Many people suffer from sleep apnea, which is a condition in which a person stops breathing for ten seconds or more several times a night. Sleep apnea can cause many short term side effects such as morning headaches, tiredness throughout the day, irritability, and inability to concentrate. There are also many very serious long term side effects such as heart attacks and strokes. This is because the heart must work much harder when the body isn’t getting enough oxygen. Sleep apnea also carries a not-so-talked-about side-effect: erectile dysfunction in men.
According to a study done by Dr. John P. Mulhall at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 24 out of 30 men suffering from obstructive sleep apnea also suffered from erectile dysfunction. While many men are still reluctant to talk about impotence there is no denying that obstructive sleep apnea is likely to cause ED.
There is no definitive answer as to why sleep apnea tends to cause impotence. One theory suggests that since sleep apnea patients rarely reach and maintain REM sleep, which is when men naturally have erections, this problem carries on into their waking hours. Another theories purports that it has more to do with being overweight than sleep apnea. Studies have shown that being overweight has a direct correlation with ED. Some also believe that men with sleep apnea tend to have lower testosterone levels which is to blame for the accompanying ED. While there is no absolute answer, many believe that ED is indeed a symptom of sleep apnea.
If you suspect that you may have sleep apnea you should see your doctor immediately. As previously mentioned, sleep apnea carries with it some significant health risks, especially if no treatment is sought. Luckily there are several treatment options such as surgery or the use of a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine which can help reduce or eliminate sleep apnea episodes.
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