Erectile Dysfunction (ED) can have mental or physical causes and is often connected to weight-related illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure. With this in mind, it is no surprise that exercise can help you overcome ED. We asked the experts, to recommend some exercise tips for people experiencing erectile dysfunction.
Exercises for Weight Loss
Exercise is a great way to lose weight. Diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are all connected with being overweight and erectile dysfunction. Personal trainer, weight loss & wellness expert and world champion power lifter, Robert Herbst from W8LifterUSA says “The best exercises to lose weight are compound multi-joint exercises, such as squats, lunges, deadlifts and bench press, which use the major muscle groups.” These exercises increase your metabolism, helping you to burn fat and convert it in to new muscle. Having new muscle also can increase your metabolism further, giving you a positive feedback loop for your weight loss. Aerobic exercises that make you feel out of breath, are also great for weight loss and improve your cardiovascular fitness at the same time.
Exercises to Boost Your Testosterone
It has been shown that certain exercises can actually boost your testosterone levels. Robert Herbst also recommends heavy weight lifting with deadlifts and bench presses to increase your testosterone levels. Testosterone is the primary sex hormone for males and is strongly related to sex drive. Many men report erectile dysfunction as a consequence of decreased libido. Increasing your testosterone levels through exercise can increase your libido and may improve your erection.
Exercises to Improve Blood Flow
Almost all erectile dysfunction is related to reduced blood flow to the penis. Dr Arash Akhavein, Urologist at Comprehensive Urology, suggests that regularly using a penis pump may help ED. A penis pump is a device that fits around the penis, and creates a vacuum, drawing blood into the penis. Repeated use of this could help improve the blood flow to your penis. If you do use a penis pump, it is important you check that you know how to use it safely and that you are aware of any complications that could arise. Undertaking exercise, can also improve blood flow. As your exercise, your heart pumps blood faster around your body, this can burn energy stored in fat, but it also improve your blood flow.
Exercises for Mental Health
ED can be both physical and psychological. Stress and anxiety are very common causes of erectile dysfunction. Regular exercise has been shown to reduce anxiety levels and improve mental health, but some forms of physical activity have even better psychological effects. Caleb Backe, Health & Wellness Expert for Maple Holistics recommends yoga to help with erectile dysfunction. Yoga de-stresses your mind and your body, through its combination of breathing, stretching and medication. Like many forms of exercise, yoga has the added benefits of improving blood circulation and endorphins in the brain, which can help you overcome ED.
Kegel Exercises
No article about exercises for ED, would be complete without Kegel Exercises. More commonly recommended for women, Kegel exercises can also be really beneficial for men. David Barbour, co-founder of Vivio Life Sciences, states that Kegels can strengthen your pelvic floor and increase blood flow to the penis and surrounding areas. So how do you do Kegels? Simply tense the muscles you would use to stop urinating mid-flow or to prevent passing gas. Tense these muscles for 3 seconds, then relax for 3 seconds. Repeat this for 10 reps, 3 times a day. Simple.
If you’re experiencing ED, try to identify the cause of your ED, whether psychological or physical, and try out these exercises to find out what works best for you. These exercises can also be used alongside other erectile dysfunction treatments, such as Viagra (Sildenafil), Levitra (Vardenafil), Cialis (Tadalafil) and Spedra (Avanafil). Combining exercise and medications can be a really effective treatment to help you overcome your erectile dysfunction.
