INSCMagazine: Get Social!

You need to think about your sexual health in each phase of your life — especially before you’re dealing with conditions such as erectile dysfunction or prostate problems. Making your sexual health a priority should start as a young man and last throughout your lifetime. 

You must understand that your overall health and well-being impacts your sexual health. In order to improve your sexual health, you must address your needs holistically. Here are several things you can do to ensure that you can enjoy an active and healthy sex life for years to come. 

Keep Moving

It’s no secret that sex can increase your heart rate. If you want to be in tip-top shape so that you can enjoy several rounds of activity, you need to make sure you’re participating in plenty of exercise. Engage in 30 minutes of heart-pumping activity, such as swimming, running, or another cardiovascular exercise to stay healthy. 

Eat a Balanced Diet

Eating the right mix of foods can decrease your risk of obesity, increase blood flow, and even boost your libido. If you’re looking for food to get your blood flowing, try eating a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids like tuna, salmon, and avocados. You can also eat specific foods to spice up your sex life. Try adding in healthy amounts of fruits such as figs and bananas, which are considered aphrodisiacs. You can also eat chocolate to promote the release of serotonin and phenylethylamine.

Beware of STD Symptoms

Practicing safe sex keeps you safe today and into your future. It also protects future partners from being exposed to serious conditions. The safest bet when it comes to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is to practice monogamy. Of course, that isn’t realistic for many people, but if you’re having sex outside of a committed relationship, always at least use condoms to protect your health. 

You should also educate yourself on the most common symptoms of STDs. You must be aware that not all STIs and STDs cause symptoms, which can lead to transmission from one person to another without anyone’s knowledge. 

The good news is that you don’t have to wait until you have symptoms to get tested. You can check for sexually transmitted diseases at home to stay ahead of the problem. If you have any of the following symptoms, make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible for a check-up:

  • Painful urination
  • Anal itching
  • Testicular pain
  • Discharge from your penis
  • Itching or irritation inside your penis

Talk to Your Health Care Provider

Opening up to your doctor about any health-related concerns can be challenging. When your complaints are related to low libido, problems with ejaculation or erections, the discussion can be downright embarrassing. However, don’t let an uncomfortable conversation stand in-between you and your healthy sex life. 

If you have any concerns, talk to your doctor or nurse practitioner openly. You may worry that you’ll embarrass them, but you can trust that they’ve heard it before! You should also speak to them about any medications that may help keep you healthy, like PrEP. This daily oral medication can decrease your risk of contracting HIV. This medication is preventative only and can’t be used to treat HIV or AIDS. PrEP is currently available under the brand name Truvada. It works to keep the virus that causes HIV and AIDS from progressing into an active infection after an exposure. 

Curb Binge Drinking

We’ve all been there. You had a little too much to drink, vaguely remember how you get home, and certainly have no idea how the girl from the bar showed up in your bed. The binge-drinking epidemic isn’t only dangerous to your safety and the health of your liver; experts have found a significant relationship between the abuse of alcohol and STDs. Excessive drinking lowers your inhibitions and impairs your ability to make good decisions. Poor decisions can lead to risky behaviors that damage your long-term sexual health. 

If you’re struggling with addiction, there are a few different approaches you can take to get ahead of the problem. Consider looking into natural therapies, such as seeing an addiction healer, who has genuine healing skills to help you give up any unhealthy substances. If you prefer a more traditional treatment, speak with your provider about rehab services close to home.  

Maintain Healthy Stress Levels

We often think we want no stress in our life. However, a small amount of stress actually keeps us healthy. Too much stress can affect all areas of your health, including your sex drive. Stress can also increase your blood pressure and heart rate, which can cause your sexual desires to plummet. If your stress levels could be damaging your sexual health, try one or two of these stress-reducing activities for men:

  • Get plenty of sleep
  • Meditate
  • Find the trigger(s) of your stress
  • Increase your activity levels

Placing Your Health First

Whether you’re looking to keep the flames of love lit or are working on your general health and wellness, these strategies can help optimize your sexual health. Get started on making your sexual health a top priority today so that you can enjoy a healthy sex life well into your future.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.