Wondering about cabergoline for men’s intimate health? Here’s everything you need to know.
Hormones are important for our daily function. As men, we depend on them to keep us hard, muscular, fertile, awake and hungry — so when something goes wrong, it can create lots of problems.
Out-of-wack hormones can screw with your health, your mental state, your climaxes and even your hair.
If one of your hormones — prolactin — is currently on the fritz, you may have heard about cabergoline and how it can restore normal function and balance your hormones so they’re back to normal again.
Some believe it might be helpful even if prolactin isn’t your problem.
We’ll sort rumors from facts below, then explain how cabergoline is used and how it can help your intimate health. We’ll also cover cabergoline side effects and dosage guidelines you should know to stay safe if you choose to use this medication.
Read on to get informed.
Cabergoline Uses
Cabergoline is primarily used to treat disorders related to high levels of the hormone prolactin, which is produced by the pituitary gland.
In women, prolactin is the hormone that regulates milk production. High prolactin levels can lead to a bunch of issues like infertility, intimate problems and bone loss, as well as breast pain and breast tenderness.
In men, high levels of prolactin can result in a number of intimate problems, including:
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(ED)
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Reduced libido
Cabergoline is a dopamine agonist. It works to reduce the amount of prolactin in the body by telling dopamine receptors to cut back, which can help to improve these symptoms. It’s also sometimes used to treat Parkinson’s disease.
ED
Several studies suggest that cabergoline can treat ED for some men, though the circumstances in which it’s considered effective vary.
ED is a condition that makes it difficult to get or maintain a climax, and there are many potential causes of ED, both physiological and mental.
Results from a 2007 study of 50 men and one case report from 2015 show that cabergoline can significantly improve function in men dealing with psychological or psychogenic ED and ED in general — though the research essentially ends with these two studies.
The internet makes numerous references to a clinical study involving cabergoline and tadalafil that suggested the combination could benefit men with psychogenic (ED based on things like low self-esteem and performance anxiety). However, we’ve been unable to find a record of the actual study to verify this claim.
Delayed Climax
Cabergoline has also been linked to the effective treatment of delayed climax — a condition sometimes called orgasmic disorder or anorgasmia.
A 2016 analysis of 131 men treated with cabergoline saw marked improvements in their ability to orgasm. Interestingly, the results weren’t affected by the age or disorder of the patients.
Cabergoline and Intimate Health
Delayed climax and ED are just two problems related to intimate health. It’s fair to wonder whether cabergoline’s benefits might extend beyond those cases into broader questions of intimate health.
There’s not a lot of evidence testing cabergoline for intimate health beyond prolactin-related conditions, but there are some anecdotal pieces of evidence worth noting:
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A study from 2016 investigated the use of cabergoline for treating ED in men with Parkinson’s disease. It found that participants experienced significant improvements in intimate function, as well as other measures of intimate function and quality of life.
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A small study of 43 men found that after 24 months of treatment, cabergoline helped hyperprolactinaemic patients increase the quality and volume of seminal fluid.
More research is needed to determine whether these benefits can extend to men with conditions not related to prolactin levels. But at least for the time being, it seems like this medication may have more to offer than just the management of serum testosterone levels.
Side Effects of Cabergoline for Men
Like all medications, cabergoline can cause side effects. It’s important to be aware of these before starting treatment with cabergoline. To prevent unnecessary adverse effects, cabergoline should only be used under the guidance of a healthcare provider who can address any underlying causes of high prolactin levels.
That said, if you’re prescribed this medication, your first concern will be watching out for side effects.
Some of the most common cabergoline side effects include:
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Fatigue
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Nausea
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Constipation
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Vomiting
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Diarrhea
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Dizziness and lightheadedness
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Headaches
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Abdominal pain
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Dry mouth
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Changes in blood pressure
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Insomnia
It’s also crucial to talk to your healthcare provider about any medications for (or existing conditions involving) your blood pressure or mental health, as cabergoline can lower your blood pressure and cause psychiatric symptoms of depression and anxiety. The same goes for heart valve disease and previous cardiovascular issues.
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience severe side effects like:
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Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
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Chest pain
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Swelling in your legs
In short, be vigilant and don’t be afraid to ask about any changes.
