Cholesterol and erections

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Donk: Just want to share this helpful health tip I have learned: If your erections are less than you think they should be, get to your doctor and get your cholesterol tested. If it's high, lowering it may restore you to full glory.

Let me make clear that I have always been fully "functional"--my penis was always able to get hard enough to have intercourse, and usually able to get "rock hard". But for awhile there I felt like something was lacking and my erection was not at its best 100% of the time. I assumed this was a combination of aging (not that I'm "old", but I'm not a teenager anymore) and my size requiring excess bloodflow.

Anyway, I recently went to my doctor for a routine check-up. He did a cholesterol test and my level was very high, which was surprising because my diet and exercise are better than average. The doc explained that in my case it was probably a hereditary problem that would require medication. He started me on the medicine a short time ago and I have noticed a dramatic improvement in my erections! Talk about a cool side effect. My erection was fine before, but now it's like super--gets fully hard quicker and always gets and stays rock hard. It's like being a teenager again.

I was probably living with this cholesterol issue for several years without even knowing it.

 

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bustyredhead: Another of the benefits of healthy living... When I read the title to this, I had a thought about getting cholesterol buildup down there. It would either make you bigger in general due to the increased volume or give you bloodflow issues, like you've stated. Interesting idea that a guy's dipstick can be a health gauge.

- Nene (Reminds You To Check Your Fluids)

 

[Max]

A coincidence:

Having read Donk's post yesterday, last night I found myself listening to a health programme on the BBC (Radio 4) which specifically mentioned erectile difficulties (or reduction in erection quality) as indicators of possible cardio-vascular trouble. One of the comments made was that the penile arteries are much less in diameter than those in the heart (even true for a man like Donk, maybe!), so a reduction in arterial cross-section because of cholesterol would show up there much sooner.

Donk, it sounds as if that the problem was picked up at a very early stage. No doubt the bigger you are the more quickly it would show up. It's great that you dealt with it with such spectacular results.

 

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Donk: Yeah, it seems like the condition of the "dipstick" can be both an indicator of a cholesterol problem and a strong incentive to control it, which you should be doing anyway. It's probably especially important for us bigger guys who need all the bloodflow we can get. My experience proved to me that a lower erection quality is not just something that naturally comes with the territory of a very large penis. I would add that my experience doesn't mean everyone should rush to their doctor and get a prescription. Most people should be able to control cholesterol with good diet and exercise habits.

 

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FieldRatt9: You're absolutely right! I've noticed in the last 8 months that I wasn't as hard as I used to be. At my last physical the doc said my cholesterol was high so I was put on Lipitor. Well my erections have gotten harder (whew) but a healthy diet doesn't hurt either. Ever try to push a large rope?

 

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hung: Additionally, we all here have to realize that many of our choices such as smoking, lack of exercise, etc can affect our whole body and the ability of the blood to run to the far reaches of our penis. You and I all know that we need to maintain our health to remain sexual active. We can and should do this even as we mature and reach the status of Senior Citizens. After all being retired allows us more time to enjoy our bodies and the equipment that came with it (Standard equipment I might add).

 

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thingsteal: Around 80% of your total body's cholesterol is produced by the liver, so diet and exercise aren't that big of factors of what your level is.

Cholesterol isn't even that big of a marker for heart disease. It can be a minor factor, but there are so many other significant factors (overweight, smoking, lack of exercise, etc) Just because you have supposedly "high" cholesterol doesn't mean you're at a higher risk of getting a heart attack. In fact women aged 47 and older have a better chance of avoiding a heart attack with higher cholesterol levels than they do with 'normal' levels.

Doctors are basically bribed by the pharmaceutical industry to put their customers on statins. Years ago the level was 240-260mg/dl for borderline "high" cholesterol, but in the past several years this bar has been lowered to 200mg/dl so that the drug companies can reap a windfall.

 

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alan: I too had an erction problem when I wa around 50. I'm on viagra now. They couldn't find anything wrong but suggested that my penis size 8.5' long 7' circumference could be part of the problem . I'm convinced tha the older you get and have a large penis you will eventually have erection problems.

 

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mook: I'm pretty sure my cholesterol is in check, but my erections aren't nearly what they used to be. They still occur, but the rigidty is in question.

I'm 26, for the record.

Ginko Bilboa helps, but really only in the flaccid state.
Is there anything you can reccommend, short of a doctor visit, on the herbal market which could help?

thanks.

 

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Javierdude22: I think in general that unhealthy habits affect your virility and ability to have a good erection. Smoking for example is not exactly good for your virility or stamina. An unhealthy diet seems logical enough in that sense as well.

What is occuring to me now though 8) : Isn't there a 'myth' (or maybe fact) that clams and oisters enhance virility? Strange, cause on the other end they are bad for cholesterol...what's that about you white coated medical people????

And then...i read that liquerish (how the hell do you spell that man ?!) on the other hand lowers your 'want to have sex' drive.

Hm...damn candypeople...

 

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Donk: mook, you may want to try adding L-Arginine to your supplement list. Also, if you are not already on an exercise program, it is a good idea to start one that combines both cardio and weight training. Cardio improves circulation and strength training helps keep testosterone at healthy levels.

