Shift Work and Erectile Dysfunction

October 17, 2020 by Brett Jones

Shift Work and Erections

Let’s face it – as men get older, there are already enough roadblocks in the way of having erections on demand. There is stress, anxiety (a pandemic), the effects of smoking or drinking – and a million other things. But if you are also putting your body through the highly demanding ordeal of shift work – it may be affecting your erections.

Men who have shift work sleep disorder could be at higher risk for erectile dysfunction (ED), according to new research. Scientists think disruptions to circadian rhythms, changes in testosterone levels, fatigue, and stress could be to blame.

Here’s what they discovered:

Shift work can be tough, especially when you’re trying to fit life around a schedule that not everyone follows. Scientists think for some men, shift work might take a toll on their sex lives, too.

A recent study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine suggests that men with shift work sleep disorder (SWSD) could be at greater risk for erectile dysfunction (ED).

People with SWSD often feel sleepy when they need to be on the ball. They might experience insomnia and fatigue. Concentration might be a challenge as well.

Researchers examined data from 754 men. Of these, 204 men worked nonstandard shift schedules (outside the 7 am to 6 pm time frame) or rotating shifts. All the men completed several questionnaires about their work schedules, erections, overall health, and depression symptoms. They also submitted blood samples for hormonal analysis and were screened for SWSD.

Among the 204 men doing shift work, 48 had SWSD.

Looking over the erectile function questionnaire results, the researchers determined that the men with SWSD had more trouble with erections than the men who did shift work but did not have SWSD. And men who worked night shifts tended to have poorer erections than men who worked during the day or evening.

What’s the connection? The authors noted that disruptions to circadian rhythms might come into play. Also, since men’s bodies produce testosterone – an important hormone for sexual function – during sleep, there might be some testosterone deficiency in men with SWSD.

There could be psychological explanations, too. SWSD can leave a person feeling fatigued and stressed, and that can lead to erection problems.

The authors recommended that doctors assess sleep and work routines in men with ED.

Resources

The Journal of Sexual Medicine

Rodriguez, Katherine M., MD, et al.

“Shift Work Sleep Disorder and Night Shift Work Significantly Impair Erectile Function”

(Full-text. Published: July 28, 2020)

https://www.jsm.jsexmed.org/article/S1743-6095(20)30712-8/fulltext#%20

National Sleep Foundation

“Shift Work Disorder Symptoms”

https://www.sleepfoundation.org/shift-work-disorder/symptoms

Erectile dysfunction linked to heart problems in older men

September 19, 2018 by Brett Jones

Erectile Dysfunction Linked to Heart Problems in Older Men

Older men with erectile dysfunction (ED) could be at higher risk for heart attack and stroke, scientists report.

Their study, published in June in the journal Circulation, found that this link is strong even after considering other heart-related risk factors, like high blood pressure, smoking, and high cholesterol.

The research team followed over 1,750 men between the ages of 60 and 78 for an average of four years. During this time, 115 cardiovascular events occurred. These events were more common in men with ED.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) – the inability to get an erection firm enough for intercourse – is linked to a greater risk for cardiovascular events like heart attack and stroke in older men, according to a recent study.

The research team found that this link is strong even when other heart-related risk factors, such as high cholesterol, smoking, and high blood pressure, are accounted for.

How is erectile dysfunction linked to heart problems?

ED and heart disease have a lot in common. Obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, and metabolic syndrome can play roles in both conditions. Until this study, however, researchers did not know much about ED as an “independent predictor” of heart disease. In other words, they weren’t sure how much ED was involved on its own.

The research team used data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). (Atherosclerosis is the medical term for “hardening of the arteries,” occurring when plaque builds up on artery walls.) They started by looking at the records of 1,914 men who ranged in age from 60 to 78. About 46% of these men had ED.

After excluding men who had problems with heart disease before the study, the researchers followed 1,757 (average age 69) men for about four years.

During that time, 115 cardiovascular events occurred among the group. These events included heart attacks, strokes, cardiac arrests, and sudden cardiac deaths.

Such events were more common in men with ED, affecting 6.3% of that group compared to 2.6% of the men without ED.

Even when the effects of potential risk factors like smoking and diabetes were removed from the analysis, cardiovascular risk for men with ED was still almost double that of men without ED.

The researchers recommended that men with ED be screened for heart disease and its risk factors.

In a news release, lead author Michael Blaha MD said, “Our results reveal that erectile dysfunction is, in and of itself, a potent predictor of cardiovascular risk. Our findings suggest that clinicians should perform further targeted screening in men with erectile dysfunction, regardless of other cardiac risk factors and should consider managing any other risk factors — such as high blood pressure or cholesterol — that much more aggressively.”

The study was published in Circulation, the journal of the American Heart Association, in June 2018.

To learn more about the link between ED and heart disease, please see these links:

ED and Heart Trouble

How Do Certain Diseases Lead to Erectile Dysfunction?