Cabergoline Dosage
Cabergoline is typically taken orally in tablet form. The exact dosage and duration of therapy will depend on the specific condition being treated and other individual factors — your age and health may affect your dosage.
Typically, the starting dose of cabergoline for men is 0.25 milligrams (mg), which will be taken twice a week for intimate dysfunction. Your healthcare provider will adjust your doses of cabergoline based on how effective it is for you and the side effects you experience.
The range varies depending on conditions. For instance, when treating Parkinson’s disease, the starting dose is typically 0.5 milligrams daily but may go as high as 11.5 milligrams as needed.
Just because the top of the range is that high doesn’t mean you should feel comfortable altering your dose without oversight. Never exceed the recommended dosage prescribed by your healthcare provider, and only take the medication as prescribed.
You should also continue taking cabergoline for as long as your healthcare provider instructs — even if your symptoms improve. Why? Stopping the medication abruptly can lead to a rebound increase in prolactin levels and worsened symptoms.
Final Thoughts on Cabergoline for Men
If you’re struggling with prolactin imbalances, cabergoline may have already been on your radar. We’re confident in saying you should see benefits from the safe use of cabergoline under the supervision of a healthcare professional.
Beyond that, the evidence is promising but sparse. Consider the following takeaways if you’re interested in dis
cussing cabergoline treatment with your doctor:
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Cabergoline treatment may increase orgasmic function, boost intimate desire and treat medical conditions like testosterone deficiency in men.
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Certain types of intimate dysfunction may also see benefits from cabergoline.
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This medication could cause serious heart and health problems if taken without supervision or not as directed, so follow the instructions.
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If you’re suffering from ED, you may have better options at your disposal, like FDA-approved sildenafil, tadalafil and other ED treatments.
We offer some of these treatments through our online health support systems. Our hard mint chewable ED meds and PE treatments can help with problems beyond what cabergoline is designed for.
This article originally appeared on Hims.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
More from MediaFeed:
8 Foods that Help Men with ED
Whether we’re craving salt, sugar, a cold beer or a perfectly cooked steak, every guy knows how to satisfy his own cravings.
Here’s the thing though: if you’re having some problems in the bedroom, you might want to satisfy someone else’s cravings and nutritional needs.
These days when ED pops up (or rather, doesn’t pop up), doctors and knowing friends name-drop a certain little blue pill as the quickest pathway to righting the ship.
But, making changes to your habits, lifestyle and diet can also improve your performance and make it easier to get and stay aroused.
Yes, foods might be able to help play a role in managing ED — they potentially do so by improving cardiovascular health, increasing blood flow and supporting your body’s production of essential hormones.
It’s impressive that by making dietary shifts, you can make yourself healthier and stronger and maybe your arousals as well.
Below, we’ve outlined how foods do it, which foods to eat and some ways to address ED once you’re done with your meal.
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Before we get into the specifics of using food to treat ED, it’s important to put the soon-to-come advice in context. We’ll skip the lecture on how arousal work — you figured that out on your own.
Instead, we’ll start with our first ED fact — that ED can vary in severity. Most of us might assume that it’s either up or down, but ED is more nuanced than that.
Some men experience mild ED — they can mostly get hard, but occasionally struggle to get all the way hard. Others have such severe ED that they’re unable to get any arousals, at any time.
Food is important for overall health and might help both types of men and those in-between, but will likely have the most effect for men at the milder end of the spectrum.
If you have mild to moderate ED, making changes to your diet and lifestyle can be an important part of making it easier for you to get aroused.
If you have severe or persistent ED meanwhile, it’s best to think of diet as one aspect of management on a list of several useful ones.
Either way, it’s important to talk to a healthcare provider to discuss the best holistic plan to address your ED. In some cases, dietary changes only have an effect in the long term — meaning you need to shift your diet long-term in order to see a potential benefit (you can’t just eat a food and expect it to correct your ED an hour later). In other cases, diet may only help if you have an actual vitamin or mineral deficiency that’s contributing to your ED, which can be rare.
We’ve talked more about the other options (including medications for ED) in our full guide to ED symptoms, causes and treatments.
But you can look at that later. For now, let’s take a peek at your pantry.
