Men often feel uncomfortable talking about their erectile dysfunction (ED), which leads to many men making all the wrong choices when trying to treat their problem. Besides that, ED is often a sign of an underlying health condition. If you do not talk about your problem with your doctor, there’s a great chance that a serious medical condition may go unnoticed. Keeping in mind that up to 52% of all men experience ED at some point in their life may help you feel more comfortable with addressing your issue. You should also be aware that there is a right and wrong way to manage ED. To help you get the best treatment you deserve, here are seven healthy ways ED can be managed.

1. Address the underlying causes

Erectile dysfunction, which is defined as an inability to achieve or maintain an erection, is often not just a medical disorder in itself but a sign of another illness. Two of the most common causes of ED are diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, ED can also be a result of pituitary tumors, hormonal imbalances, depression, medication use, and injury. As you can see, ED is more often than not a sign of a serious medical condition, especially if you’ve had ED for quite some time and if you are unable to achieve an erection in all circumstances, including nocturnal erections. This is why talking about your difficulties with a doctor is so important. Once you are diagnosed with ED, doctors will look for the underlying causes, and this increases your chance of being treated successfully.

2. Exercise regularly

Since ED is a sign that your body is not functioning as well as it could, then improving your health through exercising is bound to improve your erection quality as well. A systematic review published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine concluded that most men found that exercising had helped them achieve firmer erections and that this was especially true for aerobic exercising. Exercising improves ED by correcting many physiological problems that may be contributing to your ED. For instance, exercising helps you lose weight, controls your blood sugar levels, improves your blood lipid profile, improves your blood circulation, increases your testosterone levels, and boosts nitric oxide production. So, it goes without saying that whatever the underlying cause of your ED, exercise is bound to help.

3. Don’t be ashamed

A common reason why men avoid talking about erectile dysfunction is that they feel ashamed. However, sweeping your problems under the rug won’t help you remove the problem, but can only make matters worse. For instance, you may avoid being intimate with your partner, and this can negatively affect your relationship. Your insecurities could easily affect your well-being and lead to psychological distress. However, understanding that ED is a problem many men experience and that can easily be treated with today’s medication, and psychological counseling can help you deal with your problem in a much healthier way.

4. Consider natural treatments

ED was traditionally treated with herbal and other natural remedies. According to a study published in Current Urology Reports, many herbal remedies we see being used in the management of ED show many potentials in treating this common male problem. The most effective natural options include Ginseng and pomegranate juice, both of which contain antioxidants that boost nitric (NO) oxide production. NO is a gas, naturally found in the body and that functions as a muscle relaxant and vasodilator. Men with ED often have low levels of NO in their body due to conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, other herbal remedies like tribulus terrestris work by increasing testosterone levels. Testosterone also plays a role in erection quality and arousal, but the levels of this important male hormone decline with age, which can contribute to ED.

5. Change your diet

Because ED is often caused by other health problems, a good way to treat ED is by first addressing the underlying issues through healthy eating. Most of us are now familiar with the importance of healthy eating for overall health. A diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats is now generally considered good. A good example of a healthy diet is the Mediterranean diet or plant-based diets, which reduce your chance of chronic disease states. But other than switching to a healthy diet, you may also consider functional foods know to improve sexual health. Oysters, pumpkin seeds, tomatoes, avocados, almonds, watermelon, and leafy greens are just some food options known to improve sex drive and erection quality.

6. Consider your mental health

Chronic stress, anxiety, and depression are the most common psychological cause of many sexual dysfunctions, including ED. If you’ve been feeling stressed, unmotivated, lethargic, and generally unwell, chances are your sex life will suffer. A good way to determine if your ED is a result of psychological issues is to see if you achieve spontaneous erections occasionally. Generally, if you do experience spontaneous erections such as during sleep, this can indicate that your ED is not a result of physical illness but a mental one. Psychological counseling can help you manage both your mental anguish and your sexual problems.

7. Avoid aphrodisiacs

The market of natural ED treatments is saturated with products that could actually be damaging to your health. Many so-called ED supplements, male enhancement pills, and testosterone boosters may be tainted or adulterated, and they may cause more problems than you think. Furthermore, relying on drugs and alcohol to get you in the mood and improve your erections won’t get you anywhere. While these stimulants do increase desire in some cases, they will not improve erection quality, especially if your ED has an organic cause.

Conclusion

Erectile dysfunction is a common male problem that many men feel too ashamed to talk about. However, talking about your issue is the first step in finding the right treatment. Otherwise, you risk making unhealthy choices with the hopes of managing your issue. It’s always best to seek professional help before considering other options.