A healthy lifestyle improves sexual health

For many men, ED (erectile dysfunction) and other sexual health issues can be improved by maintaining better overall health. In addition, a healthier lifestyle can lead to an increase in testosterone production. Here at the Columbus Men’s Clinic, we provide performance and testosterone medication; but, we believe that these are most effective when paired with healthier habits. We strongly believe that “sex matters” for healthy men and women. Of equal (if not greater) importance, however, is a man’s overall health.

When working to improve your overall (and sexual) health, the following suggestions can be incredibly helpful guidelines.

• Healthy Diet: Wholesome foods such as grains, chicken, fish, fruits, vegetables, lentils, and tofu are important elements of a healthy diet. Calorie intake and saturated fats, on the other hand, should be limited and closely monitored. Clean eating is the first step towards improved general health, which, in turn, can improve sexual health.
• Healthy Weight: To better maintain your weight, portion your meals based upon the amount of calories that you are burning off each day. Set personal weight goals and track your progress by screening your BMI (body mass index). If you’re interested, we can identify your BMI here at our clinic.
• Physical Activity: Exercise, such as jogging and biking for 30 minutes a day (or 60 minutes for four days a week), is essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Before starting an exercise routine, it is a good idea to discuss options with your physician.
• Sleep Well: Develop a healthy sleep schedule that includes 6-8 hours of sleep each night.
• Stop Smoking: Discuss your desire to quit smoking with your doctor for some helpful guidance. Build a support group to keep you accountable. ED (erectile dysfunction) can be developed or made worse due to smoking.
• Balance Stress: Higher-than-usual stress can be very damaging to an individual’s general health. And left unchecked, stress can also cause a man to experience ED or PE (premature ejaculation). This includes, for example, individuals who are struggling with PTSD. If you are dealing with elevated stress, a mental health professional is a great resource.
• Drink Alcohol in Moderation: Consumption of alcohol should be limited to no more than two drinks a day to avoid a negative impact on overall health. Typically, 1-ounce of spirits, a 12-ounce beer, or a 5-ounce glass of wine is considered a standard drink.

Screenings:

Following the suggestions above is an excellent start to managing your overall health. It is also important to seek out advice from your doctor or a specialist who might be able to help you personalize these guidelines. Depending on your unique health status (i.e. pre-existing conditions, high-risk profiles, etc.), altered screening might be required.

Your provider and patient coordinator are a resource to aid you in finding professional help for any health issues you may be experiencing. Always feel free to let us know if you have any questions!

Having routine screenings and appointments with your primary care physician and other specialists is an important part of maintaining good overall health. Plus, these screenings and follow-up appointments are important for receiving diagnoses and handling any health issues identified by your physician. The chart below sets a recommended list of screenings to acquire and the frequency of screening. We recommend you follow these guidelines to help ensure you maintain good health. As always, it’s important to speak with your primary care physician and any specialists to make a personalized schedule for your screenings. Some individuals’ health situations require more or less screenings depending on their risk levels.

If you would like to receive help identifying a medical professional for any of these issues, let us know and we will do our best to help you. We care about your overall health and your sexual health.