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Housecall, our weekly general-interest e-newsletter, keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics with timely, reliable, practical information, recipes, blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts and more. Our biweekly topic-specific e-newsletters also include blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts, and other useful information that will help you manage your health.
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Lifestyle and home remedies
By Mayo Clinic staffFor many men, erectile dysfunction is caused or worsened by lifestyle choices. Here are some things you can do that may help:
- If you smoke, quit. If you have trouble quitting, get help. Try nicotine replacement (such as gum or lozenges), available over-the-counter, or ask your doctor about prescription medication that can help you quit.
- Lose weight. Being overweight can cause — or worsen — erectile dysfunction.
- Get regular exercise. This can help with underlying problems that play a part in erectile dysfunction in a number of ways, including reducing stress, helping you lose weight and increasing blood flow.
- Get treatment for alcohol or drug problems. Drinking too much or taking certain illicit drugs can worsen erectile dysfunction directly or by causing long-term health problems.
- Work through relationship issues. Improve communication with your partner and consider couples or marriage counseling if you're having trouble working through problems on your own.
References
- AUA guideline on the management of erectile dysfunction: Diagnosis and treatment recommendations. Linthicum, Md.: American Urological Association. http://www.auanet.org/content/guidelines-and-quality-care/clinical-guidelines.cfm?sub=ed. Accessed Nov. 21, 2009.
- Kolodny L. Erectile dysfunction. In: Rakel RE, et al. Conn's Current Therapy. 1st ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders; 2009. hhttp://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-5974-5..00177-5--s0090&uniq=172836296&isbn=978-1-4160-5974-5#lpState=open&lpTab=contentsTab&content=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-5974-5..00177-5%3Bfrom%3Dtoc%3Btype%3DbookPage%3Bisbn%3D978-1-4160-5974-5. Accessed Nov. 21, 2009.
- Ghanem G, et al. An evidence-based perspective to commonly performed erectile dysfunction investigations. Journal of Sexual Medicine. 2008;5:1582.
- Selvin E, et al. Prevalence and risk factors for erectile dysfunction in the U.S. The American Journal of Medicine. 2007;120:151.
- Spark RF. Treatment of male sexual dysfunction. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 21, 2009.
- Rohren CH (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 17, 2009.
- Park J, et al. Complementary and alternative medicine in men's health. Journal of Men's Health. 2008;5:305.
- Bauer B. Mayo Clinic Book of Alternative Medicine. New York, N.Y.: Time Inc. Home Entertainment; 2007:174.
- Bauer B. Mayo Clinic Book of Alternative Medicine. New York, N.Y.: Time Inc. Home Entertainment; 2007:63.
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