Resources

American College of Cardiology

Rubenfire, Melvyn, MD, FACC

“Erectile Dysfunction as Predictor of Future CVD Events”

(June 19, 2018)

http://www.acc.org/latest-in-cardiology/journal-scans/2018/06/19/11/43/erectile-dysfunction-as-an-independent-predictor

American Heart Association

“Erectile dysfunction means increased risk for heart disease, regardless of other risk factors”

Erectile Dysfunction in Young Men

September 26, 2017 by Tony Gunderson

Impotence in Younger Men – It’s more common than you think.

Who gets erectile dysfunction (ED)? You might think it happens only to older men. It’s true that ED becomes more frequent as men age, but it can happen in younger men as well. While most people associate impotence and ED as “old guy” problems – more and more young men are being diagnosed with erectile dysfunction.

What is Erectile Dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction, or ED, is the inability to achieve or sustain an erection suitable for sexual intercourse. Causes include medications, chronic illnesses, poor blood flow to the penis, drinking too much alcohol, or being too tired.

A penile erection is the hydraulic effect of blood entering and being retained in sponge-like bodies within the penis. The process is most often initiated as a result of sexual arousal, when signals are transmitted from the brain to nerves in the penis. The most important organic causes of impotence are cardiovascular disease and diabetes, neurological problems (for example, trauma from prostatectomy surgery), hormonal insufficiencies (hypogonadism) and drug side effects.

Having erection trouble from time to time isn’t necessarily a cause for concern. If erectile dysfunction is an ongoing issue, however, it can cause stress, affect your self-confidence and contribute to relationship problems. Problems getting or keeping an erection can also be a sign of an underlying health condition that needs treatment and a risk factor for heart disease.

Who gets Erectile Dysfunction?

The answer is – lots of guys! Erectile dysfunction affects an estimated 18 million men in the United States alone. With over 30% of men suffering from ED at some point in their lives, this means that literally hundreds of millions of men around the world suffer from the devastating effects of ED.

If you pay attention to the media, you might think that erectile dysfunction (ED) happens only to older men. The ads for ED medications tend to show men with salt and pepper hair discussing how their improved erections helps them feel young again. Comedians may joke about an elderly man’s sex life – or lack of it.

It’s true that the chances of developing ED increase with age. Many medical conditions associated with ED, such as diabetes and heart disease, start occurring as men get older. However, the statistics show that ED affects a considerable number of younger men as well?

ED Studies on Young Men

In 2017, Sexual Medicine Reviews published a study that focused on ED younger men. The authors estimated that just over half of men between 40 and 70 have erection problems to some extent. But younger men are still affected.

Research showed the following results:

In a multinational study of almost 28,000 men, 11% of men in their 30s and 8% of men in their 20s had ED.
A Swiss study of over 2,500 men between the ages of 18 and 25 found that around 30% of men had some degree of ED.
An Italian study revealed an increase in ED in men under 40, with rates rising from 5% to 2010 to over 15% in 2015.

It’s important to understand that the severity of ED can vary. Some men with ED can’t get erections at all. Others have trouble occasionally. And others feel that their erections aren’t as firm as they’d like.

ED rates could be higher than reported, too. A lot of men aren’t comfortable discussing their erections with a doctor, so they suffer in silence. Some doctors might not realize that ED affects younger men and may not ask about sexual health.

Causes of Erectile Dysfunction in Young Men

ED can be caused by both physical and psychological issues, and sometimes there are a combination of factors involved.

The study authors discovered several possibilities:

Vascular problems. A rigid erection depends on good blood flow to the penis. If anything obstructs that flow, such as plaque buildup in blood vessels, an erection might be difficult to achieve.
Hormonal disorders. Conditions like diabetes, over- or under-active thyroid, Klinefelter syndrome, and others can interfere with erectile function.
Nervous system disorders. Men with multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, spinal cord injury, or other nervous system disorders may have trouble with erections because important messages from the brain can’t “connect” with the genitals.
Medication side effects. Many medications, such as antidepressants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), and antipsychotics have sexual side effects, including erectile dysfunction.
Psychological and emotional concerns. Erectile dysfunction can also occur in men with depression and anxiety. Relationship issues can play a role as well.
Smoking and illicit drug use. In another study, published in 2013 in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, younger men with ED were more likely to smoke or use recreational drugs compared to their older counterparts. Marijuana in particular has been linked to erectile problems. The drug’s active ingredient, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), interacts with proteins called cannabinoid receptors. This interaction can impair normal functioning in the brain. Research has shown that it may affect the penis as well.

What Can Younger Men Do About ED?

If you only experience occasional erection issues, consider taking a natural male sexual enhancement supplement, as they contain a number of ingredients to improve erectile blood flow (like Viagra does), and other performance enhancing ingredients which can help with sexual stamina and climax intensity. Consider taking a sexual enhancer for a few months and see if you notice an improvement in your erections.

If you’re having more regular problems with erections, take it seriously. Talk to your doctor. If your ED is a symptom of another medical condition, start treatment. You might need to make some lifestyle changes or go on medication, but taking care of the situation now can help you enjoy more sex in the future.