EXPERTS have revealed how you can “train” your way to better erections and that it can “prevent impotency” later in life.
Having trouble performing in the bedroom is usually associated with older men.
GettyExperts reveal how to ‘train’ your way to better erections[/caption]
If you’re having problems “getting it up”, you’re far from alone and plenty of help is out there.
In the new study, researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Uppsala University in Sweden show that connective tissue cells called fibroblasts have a role to play in erections.
ED affects around 4.3million men in Britain and is usually considered to be more common in people in their 40s or older, according to the NHS.
It can be caused by stress, tiredness or drinking too much, but could also be a sign of more serious complications if it happens regularly.
What are the physical causes of erectile dysfunction?
There are four main types of physical condition that can cause impotence in men:
Vasculogenic disorders such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes affect the flow of blood to your penis and cause erectile dysfunction.
Neurogenic conditions, which affect the nerves and include disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis, are also responsible.
A hormonal disorder, affecting your hormones, is another example of a physical problem that can lead to impotence.
An anatomical condition is something that affects the tissue or structure of the penis and is the fourth physical cause. Old age is also commonly associated with impotence.
But the recent research has discovered a preventative measure that could counteract impotence later in life.
The study conducted on mice has revealed that regular erections could be crucial in maintaining erectile function.
The previously understudied fibroblasts are common in both humans and mice, and play an important role in regulating blood flow – which helps erect the penis.
The research indicates that fibroblasts mediate erection by absorbing noradrenaline – a neurotransmitter that causes the penis’ blood vessels to enlarge.
And the number of fibroblasts can be increased with more frequent erections.
Christian Göritz, principal investigator of the study, said: “We discovered that an increased frequency of erections leads to more fibroblasts that enable erection and vice versa, that a decreased frequency results in fewer of these cells.”
The researchers believe that you can “train” your ability to get an erection the same way you train your strength and fitness at the gym.
“This is not something we have shown in our study, so it is a bit speculative, but a reasonable interpretation is that it gets easier if you have regular erections,” Göritz said.
He continued: “It’s not so strange really. If you exert yourself a lot, your body adapts.
“If you run regularly, it will eventually become easier to breathe while running.”
Even though the research was conducted on mice, most mammals including humans have similar mechanisms of erection.
Mice showed fewer fibroblasts with age, resulting in lower blood flow.
The ability to “get it up” decreases with age in older men too, which the scientists believe is connected to fibroblasts as well.
“However, there is one difference between humans and most mammals—they have a bone in their penis.
“This means that effective blood flow regulation is probably even more important for human reproduction,” Göritz added.
Is there a cure for erectile dysfunction?
There is no one single cure to beat ED, but rather a combination of lifestyle monitoring, medication and therapy.
Various treatments for erectile dysfunction are available – but they depend on the underlying reasons for the condition.
Some of the causes can be treated with medication, but in other cases it’s a matter of making some lifestyle changes.
Health specialists will often treat impotence by targeting an underlying health condition which is causing it such as heart disease or diabetes.
Lifestyle changes are also recommended such as losing weight, quitting smoking, cutting back on alcohol, exercising more, and reducing stress.
Viagra, a medication to help erectile dysfunction, is now available over the counter in the UK.
Aside from that, Cialis, Levitra, and Spedra can also be prescribed.
These drugs are known a Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors.
However these medications should be used with caution in men who have heart problems.