For the past 15 years I have not been able to get the erections I used to have. Is this just an age thing? I am 68, but slim and very fit. I exercise regularly (sit-ups, weights, etc.), play a lot of badminton, and eat extremely well.
David Brennan, by email.
A decline in erectile function is a common problem — studies show that it affects half of all men between the ages of 40 and 70 to varying degrees, but men are often embarrassed to seek help, so many readers will be thankful for your letter . Erection problems can have a number of causes, but by far the most common is a problem with vascular function.
To get and maintain an erection, you need increased blood flow to the penis.
At the center of this is a chemical messenger called nitric oxide, which relaxes the muscles that control the blood vessels of the penis, allowing them to stretch and fill with blood. But certain things can interfere with nitric oxide release, including smoking, diabetes, and a deficiency of the male hormone testosterone that can come with age.
A decline in erectile function is a common problem – studies show it affects half of all men between the ages of 40 and 70 to varying degrees (File image)
Diabetes can impair sexual response in another way, as it is associated with elevated levels of cholesterol that can clog the small blood vessels in the penis.
High blood pressure can have a similar effect, namely reduced blood flow. This is why erectile dysfunction is now considered a marker of coronary artery disease.
You obviously have a healthy lifestyle, but I would still recommend seeing a doctor who can arrange blood tests to look for signs of diabetes and low testosterone (testosterone levels decrease with age, but the decline is more rapid in men with type 2 diabetes – one third of men with type 2 have low testosterone).
You may also need an ultrasound to look at blood flow in the vessels supplying the penis to see if narrowed arteries are to blame.
You mention in your longer letter that you’re concerned that eating anti-inflammatory foods could be the cause: I’m not even aware of any data confirming that there are any other food or drink choices, aside from alcohol, that lead to erectile dysfunction.
Last year I had a leaking heart valve replaced and I am considering purchasing a vibration plate. I’m 82 – would it be a safe way to exercise?
Mrs M. Donegan, Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
In my opinion you can safely use a vibrating plate, but I do have a caveat.
However, first, for the benefit of other readers, let me explain that a vibrating plate is a tool that you stand, sit on, or lean on while it vibrates vigorously. The theory is that this stimulates your muscles.
The big question is, will it do you any good?
A vibrating plate is a tool that you stand, sit on, or lean on while it vibrates vigorously (File image)
The idea is that the vibrating platform sends energy through the body, forcing the muscles to contract, as if you were working out. There are claims that using it for just 15 minutes a day promotes weight loss and has a number of beneficial effects on metabolism, such as fat burning and lowering levels of the hormone cortisol, so it’s also a stress buster.
However, there is no high quality independent research to confirm these claims. Compare that to cardiac rehabilitation, a supervised exercise program available on the NHS, where you receive an exercise programme, nutritional advice and support, and where there is clear evidence that it can reduce the risk of premature death in patients with coronary artery disease. heart disease.
No doubt it also improves long-term outcomes for patients who, like you, have had heart valve surgery.
My concern is that while a vibrating plate may provide some degree of fitness improvement, it is also an excuse to forgo what we already know is the best activity available: regular exercise in some form, as long as there are no other health problems (such as severe hip or knee arthritis) that would prevent you from doing it.
I think… If your pills make you sick
It is striking when a patient is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes without the obvious risk factors, such as obesity and a family (or genetic) history.
Medication may be a factor: for example, we’ve known for some time that statins seem to cause the condition in about 2 percent of those who take these drugs long-term – although we don’t know why this happens.
A study of 50,000 people conducted last year by researchers in Italy showed that the risk of developing diabetes when taking a proton pump inhibitor increases proportionally with the duration of treatment (File image)
Now there’s a new culprit: proton pump inhibitors. A study of 50,000 people conducted last year by researchers in Italy showed that the risk of developing diabetes when taking a proton pump inhibitor (e.g. omeprazole or lansoprazole) increased proportionally with the duration of treatment. Again, the mechanism is not clear. Proton pump inhibitors help suppress stomach acid and many people use them long term, for example for chronic reflux.
This recent finding could influence decisions about how best to treat that condition, tipping the balance in favor of anti-reflux surgery rather than long-term medication.
Write to Dr. Scurr
- Write to Dr Scurr at Good Health, Daily Mail, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY or email drmartin@dailymail. co.uk — add your contact details. Dr. Scurr cannot respond to personal correspondence. Answers should be taken in a general context and always consult your own GP if you have any health concerns.