Best Way to Protect Penile Blood Flow
May 10, 2024
Maybe you haven’t responded well to taking a PDE-5 inhibitor or simply don’t want to take medications in the first place. Either way Dr. Earl Eye has decades of experience helping men just like you to improve their sexual health with an integrative approach for treating performance issues.
Chances are your erectile issues didn’t just happen all at once. Initially, you may have only experienced softer erections but that led to difficulty in achieving an erection and then an inability to maintain an erection suitable for intercourse. A natural buildup of plaque can cause blood flow to the penis to slowly decline at any age.
Experts say that vascular diseases could be the culprit for up to 70% of cases. Unfortunately as you experience life, blood vessels can get clogged in many areas of your body like your heart and brain as well as all of your appendages, including the temperamental one. Since a majority of time a physical issue triggers ED, experts say the most common cause is likely high blood pressure.
When a man experiences peripheral artery disease (PAD), the blood vessels narrow making it more difficult for his body to maintain the blood flow needed to produce a firm lasting erection. So, a man’s overall sexual health is directly linked to his cardiovascular health. But physical causes of ED can also involve nerve damage from trauma, medications or surgery.
Ready to improve your circulation...
Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to your body’s organs and tissues, including the penis. Good blood flow is essential for life as it removes harmful toxins. Not only does it heal your body, but proper circulation is also necessary to keep organs functioning properly. Without a healthy widening of blood vessels (vasodilation), lots of bodily functions are affected, including the production and release of certain hormones that can negatively affect overall sex drive.
Strategies to Prevent Erectile Dysfunction
Plaque buildup (atherosclerosis) results from excess calcium and cholesterol in the bloodstream. This can restrict the amount of blood which can flow through the arteries to your heart, brain, body, and penis. Men who have diabetes and those who smoke tobacco products are at the greatest risk for poor circulation and PAD. Since aging can also be a factor, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be important, as are these factors:
- STOP SMOKING – Since your organs and tissues are connected to your circulatory system in parallel, the cardiac output can be redistributed by any altering of resistance to blood flow. So smoking can have a major impact on your sexual performance as well as your overall health and well-being. Nicotine found in cigarettes causes a narrowing of blood vessels and carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin reducing the amount of oxygen and nutrients that reach cells. Moreover, the plaque buildup in the arteries weakens vessel walls prohibiting proper blood flow. Smoking builds plaque, reduces flow, and causes blood vessels to loose flexibility.
- DO CARDIO EXERCISES – Any sort of movement boosts blood flow, so staying physical active will raises your heart rate and make blood move more efficiently through your body. Sitting for hours at a time isn't great for your circulation, which means implementing a “Get Up and Walk” strategy can be useful at home or work. Your circulatory system works best when you’re upright and moving, so lying on the sofa lowers the volume of blood pumped, which reduces oxygen uptake. Routine exercise improves your body’s ability to pump blood and keeps the arterial lining smooth and slippery to help prevent inflammation.
- LIVE HYDRATED – Adequate nutrition and hydration keeps the body's blood supply generous and healthy. But, when the body is dehydrated, there is fluid loss that decreases blood volume making it more difficult for blood to reach the tissues in the penis. Without proper hydration, the body produces chemicals that reduce the volume of red blood cells and plasma causing a narrowing of blood vessels. Since thicker blood retains more sodium, it also causes your heart to work harder to pump blood. Not only does drinking plenty of water support many other health conditions, but it is also essential for boosting circulation to help prevent veins from closing up.
- EAT HEALTHY FOODS – Diets high in saturated fats and added sugars can lead to hardening of the arteries that blocks normal blood flow. Since poor eating habits can lead to problems with weight management and obesity, those conditions are closely linked to heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and erectile dysfunction. Atherosclerosis that occurs when fatty deposits, cholesterol, and calcium build up on the arterial walls, can lead to circulatory issues, including ED. Experts tend to agree that a Mediterranean Diet high in fruits, vegetables, nuts and beans that is also low in red meat and full-fat diary products can lower risk of performance issues.
- GET MORE SHUTEYE – Poor sleep quality causes disruption to testosterone production that can lead to low libido and an increased likelihood of erectile dysfunction. Medical researchers say undisturbed sleep protects blood vessels from atherosclerotic damage by regulating the production and release of neuropeptides called hypocretin. This means most adult males need at least seven hours of sleep per night to avoid sleep-related dysfunction. An article published by the National Institute of Health suggests that obstructive sleep apnea is the disorder commonly associated with an increased risk of ED.
- TRY SHOCK WAVE THERAPY – Safely eliminate the penile plaque that may have been building up for years. Jacksonville men’s health specialist Dr. Earl Eye often uses low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy (Li-ESWT) to restore and maintain healthy blood flow to the penis. Targeted waves travel through the layers of skin to safely eliminate plague. These non-invasive treatments also stimulate the growth of new blood vessels for ongoing improvements in erectile strength. Unlike the temporary results achieved by ED medications, injections, or wearable devices, pulsed shockwave treatments can lead to sustainable improvements.
Fortunately, there are ways to unclog arteries and restore blood flow to the penis once plaque has built up on the arterial walls. However, for sustainable improvements to your erectile healthy, an integrative approach might include quitting smoking, staying physically active and following a heart-healthy menu plan as well as using low-intensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy to melt away existing deposits of penile plaque.
______________________
It's time to take control of your sexual health and regain confidence in the bedroom. Don't let common men’s sexual health issues like erectile dysfunction or Peyronie's disease hold you back any longer. Low-intensity shockwave therapy is a viable treatment option. Call 904-500-5500 to schedule your appointment with Dr. Earl Eye and find out if shockwave therapy is right for you.
