The Link Between Impotence and Sleep Apnea

By Rudy Watkins
www.apneaguide.com

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.

Impotence Treatments

Impotence Treatments
By Kent Pinkerton www.e-impotence.com

Impotence falls into two broad categories, impotence caused by a physical condition and that caused by a psychological condition. Sometimes impotence due to a physical condition may be worsened by a psychological component. The treatment of impotence should always include treatment of the underlying cause as well.

Impotence may be treated with counseling, drugs, surgery, mechanical aids, or some combination of these. Psychological impotence lends itself best to counseling, though anyone with impotence can benefit from counseling on coping mechanisms and available treatment options. As far as drugs go, some drugs may cause impotence and replacing or removing them from an individual’s treatment plan may take care of the problem. If testosterone deficiency is the cause, replacement therapy can be started. Some drugs such as Viagra and Cialis, can be taken by mouth and act by relaxing smooth muscle in blood vessels, allowing them to carry more blood to the penis. Other drugs that also relax smooth muscle in blood vessels can be injected into the side of the penis with a tiny needle, or inserted into the tip of the male urethra in pellet form using a special applicator.

Surgical treatment options for impotence include different types of penile implants, surgery to slow down the flow of blood out of the penis, and surgery to improve the flow of blood into the penis. In some people, the use of a vacuum device or a penile splint may help the penis stay upright.

There are several lifestyle changes that may both treat impotence and prevent it. These include quitting smoking, losing weight, being physically active, treating high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and reducing stress. Besides improving sex drive and the ability to enjoy sexual intercourse, such changes can also help improve other underlying medical conditions.