Erectile dysfunction (ED) is fairly common in men, especially as they grow older. In most instances, ED is a symptom of another underlying condition, such as vascular disease, a neurological disorder, or even a severe injury.
ED can be the result of many factors. Although it is mainly associated with old age, the truth is that many health issues and lifestyle choices can increase your chances of developing ED. One of these factors which men may be unaware of is their hydration levels. Dehydration can reduce blood volume and negatively impact mood.
To understand how something as simple as your water intake could affect your sexual health, let’s briefly talk about how erections work and what leads to ED.
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The Physiology of Erections
Several processes and systems are needed for a man to achieve and maintain an erection. An issue or any hindrance in one or more of these processes means he may not be able to achieve an erection long enough to engage in sexual intercourse.
The first and the most straightforward step is sexual arousal. Externally this depends on how attracted you feel to your partner. On a physiological level, electrical signals sent to your brain stimulate blood flow to the penis. This causes the muscles in the penis to swell up and become erect. Hence why medications like cheap Viagra, generic Cialis which is available on IQDoctor or generic sildenafil work so well, as their primary function is to increase blood flow.
The healthier you are, the better your body will supply blood to the penis. A healthy circulatory system depends on your diet, activity level and whether or not you have any underlying health conditions.
Dehydration and ED
When you are dehydrated, you do not have as much blood volume in your body. Therefore, your blood vessels become constricted due to insufficient blood to keep your veins and arteries tense. This impairs blood flow to all body parts, including the penis. Furthermore, when a person is dehydrated, their body releases greater amounts of the enzyme known as angiotensin II. This enzyme serves multiple vital functions in our body, such as stimulating the release of necessary hormones and is also responsible for regulating blood pressure. This enzyme acts on the brain to restrict blood vessels, thus raising blood pressure. A study concluded that Elevated Ang II levels contribute to the development of ED in humans and different animal models.
In addition to the physical effects of dehydration, the mood is also associated with dehydration.
A study in 2018 found an inverse relationship between plain water consumption and common psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression. Although the study may not be conclusive, it has warranted a more in-depth study to establish the plausible role of water consumption levels in the mental health state. This study is also in line with other research which has established a relationship between hydration levels and mental health.
As mentioned previously, sexual stimulation is necessary to achieve an erection. Many men suffering from mental health problems such as anxiety, depression and low self-esteem also tend to experience ED. This can be due to multiple reasons. Firstly, their minds are too distracted by negative thoughts that often come with mental health issues. Secondly, most anti-depressants also lower the libido and can cause ED. Lastly, battling a severe mental health crisis can seriously affect your relationships. This can then affect things in the bedroom, decreasing attraction and ultimately causing temporary ED.
How Can Water Help
Now that we understand the importance of water and what bad hydration can do to our bodies, let’s talk about 10 ways water can help you in the bedroom.
1. Blood Circulation
Often, when a person is dehydrated and has decreased blood supply, it will begin to decrease the blood supplied to the non-essential regions of your body first. This includes the penis. More water means more blood circulating throughout your body. This means it will be easier for your body to provide blood flow to the penis.
2. Increased Libido
Libido plays a role in our sexual stimulation. It dictates how aroused we are and how ready we are to engage in sexual intercourse. Hydration causes our body to release many stress hormones, which quickly get to work, increasing blood pressure and heart rate. Sadly, these hormones also severely impact testosterone production and libido as well. More water means fewer chances for any pesky hormones to ruin the mood.
3. High Energy
Being in the bedroom with your partner is often a full-body workout. This means you need lots of energy. Water is essential to help your body keep going and to beat any fatigue. Increased energy will definitely aid you in the bedroom, and your partner will be happy about it.
4. Avoid Muscle Cramps
Nothing ruins the mood like a badly timed muscle cramp. Sometimes these cramps can last for a painfully long time and can totally kill the mood. Water helps aid blood flow to the muscles, thus making them recover faster. This should stop any interrupting stretching in the middle of the bedroom.
5. Peak Performance
As mentioned previously, getting and maintaining an erection is dependent on many bodily functions. Therefore, we want everything to be working in harmony so we can perform at our best. Water is a great facilitator in aiding our bodies. More blood, plasma and mental clarity will help put you in your best mode.
6. Cleanse
Our kidneys play the role of washing out all the toxins that have been built up in our bodies. Water helps the kidneys clean out these toxins and prevent any buildup. This, in turn, helps our body stay healthy.
7. More Oxygen
More water means more blood flow. Blood’s main role is to carry oxygen to our muscles so they can use it to work. The first sign of hydration is decreased blood flow, which is the main culprit behind ED.
8. Better Mood
Staying hydrating will help elevate your mood. Having a clear and happy mind always does wonders in the bedroom. It increases our sexual stimulation and makes it less likely to experience temporary ED.
9. More Saliva
Water helps produce more saliva. We really do not have to spell it out why saliva is necessary for the bedroom. But let’s just say no one wants to be kissing a stale piece of bread. So do your partner a favour and stay hydrated.
10. Pheromones
When our body is dehydrated, our sweat tends to smell much worse. This can make us feel much worse and make it unpleasant for our partner. Increasing your water intake can quickly fix this by decreasing the salt content in your sweat.
Staying hydrated is clearly very important, but it is also important to take care of your overall health. If you think you suffer from ED, you should visit your physician. They will be the best source of guidance and prescribe you suitable medication. Today, we have a wide range of ED medications available, ranging from Generic Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, to Sildenafil. If nothing else works, ED medications almost always will.
