Chronic fatigue can exacerbate erectile dysfunction and make it easier for problems to escalate.
**Chronic fatigue can worsen erectile dysfunction.**
High work pressure and a tiring life are perhaps the most common complaints among modern people. Chronic fatigue not only causes back pain and memory loss, but also erodes a fulfilling sex life. Many people dismiss this, thinking it's just exhaustion and a little rest will solve the problem, never considering seeking medical help. However, these repeated instances of occasional erectile dysfunction can accumulate and potentially lead to permanent organic erectile dysfunction.
Short-term fatigue has little impact on sexual function, and sexual function will recover as physical strength is restored. However, chronic fatigue caused by long-term stress from work and life has a very complex impact on sexual function. With the accumulation of quantitative changes, it often leads to serious qualitative changes-from occasional to permanent.
Fatigue can cause erectile dysfunction because excessive muscle fatigue, or psychogenic fatigue caused by depression, anxiety, or tension, interferes with sexual arousal. This includes decreased brain function, inhibiting sexual interest, reduced excitability of the limbic system's emotional center, and decreased secretion of pituitary gonadotropins and testosterone, thus lowering the level of sexual arousal. Fatigue also produces large amounts of lipid peroxides, known as "fatigue substances," which can directly damage biological membranes. Over time, this can cause irreversible pathological damage to the reproductive system, leading to organic changes.
Therefore, if chronic fatigue leads to frequent sexual failures, it's crucial to adjust your lifestyle as soon as possible. Besides getting enough rest and adjusting your work rhythm, it's also important to relax mentally and not let past failures become a burden for future attempts. Playing soothing music during sex may be helpful. Additionally, you can try acupressure massage, massaging the Guanyuan, Qihai, and Zusanli acupoints (Guanyuan: two inches below the navel; Qihai: about one inch below Guanyuan; Zusanli: three inches below the head of the fibula) once every evening for about ten minutes each time. One course of treatment is 10-15 days, and usually one or two courses can be helpful. Also, eat more kidney-tonifying foods such as goji berries, yams, and lotus seeds.
At the same time, sexual activity should be avoided when fatigued. If erectile dysfunction occurs occasionally, do not panic, and do not force yourself to continue, as this may create negative memories. If there is no significant improvement after a period of adjustment, it is possible that actual erectile dysfunction has developed. In this case, lifestyle adjustments alone are far from sufficient, and seeking medical attention promptly is the wisest choice.
By Zhao Qingqing, reporter for Health Times
Supporting Expert: Guo Jun, Deputy Chief Physician of the Department of Andrology, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences
**It's easy to be biased towards one side or the other when things go wrong.**
Seeing frequent television broadcasts telling people they "should take kidney tonics," and considering their recent symptoms of lower back pain, leg weakness, and lack of stamina, many people are starting to wonder: Am I really "not performing well"? It seems like they should take some supplements. Others feel that although their performance in that area isn't great, it doesn't seem worthwhile to see a doctor for such a small matter, and besides, they're a little embarrassed.
Both of these phenomena are very common when it comes to men's sexual problems. On the one hand, overwhelming advertising has led many people to exaggerate sexual dysfunction issues such as erectile dysfunction, as if everyone needs to take kidney tonics and enhance virility; on the other hand, many patients with sexual dysfunction do not seek medical attention due to various factors.
Currently, male sexual problems are often exaggerated or downplayed. Clinically, there are strict criteria for diagnosing erectile dysfunction. First, there's the duration; problems are only considered if they occur frequently for three to six months or more. Second, doctors must conduct professional questionnaires and perform objective examinations such as endocrine tests, angiography, and nerve reflex tests before making a final diagnosis.
In fact, male sexual function is affected by many factors. Occasional "failure" may be due to external factors such as fatigue, environment, or marital relationship. It's wrong to automatically equate such situations with erectile dysfunction, or blindly follow advertisements to take kidney-tonifying and aphrodisiac health products. Many people assume that these traditional Chinese medicine health products have no toxic side effects, and even if they don't work, they won't cause any harm. However, these products may contain aphrodisiac Western medicine ingredients, which can cause side effects such as facial flushing, lower back pain, and leg pain. In severe cases, it can even lead to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular accidents.
According to preliminary clinical statistics from experts, 70% of male patients visiting urology departments for prostatitis, infertility, or other conditions have varying degrees of sexual dysfunction. However, only about 30% of these patients proactively mention their problems; the rest only discuss them when specifically asked by the doctor. Furthermore, a significant number of patients do not seek medical attention at all, and many elderly people believe that it's normal to not have a sex life as they age. In fact, even people in their seventies, eighties, or nineties can have appropriate sexual activity, and there is absolutely no need to avoid seeking medical help.
It is important to note that sexual dysfunction not only affects marital relationships and reduces quality of life, but it can also be an early warning sign of diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.
By Zhao Qingqing, reporter for Health Times
Supporting Expert: Li Hongjun, Chief Physician of Urology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital