Some lifestyle choices you make can mess
up your performance in bed. For instance,
if you have been drinking a lot of alcohol
with your friends lately, you may score
low points with your spouse under the
sheets.
Consultant Gynaecologist, Dr. James
Onore, notes that while a little alcohol
can help lower inhibitions, too much of it
can impair the nervous system and lead
to fatigue — making it difficult to get
aroused.
The trick, he says, is to know when to
stop on the bottle.
Onore states, “Men who take alcohol so
they can be more efficient in bed are
actually doing the opposite. Alcohol
inhibits sexual performance, it does not
boost it.
“If you must indulge in it, a glass of wine
is all you need to feel good about
yourself, which may make you more
receptive to the idea of sex. It does not
make you enjoy it. It is better to steer
clear of alcohol when you are already
experiencing low desires for sex.”
Some recreational drugs and herbal
medications which some men use to get
it up may be getting in the way too.
It is common knowledge that there are
recreational drugs, like Viagra or herbal
medications that are sold to improve
sexual performance; doctors have warned
that this social habit could dampen libidos
and also lead to some serious medical
problems.
Consultant Gynaecologist, Dr. Olusola
Akinniyi, explains that these recreational
drugs increase pulmonary actions
abnormally and cause heart attacks or
sudden death in some cases.
Akinniyi said,“We have been saying that
these drugs are very dangerous. We see
the consequences every day. Viagra, for
example improves the activities of the
heart abnormally and this could lead to
heart attack during sex. This is what
happens most times, a situation that
Yorubas erroneously call ‘Magun’ ”.
A research published in the Journal of
Sexual Medicine reveals that bad lifestyle
choices have been associated with male
sexual dysfunction.
Although sexual libido is expected to
decrease with age, doctors are saying
that, unlike before, younger men and
women are experiencing less desire for
intimacy due to some social habits.
Danish researchers, after surveying more
than 5,500 adult men and women, found
that unhealthy habits increased their
chances of not having sex by up to 78 per
cent in men and 91 per cent in women.
Professor, Morten Frisch of Statens Serum
Institute, Denmark concluded that bad
lifestyle choices, such as smoking, high
alcohol consumption and the use of hard
drugs are associated with sexual
dysfunction, particularly in men.
He said,” Hopefully our findings can be
used in future counselling of patients with
unhealthy lifestyles. Knowing about
possible negative consequences of an
unhealthy lifestyle to one’s sexual health
may help people quit smoking, consume
less alcohol, exercise more and lose
weight,” added Frisch.
On how important a good sexual health is
to healthy living, another gynaecologist,
Dr. Olarenwaju Ekunjimi, says the act of
love making is just not for pleasure or
satisfaction.
Ekunjimi states that a good sexual
relationship between couples does not
only improve bonding, it has been proven
to protect the heart, boost the body’s
immunity against diseases, reduce stress
levels and increase longevity.
He explains further that some hormones
released during love making, such as
oxytocin, endorphins and antibody
immunoglobulin A reduce aches, pains ,
stress levels and the chances of
developing diseases like cold and fever.
Ekunjimi said, “Sex is a form of exercise
that improves the condition of the heart.
You lose calories and shed fat that could
be injurious to the heart. It is a
recreation that reduces stress. Its
benefits range from keeping families
together, reducing divorce rates to
preventing heart diseases.”
Other benefits of sex according to the
experts include increased blood
circulation, good sleep, body fitness and
increased levels of oestrogen and
testosterone, hormones which help
protect women against heart diseases.
Is your sex drive isn’t what it used to be?
Here are some natural libido boosters,
from Dr. Catherine Hood that may put
the spark back into the family:
Eat the right things
If your body becomes frail due to bad
health, sex invariably suffers. Five to nine
fruits and vegetables a day can provide
the cornerstone to your health. The
vitamins and antioxidants will help
maintain good blood flow to the sex
organs and prevent certain chronic
diseases.
Lose weight
Being overweight can affect not only your
self-esteem and your feelings of sexuality,
but you’re likely to suffer from blood
vessel disease which can reduce essential
blood flow to the genitals.
Keep fit
Moderate regular exercise will help
improve blood flow to the sexual organs.
In addition, exercise helps you feel good
about yourself. Anything that improves
self-esteem will improve libido.
Stop smoking
It is well known that smoking can have a
terrible affect on blood flow to the sexual
organs as it causes the blood vessels to
narrow. It also saps your stamina and so
kiss the ashtray goodbye.
