physical factors affect men’s sexual health, but our sexual health and sexual wellbeing is anchored on the overall performance of our circulatory system and our mental wellbeing.
A healthy heart is an antidote for a good sexual health and well being for men.
The following have been documented as risk factors for men’s sexual health;
• Inability to maintain and sustain an erection for a desired sexual performance otherwise called Erectile dysfunction (ED).
• Stress, anxiety and depression
• Relationship breakdown
• Low levels of sex hormones (testosterone)
• High cholesterol levels
• Heart disease
• Sexually transmitted disease
• Injury
• Overweight or obesity
• Drugs
• Alcohol
Healthy Advice on Men’s Sexual Health
1. Understand early signs of ED and discuss with your doctor at the earliest signs of these symptoms;
a. trouble getting an erection
b. difficulty maintaining an erection during sexual activity
c. minimal interest in sex
d. premature ejaculation
e. delayed ejaculation
2. Maintain adequate sleep as poor sleep has been documented to increase stress levels and can affect how your brain store and use energy. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about chronic insomnia. Take steps to adjust lifestyles to have quality sleep time.
3. Engage in regular physical activity such as exercise. Exercise has been proved to improve fatigue with a focus on a moderate exercise like brisk walking 15-30 minutes per day.
4. Check your blood pressure, diabetes status and cholesterol levels in any pharmacy providing such services.
5. Ensure you discuss with your doctors if you are taking blood pressure, diabetes drugs as some of these drugs may cause erectile dysfunction
6. Strike a balance with your partner by finding ways to explore common ground to the problem, be open and honest, get intimate and stay connected with each other.
7. Healthy eating, maintain a healthy weight, limit alcohol intake and quit smoking.
8. Consult your doctor for any sexually transmitted infection (STI) if you felt you may have been at risk.
If these approaches have not helped please consult your doctor as they will make further assessment of presenting symptoms.
References
1. Erectile dysfunction on Healthline.com
2. Men’s Sexual Health on Harvard Health
DISCLAIMER
Please note that contents of Pharmahealthtalk health advice and healthy tips are no substitute for any advice recommended by your doctor or other healthcare professionals. Always seek a medical opinion for your health conditions.