Everyone knows that staying fit and healthy can help you to live longer and enjoy an active lifestyle with your family. However, did you know that your love life can be affected by your health too? Here we’ll take a look two sexual issues that men can experience and the health problems that can cause them.

Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED), or impotence, is the inability to get or maintain an erection. Although ED is a common problem, particularly for older men, there are health issues that can increase your chances of experiencing it. Physical problems that can lead to impotence include high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Psychological issues that can cause ED include depression and anxiety.

For your best chance of preventing ED, you should aim for a healthy weight, exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, keep your alcohol consumption down and avoid smoking. You should also keep an eye on your vascular health by having regular medical checkups to ensure you’re not at risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes. Don’t forget to try to keep your stress levels down too, and be sure to see your doctor if you identify symptoms of depression, ie continuous low mood, feelings of hopelessness, lack of motivation or interest in things.

Unfortunately, it’s not always possible to prevent impotence, but fortunately there are a variety of erectile dysfunction treatment options available. From medicines like Viagra, to talking therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy and relationship counselling, to hormone therapy and surgery, there are a wide range of treatments on offer, so there’s no reason to suffer in silence.

Low Libido

The idea that men don’t experience low libido is a myth. In fact, it’s thought that at least one in five men lose interest in sex at some point in their lives. If you’re worried about a decrease in sexual desire, it’s worth thinking about what might be causing this problem.

Stress, anxiety, depression and exhaustion are all common causes of low libido. Making lifestyle changes, such as increasing your exercise levels, avoiding working late into the evening, taking up meditation or yoga and making more time to spend with your loved ones might be enough to help you to feel better. However, if problems persist, you should see a doctor. As well as offering useful lifestyle advice, a doctor can prescribe a range of treatments, from talking therapies to medications, to help you to overcome any psychological issues you’re experiencing.

There are physical conditions that can cause decreased libido too, such as hypothyroidism, low testosterone, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Your doctor should be able to rule out many of these conditions with simple diagnostic tests. As with ED, to avoid experiencing drops in your sexual desire, you should examine your lifestyle and try to cut out bad habits like smoking, drinking and eating unhealthily.

Remember that your sexual, mental and physical health are all interconnected so if you want to enjoy a fulfilling sex life, you should take good care of your body and your overall wellbeing.