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The reason the following foods might be helpful isn’t because they’re delicious or hot (you wouldn’t say that about protein powder, for instance), but because they contribute to overall cardiovascular health or contain supplies of the critical building blocks our bodies need to produce a healthy arousal.
Another great thing about these foods is that you may already have some in your kitchen right now. Many of the foods that have arousal benefits are staples, so you won’t need to find obscure ingredients or look up “tiger nuts benefits arousal”.
Some may help with blood flow, others may support your testosterone production, but the following foods might all play a role in helping your arousal if you’re willing to incorporate them into your diet:
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Spinach, lettuce and other nitrate-rich vegetables
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Oysters and other shellfish
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Proteins like meat, dairy and nuts
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Cocoa, chocolate and other flavonoids
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Tomatoes, watermelon and other sources of lycopene
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Avocados
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Coffee
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The foods of the Mediterranean diet
Now let’s look at why these foods are what your arousal might be craving.
(Related: The 5 Best Drinks for ED)
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Your privates aren’t Popeye, but guzzling spinach might have a similar effect on your arousal that it always had on his muscles before saving Olive Oyl.
That’s because spinach, lettuce and similar vegetables are rich in nitrates, natural chemical compounds that have a vasodilating effect.
Nitrates affect a process called the nitrate‐nitrite‐nitric oxide pathway, in which nitrates are recycled in blood and tissue to produce nitric oxide — an important molecule for your vascular health and blood flow.
And most vegetables (especially the green leafy ones) contain nitrates. Research published in PLOS shows that green, leafy vegetables such as parsley, spinach and beet leaves tend to have the highest concentration of nitrates, while root vegetables and fruiting vegetables (like bell peppers) contain lower amounts.
By the way, these leafy greens are also high in folic acid, and folic acid deficiency may be associated with ED severity.
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Oysters are considered an aphrodisiac, but they’re associated with arousal for more than the familiar slurping noises.
Your favorite blue points and other shellfish are actually rich in zinc — an essential mineral linked to testosterone levels.
As the primary male hormone, testosterone plays a key role in your functioning. When a man’s testosterone levels are low, he may feel less interested in arousal and experience issues like ED.
Zinc supplementation may play a role in increasing testosterone levels in men who are deficient, meaning it could help you get hard if a zinc deficiency is hindering your testosterone production.
Zinc can be found in a wide variety of foods, including:
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Crab
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Lobster
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Beef
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Pork
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Beans
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Chicken
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Fortified breakfast cereals
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Chickpeas
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Pumpkin seeds
And zinc is also commonly available as a supplement. Oysters just contain by far the highest levels of zinc of any common food — and are the best source to consume over cocktails.
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Protein will help you get swole, but sources of protein are also sources of L-arginine — a common amino acid that may help your privates get swole too.
L-arginine is used to create nitric oxide (we already mentioned how that’s important). But research has noted that men with ED often have low levels of L-arginine too.
A 2003 study found that a combination of L-arginine and pycnogenol (a type of bark from the Pinus pinaster tree) helped men affected by ED regain normal performance over the course of several months.
L-arginine is found in:
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Red meat
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Poultry like chicken or turkey
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Seafood like salmon (which gets bonus points for its omega-3 fatty acids)
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Dairy like milk or cottage cheese.
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Nuts like pistachios, almonds and walnuts
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Protein powders and other supplements for athletic performance and general well-being
(Related: Does Honey Make You Last Longer?)
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Most of us view chocolate as a treat rather than a medicinal food — at best, we may fill up on it during the holidays, and keep a supply on hand for when our partner is moody.
But dark chocolate may offer ED benefits through a compound called a flavonoid, which is a type of naturally-occurring plant chemical with antioxidant effects.
Research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that a higher intake of foods rich in flavonoids is associated with a reduced risk of developing ED.
Flavonoids are found in many common foods, including:
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Nuts
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Tea and tea leaves
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Cocoa
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Dark chocolate
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Whole grains like oats
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Fruits like oranges, blueberries, apples and peaches
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Vegetables like carrots and chili peppers
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Red wine
While eating chocolate in excess obviously isn’t a good idea if you’re trying to keep weight off, eating one or two small pieces of dark chocolate each day is unlikely to hurt and it might help you to maintain healthy blood flow for arousals.
