Blocked nose getting you down? Research shows people suffering with nasal congestion are more likely to experience erectile dysfunction
Men who have trouble getting aroused in the bedroom may find that it's due to an unlikely cause: a stuffy nose.
Research shows that people with chronic nasal congestion that lasts for months or years are much more likely to develop erectile dysfunction.
And a simple operation to clear the airways could reignite their passion.
An estimated one in ten men will suffer from impotence at some point in their lives. Research shows that more than a third of people over forty suffer from it.
The main causes range from type 2 diabetes and hormonal problems to stress and depression.
It is estimated that the NHS spends around £1 million a month on Viagra and similar drugs.
But the research suggests that thousands more men may have low libido because they have chronic rhinosinusitis.
Research shows that people with chronic nasal congestion that lasts for months or years are much more likely to develop erectile dysfunction (stock image)
It is estimated that the NHS spends around £1 million a month on Viagra and similar drugs (stock image)
The condition – which affects up to one in six people in Britain – leads to nasal congestion, pain and swelling around the eyes and difficulty breathing through the nose.
Triggers include viruses and toxins in the air, causing inflammation in the lining of the nose and the formation of small growths called nasal polyps.
Italian researchers from the University of Naples and the University of Verona followed 53 men between the ages of 40 and 70 who had been diagnosed with long-term nasal congestion.
The men underwent surgery to remove nasal polyps. The results, published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, showed a significant improvement in libido afterwards.
Most had moderate symptoms of erectile dysfunction before surgery, but afterward the symptoms were very mild – and some had no problems at all.
Scientists think it can lead to inflammation throughout the body, including in the small blood vessels that supply blood to the genitals. Restricting blood flow there puts a damper on sexual activity.
The researchers wrote: 'This underlines the importance of nasal obstruction as a possible cause of erectile dysfunction. Surgical treatment can significantly improve sexual outcomes.”