As the originator of this thread, I want to emphasize that the first line of defense against cholesterol should be diet and exercise for most people. In my case, my doctor only put me on medication because, as I am relatively young and already had fairly healthy habits, my high cholesterol level indicated that I have a hereditary condition in which the liver makes too much cholesterol.

 

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asouthernboy: Yea, I have (had) high c too. After taking Zocor the erections have become much better. My Dr. also gave samples of viagra. I like the viagra, but my wife can't keep up. Anyone else have the problem of not cumming soon enuf?

 

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Liberty9.5: I also have had high cholesterol (~280) on and off during the last 15 years. In my case a low-fat diet did absolutely nothing to help, since, as thingsteal mentioned above, most of our cholesterol is internally manufactured from our liver. But some people DO respond to the standard low-fat diet.

But exercise made a major difference when I started working out regularly. Unfortunately I haven't kept up with the routine often enough to keep it in check the last several years and have been on pravachol. But unlike Donk and FieldRatt, I haven't noticed the hardons getting better with the meds. If anything, the reverse.

But it is interesting that Donk mentioned Arginine. I've been taking that too to assist muscle-building and weight loss and when I do, about a half hour later -- Wham! Hard-on city. Perhaps it's a poor man's viagra among other things. ;D

 

[MASSIVEPKGO_CHUCK]

You may very well be onto something. I mean, when I was 80 lbs lighter I used get hard at the drop of a hat, (or anything else comparable) but when I discovered I had high cholesterol, (About 240 for my weight) I decided to take the initiative with LIPITOR. That, and getting back to my fighting weight have made the difference. It also helps to avoid alkaloid stimulants like caffeine. In theory, the caffeine would help get your blood going, but it'd also give you nerves on edge.

 

[MASSIVEPKGO_CHUCK]

In addition fellows, it can also slow down other related conditions, such as athero sclerosis, which my uncle died of 2 years ago from a heart attack attributable to
A.S.

 

[MASSIVEPKGO_CHUCK]

[quote author=thingsteal link=board=health;num=1057066223;start=0#6 date=08/03/03 at 13:47:42]Around 80% of your total body's cholesterol is produced by the liver, so diet and exercise aren't that big of factors of what your level is.

Cholesterol isn't even that big of a marker for heart disease.  It can be a minor factor, but there are so many other significant factors (overweight, smoking, lack of exercise, etc)  Just because you have supposedly "high" cholesterol doesn't mean you're at a higher risk of getting a heart attack.  In fact women aged 47 and older have a better chance of avoiding a heart attack with higher cholesterol levels than they do with 'normal' levels. Though I'm new to the board,this is a subject I must address. THINGSTEAL, you might want to check the American Heart Association's guide on Cholesterol and heart related problems such as heart attacks. Overall cholesterol makes up a pbig percent of the damage leading to heart attacks. You know why? Because the plaque from cholesterol builds up into the arteries and eventually will cause ATHERO SCLEROSIS, which will cause heart attacks. I know this because my uncle died 2 years ago, and I've spent those 2 years researching

Doctors are basically bribed by the pharmaceutical industry to put their customers on statins.  Years ago the level was 240-260mg/dl for borderline "high" cholesterol, but in the past several years this bar has been lowered to 200mg/dl so that the drug companies can reap a windfall.[/quote]

 

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micro: First of all I am NOT hung. But, I started to have problems getting erections. I had depression, and I got a medical check up. I had extremely high cholestrol. About this same time I found out about the Raw and living foods diet. I tried it, and within a few weeks I started having rock hard morning boners again.

My cholestrol dropped 70 points. I lost 4 inches around my waist, and 40 lbs off my body. I feel much more energetic. I am no longer strict about raw foods, but I keep it about 70-80 percent raw. I enjoy sushi and even raw egg yolks. High in cholestrol but I haven't found it a problem including them in my diet. Some people have expressed the idea that only heated cholestrol is damaging to the body, as it IS chemically changed by heating and other processes.

 

[Pecker]

Well the caveman ate raw, too, and barring being eaten raw by predators, he really didn't live very long.  

Pecker

(A blonde terrorist was sent to blow up a car.  She burnt her lips on the exhaust pipe.)

 

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micro: ...as if humans haven't also had advances in medicine, developed better weapons for defense, and modern conviences to make life easier. Not to mention that most people live in cities now, which I understand is NOT natural for humans to live in huge cities with millions of people.

Food is only one factor out of many which makes a difference in the quality of life that anyone experiences. Go ahead and poke fun at my response, but I really enjoy having better erections, and morning erections once again. Before the diet changes I didn't have erections with out manual stimulation, nor morning erections. Now I have them in the morning, and whenever I think dirty thoughts...or feel a slight vibration on the bus, or just for the heck of it! they only take a few seconds now!

 

[Pecker]

Gee, micro, I hope vegetarianism doesn't thin the skin. Smile, buddy! You're going to get joked with on this board. It's not a slight - it's a compliment: somebody is responding to your post!

Seriously, my older son's father-in-law is a vegetarian and he hasn't missed a day of work in years, is fit and claims to have a perpetual hardon.

I was raised on a farm, though. I think my first strained food was beef.

We're glad to have you with us at LPSG, micro. Stick around - you might find a few converts.

Pecker

(During the Gulf War, an Iraqi woman saved my life. She hid me in her basement in Cleveland.)