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What do the most popular fruits of stage comedy performances (watermelons and tomatoes) have in common? Aside from making a great mess when thrown, they may also promote boners when consumed.
Tomatoes, watermelon, guavas, papaya and other fruits are all great sources of lycopene — an important plant-based nutrient with antioxidant properties. There may also be benefits guava leaves arousally, which we explore in this guide.
Lycopene is also associated with improved vascular function generally.
While very little research is available on the potential effects of lycopene on performance in humans, some animal research has found that lycopene may play a role in improving health.
One 2012 study found that lycopene restored arousal function in male rats with diabetes and ED, and another animal study found that lycopene may have certain benefits for cardiovascular health — an important component of arousal.
Full disclosure: animal studies don’t always translate for humans.
But the big picture is that many fruits and vegetables are also rich in other nutrients and compounds that may help with ED.
Watermelon, for example, contains the amino acid L-citrulline, which is linked to a variety of vascular health benefits.
In a 2017 scientific review, researchers found that L-citrulline supplementation may increase nitric oxide levels, reduce blood pressure and improve flow to blood vessels.
Learn about another fruit with potential benefits in our blog on the surprising arousal benefits of mangos.
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They may prevent you from achieving home ownership, but avocados are rich in dietary fiber and healthy fats that can contribute to better cardiovascular health and blood flow.
There’s no direct scientific research on avocados and ED specifically, but these effects could be building blocks of improved arousal wellness.
Consider the cholesterol question. Research found that avocados may help lower levels of low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, a form of cholesterol that can clog arteries and affect blood flow.
Avocados also contain a bit of zinc (remember, zinc deficiency associated with ED severity), and small amounts of vitamin E and selenium, both of which are linked to improvements in sperm motility, semen quality and male fertility. Curious to know more about avocado benefits arousally? Check out this guide for more information about this superfood.
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Perking up your sleepy daytime hours might also perk up your privates, sir.
A study published in PLOS One in 2015 analyzed the relationship between coffee drinking and ED by looking at 3,724 men aged 20 and above. These guys were surveyed about their eating and drinking habits and health.
The study found that men who consumed the least caffeine were more likely to report ED than men who consumed the equivalent of two to three cups of coffee per day.
That said, a different study published by the American Journal of Epidemiology in 2018 found no difference in ED risk between men who consumed the highest amount of coffee (four or more cups per day) and the lowest amount (zero cups per day).
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No, it’s not one specific food, but hear us out. The Mediterranean diet consists of fruits and vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds.
It uses olive oil as its source of fat, and includes protein sources such as fish, poultry, dairy products and eggs in low to moderate amounts. In other words, it combines a lot of the stuff we’ve already mentioned, plus much more.
A 2017 review in the Central European Journal of Urology found that adherence to a Mediterranean diet may reduce the risk of developing ED, specifically by improving metabolism, increasing antioxidants, and raising arousal-promoting arginine levels.
The Mediterranean diet also emphasizes limiting simple sugars, salt, refined carbohydrates, saturated fats and heavily processed or fatty meats — things you should moderate anyway for your well-being.
And it even includes ingredients like turmeric, olive oil and lemon juice, which might also benefit your general well-being.
So maybe whip up a little salmon and a fresh salad dressing to go along with those oysters? It’s your kitchen, not ours, but by now you should understand what the best choices are.
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Eating a handful of the wrong snack isn’t going to make your penis fall off (unless that snack is leprosy-flavored goldfish or something) but we have to admit that a pattern of unhealthy eating can contribute to various circulatory and metabolic syndromes that may lead to ED.
For your health, you should avoid, limit or moderate saturated fats, sugar, alcohol and a few other things.
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You probably have no idea what makes a fat saturated, and that’s fine, because most people don’t.
Saturated fats are fats that are solid at room temperature, like lard, dairy and other animal-based products. They can lead to higher levels of “bad” (artery-clogging) cholesterol in the blood.
Consuming saturated animal fats and trans fats in excess can negatively impact your heart by contributing to atherosclerosis, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Atherosclerosis is a condition in which fatty deposits accumulate along artery walls, causing the arteries to narrow and increasing the risk for heart attack and stroke.
