Treatment Of Erectile Dysfunction With Medication

If there is one term that can strike fear into the hearts of men, it’s impotence. Erectile dysfunction has been a concern that men have faced all time. This condition can have an impact on several areas that affect our quality of life. In addition to the inability to get or maintain an erection, men with ED face other struggles. These can include having their perception of their own masculinity impaired and social consequences. ED is fairly common among aging men but can occur at any age. Thankfully, there are numerous of ways in which this condition can be successfully treated.

Treatment Of Erectile Dysfunction With Medication

The most common course of treatment for erectile dysfunction is so well known it’s become part of pop culture. References to the ‘little blue pill’ have become common and are often used to refer to any pharmaceutical treatment for this condition. There are four different medications that are commonly prescribed to manage symptoms resulting from erectile dysfunction:

• tadalafil (Cialis)
• sildenafil (Viagra)
• vardenafil (Levitra)
• avanafil (Stendra)

Each of these drugs addresses the symptom in a similar way. Nitric oxide affects the body by widening the blood vessels, known as vasodilation. This widening of the blood vessels results in boosted blood flow. While the effect is body-wide, it is particularly prominent in the penis. This increased blood flow to this area results in extended erections that are easier to achieve.

While these treatments are definitely effective, they do have some potential side effects:

• Headaches – This symptom is the most commonly reported. The headaches occur as a result of the elevated blood flow resulting from nitric oxide. All forms of ED medication can cause this symptom, so a change won’t necessarily help. Your doctor may have suggestions for managing them.
• Body aches and pains – ED medications are commonly reported to cause pains and muscle aches. In some cases, this is specifically focused in the lower back. Over-the-counter medication can often help these symptoms. If you experience symptoms like these, call your medical practitioner for help.
• Digestive system problems – Some patients experience digestive discomfort while taking ED medication. In most cases, these symptoms present as diarrhea and indigestion. Drinking additional water during the day can help avoid these symptoms.
• Dizziness – Some men experience dizziness in response to higher levels of nitric oxide. While mild, it can interfere with daily activities. In extreme and rare cases, men may experience fainting spells. Speak to your doctor if this happens.
• Vision Changes – Changes in vision, including blurriness, can occur as a result of taking ED medication. While these symptoms are typically temporary, avoid using this medication if you have experienced vision issues in the past—especially retinitis pigmentosa.

Speak To Your Doctor For Help Treating Erectile Dysfunction

When erectile dysfunction is affecting your life, it’s time for a call to your physician. Medical professionals can provide useful information about treatment options. While these medications are the most prominently used treatments for this condition, other options exist. Call and schedule a consultation to learn more.

Steps You Can Take To Manage Your Cholesterol

The deadly dangers of high cholesterol are well known. Elevated levels increase our risk of having a heart attack and of developing heart disease. Medications are one effective way of managing our cholesterol but should be a last resort. Lifestyle changes and conscientious choice of food can be more effective and come with additional benefits. With heart disease being the most frequent killer of men and women in the United States, it’s vital to take proper steps to keep your cholesterol in check.

Steps You Can Take To Manage Your Cholesterol

There’s a lot of poor information available about medical concerns in general. Methods of controlling our cholesterol levels come up in many areas. It’s essential to have the correct information to be able to control this condition effectively. Below we’ve provided a few steps you can take to keep your cholesterol in check.

It Starts With Dietary Choices

Cholesterol only comes from one source, the foods we eat. This fact means your primary angle of attack on this condition is going to be changing your diet. Consider the following tips:

• Reduce saturated fats – This form of fat can be found in full-fat dairy products and red meats. By limiting the amount you get in your diet, you’ll reduce your (LDL) cholesterol. The type is commonly known as “bad” cholesterol.
• Eliminate trans fats – This type of fat appears in processed foods, especially cakes, crackers, and cookies. Partially hydrogenated vegetable oil has been banned from appearing in foods as of Jan 1, 2021. This oil was a significant source of trans fats.
• Soluble Fiber – This form of fiber is found in Brussel sprouts, pears, apples, oatmeal, and kidney beans. It’s excellent at scrubbing away cholesterol found in your bloodstream.
• Whey Protein – This protein is commonly found in dairy products. Studies indicate it may be the source of many health benefits from dairy. LDL cholesterol, blood pressure, and total cholesterol levels all benefit from having it in your diet.

Get Out And Exercise

While it may make your eyes roll every time you see exercise on a ‘get healthy’ list, it’s there for a reason. Our bodies are built to move and remain active. The evidence can be found in the countless health benefits that come from an active lifestyle. One of those important benefits is the reduction of LDLs, and the raising of HDL cholesterol. HDL stands for high-density lipoprotein. It’s the “good” form of cholesterol. Spending 30 minutes each day exercising can do wonders for your cholesterol. Good exercise options include:

• A brisk mid-day walk
• Use your bike instead of your car
• Take up a sport 
• Find people to work out with to stay motivated

Speak To Your Primary Care Provider For Further Guidance

These tips cover the basics. If you’re a smoker, another critical step is quitting your tobacco habit. Smoking, even without high levels of cholesterol, increases your chance of heart disease. Add high cholesterol to the mix, and your risk increases significantly. Speak to your primary care provider to get additional health tips.

Discovering The Potential Risks of High Salt Intake

A typical lecture received from our physicians as we get older is to watch our salt. Sadly this doesn’t mean watching it as it adds flavor to our food. Instead, it means we need to monitor our intake to ensure that it doesn’t affect our health. Salt is an essential nutrient for sustaining good health. At one point, it was hard enough to obtain. It was more valuable than gold. Today it’s found in significant quantities in almost everything we consume. Unfortunately, there are serious health consequences for some who eat too much salt.

Understanding How Sodium Intake Affects Our Health

Our kidneys regulate the salt in our bodies. It plays a distinct role in maintaining the balance of fluids in the body. Our nervous system also relies on it for helping our muscles function, and the nerves transmit information. When there’s too much salt in our system, it can directly affect the amount of water in our blood vessels. This increase, in turn, can increase blood pressure, which isn’t good for our hearts.

The symptoms of high blood pressure aren’t always easy to identify. This feature has led to it being labeled as “the silent killer.” The increased pressure can cause our blood vessels to stretch, damaging the walls. It can also lead to the build-up of plaque in our arteries, making it difficult for blood to pass. This change, in turn, leads to the pressure further increases in our veins. As an aside, the increased water levels can result in weight gain and bloating.

Hypertension is a major contributing factor in the development of heart disease. This condition is the leading killer of people all over the world. Only 10% of people will manage to escape the development of high blood pressure over their lifespan. The most frequent sources of salt in the average diet include:

• Packaged food
• Restaurant food
• Naturally occurring sources in food
• Added to food when cooked at home

It can be difficult to avoid high levels of sodium in your diet as a result. The majority of salt is already in the food you eat, making it challenging to reduce. Regrettably, reducing the amount of salt you eat is an integral part of lasting health. Reducing the amount of salt you consume to under 1500 mg/day can lower your blood pressure by up to 25.6%.

The Science Doesn’t Lie

The reports that indicate that salt intake isn’t a severe concern are mainly inaccurate. Their data often miscalculates the amount of sodium consumed by the subjects. They also tend to focus on those with ailing health rather than the general population. If you want to know if salt intake is a concern for you, speak to your physician. They’ll be able to determine if you need to watch the amount of salt you consume. People worldwide experience complications related to high sodium intake, and you may be one of them. Checking with your physician will ensure you can take action to protect your health by reducing your intake.