Why There’s No Simple Trick to Cure ED
Erections are the product of a complex process in your body involving a combination of physical and psychological factors, including blood flow, hormones, nerves, or muscles – and even anatomical factors.
When your erections aren’t working as they should, the cause can lie anywhere in this process. Precisely where, however, will differ from person to person – which might explain why a simple trick to cure ED for good will be a challenge.
The most common cause of ED lies in your blood flow to the penis. When blood has trouble getting to and staying in your penis, erections become difficult. That’s why medications are known as PDE5 inhibitors like Sildenafil and Tadalafil – the active agents in drugs like Viagra and Cialis – work to widen your blood vessels to improve the flow of blood to your penis.
Whilst these drugs are effective in the vast majority of ED cases, they treat the effect of what could be a wider problem in your cardiovascular system. If your blood is not flowing where it should, this is likely to be the cause of something else.
And, as a result, if you want to know how to cure ED for good, you’ll want to start by making sure your cardiovascular system is in rude health. For this reason, we advocate getting a cardiovascular assessment with your GP within 6 months of starting ED treatment.
How to Cure ED Permanently
If you’re looking at how to cure ED permanently, the best place to start is with your lifestyle. Whilst you shouldn’t expect quick wins, developing your overall health is the best way to ensure that your erections keep appearing when you need them.
After all, if you’re unhealthy, the chances are your private parts will be too. And making that change in overall health can go a long way towards reducing ED for the long term.
Get exercising
It might sound too good to be true, but it isn’t. The real simple trick to cure ED is just exercise: according to one study, simply walking for thirty minutes a day can reduce the risk of ED by 41%. Whilst 41% is not 100%, it’s a good start. Other studies have confirmed this: exercise, particularly aerobic exercise, is pretty good at seeing off erectile dysfunction.
Keep trim
Exercising will also help you lose weight, which is a great way to reduce ED’s impact. According to one study, a man with a 32-inch waist is half as likely to have troubles with ED than one with a 42-inch waist.
Similarly, it was found that losing weight through exercise improves erectile function.
Quit smoking
Smoking remains an activity strongly associated with erectile dysfunction – and, it seems, the more you smoke, the more likely ED becomes. If you’re smoking over twenty a day, there’s a 40% chance you’ll have ED. This is precisely because smoking damages your cardiovascular system.
Studies show that quitting smoking improves your erections. Simple as that.
Drink less alcohol
Big drinkers are at greater risk of ED – with as many as 70% of heavy drinkers experiencing some sort of sexual dysfunction. Cutting down on alcohol is a good way to reduce ED symptoms. And, interestingly enough, people who drink lightly or moderately seem to actually have better erections.
Reduce fatty foods
We’ve said that the simple trick to cure ED lies in cardiovascular health. And, after exercising and staying off the fags and booze, the best way to optimise your cardiovascular system is through your diet.
Foods high in fat and sugar are bad for your heart, and a bad heart is bad for your erections. You are more likely to develop fatty deposits within your blood vessels, which impacts on blood flow, and therefore can influence erections. Cut down on fast foods and bring up your intake of fruit, veg, legumes, and whole grain foods. Coffee is great for your erections too, by the way.
Find ways to destress
Erections prove that your mind and body are two parts of the same coin. Stress shows the same: if you are not in good mental health, the chances are you won’t be in good physical shape either.
One way to help cure ED permanently is by managing your stress levels. Stress releases adrenaline and cortisol, which reduce your interest in sex. Unfortunately, stress affects your sleep too, and poor sleep can often mean less firm erections.
Try meditation, mindfulness, or yoga – or just do something you enjoy – to help stress.
Can You Cure ED Fast?
All of these ways to reduce the effect of ED are natural. And, because they are all working to improve your long-term health, they won’t give an instant win.
If you’re in a hurry though, there are ways to treat ED fast. Drugs such as Sildenafil and Tadalafil, as we mentioned above, work by increasing blood flow to the penis, supporting in the attainment of firmer and fuller erections. They won’t “cure” ED permanently, but they will help to get it up and keep it up when you need it.
These treatments for erectile dysfunction are effective in 80% of men – and they provide a route to better sex whilst you are implementing the longer-term solutions above.
Key Takeaways…
It might be frustrating to learn that there is no simple trick to cure ED permanently. However, don’t think that means you won’t ever get it up again. If you’re serious about treating ED, there are plenty of ways that help to reduce its effects permanently.
Diet and lifestyle adjustments are the mainstay of treating erectile dysfunction problems from the outset. Given ED is most commonly the result of cardiovascular issues – exercising, quitting smoking, and eating well all go a long way toward making your erections better.
FAQs
What is erectile dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction refers to difficulty getting and maintaining erections, and it can affect men at any stage in life.
How common is erectile dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction is quite common, and around 40% of men under 40 report having experienced some form of erectile dysfunction at some point in their lives (and that’s just the men who report it!)
Why is there no cure for erectile dysfunction?
Achieving an erection relies on a complex combination of mental and physical factors, so when we experience erectile dysfunction, it’s very hard to know exactly which one of these factors is to blame. That is the primary reason that finding a ‘fix-all’ cure for ED may be very hard, if not impossible.
What is the best treatment for erectile dysfunction?
The best way to treat and prevent erectile dysfunction is, simply, to look after yourself. Eat a healthy, balanced diet, exercise often, quit smoking, cut down your alcohol consumption, destress wherever possible, and open up an honest communication channel with your sexual partner(s) about your wants and desires. In the meantime, you can use approved ED drugs like Viagra, Sildenafil, and Tadalafil to help you achieve and maintain an erection.
While we've ensured that everything you read on the Health Centre is medically reviewed and approved, information presented here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It should never be relied upon for specific medical advice. If you have any questions or concerns, please talk to your doctor.