If your arteries are clogged, reduced circulation could not only affect your heart but also your ability to achieve and maintain arousal.
You should also avoid fatty foods when taking Viagra, but that’s another story.
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Sorry to tell you this, but a sweet tooth can eventually lead to a soft penis. According to the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), over-consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and other sugary foods is linked to weight gain and an increase in body mass index.
Obesity is directly linked to arousal issues, which makes sugar an indirect contributing factor for these same problems.
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In addition to foods, you’ve gotta keep your eye on your drinking, man. Excessive alcohol consumption can inhibit blood flow, reduce sensation and revoke your arousal privileges for the evening.
One study by the Indian Journal of Psychiatry showed that 72 percent of men who are dependent on alcohol had one or more dysfunction disorders, including PE, low arousal desire or ED.
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You are what you eat, but your arousal is what you eat, drink (we’re looking at you, energy drinks), smoke and do with your life. So eat better, but also do better at taking care of your arousal.
Although making changes to your diet and lifestyle can improve your performance and make ED less severe, the most effective way to treat ED is through the use of medication with clinically proven ingredients. Common oral ED treatments include:
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Sildenafil. The active ingredient in Viagra, sildenafil (generic Viagra) provides relief from ED for around four hours.
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Tadalafil. The active ingredient in Cialis, tadalafil is a long-lasting medication that can provide relief from ED for up to 36 hours.
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Vardenafil. The active ingredient in Levitra, vardenafil can provide relief from ED for slightly longer than sildenafil.
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Avanafil. Sold as Stendra, avanafil is a newer ED medication that’s fast-acting and less likely to cause certain side effects than older medications.
These medications can be found in pill, tablet or mint form, if you’re interested in chewable ED meds.
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Since arousal health is so closely linked to your general health, maintaining good habits and a healthy lifestyle can often help to improve your performance.
Try the following changes to habits and lifestyle factors to improve your performance and reduce your risk of ED:
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Maintain a healthy weight. Obesity and ED are closely linked with each other — in fact, research shows that having a body mass index (BMI) in the obese range triples your risk of ED. To reduce your risk of dealing with ED, try to maintain a healthy body weight. Although BMI is far from ideal, the CDC says that aiming for a BMI in the healthy range is a good way to limit your risk of developing health issues.
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Exercise regularly. Research shows that aerobic exercise is linked to improvements in performance. A review of five studies published in the Ethiopian Journal of Health Science found that men with ED who engage in regular physical activity experience significant improvements in health.
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If you smoke, try to quit. Research published in Andrologia shows that smoking is a major risk factor for ED, with the amount of tobacco you smoke closely correlated with your risk of developing ED and cardiovascular disease. If you smoke, make an effort to quit.
Making other changes to your lifestyle, such as reducing stress and treating underlying medical issues such as high blood pressure or heart disease, can also have a positive impact on your health and performance.
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Picking the best foods for your arousal life is about more than avoiding foods that give you bad gas in the night — it’s about a healthy diet.
Leafy greens, dark chocolate and a dozen half shells are a good start, but you’ve got to look at the big picture for stronger arousals (and not the dessert menu). You can also read up on how other foods affect your life too, such as the benefits of pineapple.
Remember, ED is one of the most common men’s health issues out there. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, an estimated 30 million men in the United States are affected by some level of ED.
If you want to help manage with diet, keep the following in mind:
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YES, adding certain foods to your diet may help to improve your heart health, promote optimal blood flow and make it easier to get aroused.
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AND over the long term, improving your diet and habits can also have a huge positive impact on your life. It can also help certain health conditions like ED due to obesity, too little exercise, or another physical health issue.
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HOWEVER, it’s important to put the effects of an arousal-friendly diet in context. Eating more spinach is generally a good thing for your health, but improving your diet won’t cause your ED to immediately disappear. Similarly, there may be some celery benefits arousally but the research is iffy.
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SO, you may need more help. Currently, the most effective way to treat ED is through the use of medications like sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra) and others.
This article originally appeared on Hims.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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Featured Image Credit: Dima Berlin / iStock.
