Can't keep it up? How alcohol contributes to erectile dysfunction

Drinking too much booze can cause erectile dysfunction and lead to other cardiovascular complications, Dr Shingai explains.

Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to erectile dysfunction (ED), says sexual health expert Dr Shingai Mutambirwa.

ED is the inability to get or maintain erection during sexual intercourse.

Dr Shingai says that men should opt for moderate drinking rather than excessive drinking to maintain a healthy sex life.

Read: Is it normal to have a curved penis? Dr Shingai explains

He advises that men drink no more than 14 units of alcohol a week.

Alcohol can particularly be a problem for guys trying to have adequate erections.

Dr Shingai Mutambirwa, urologist and sexual health expert

The reality that alcohol is a actually a depressant. Physiologically, it's affecting your erections in a negative way.

Dr Shingai Mutambirwa, urologist and sexual health expert

The doctor adds that persistent ED should be checked by a medical professional as it can be a sign of other health problems that need treatment.

If you have erectile dysfunction, you have a five times greater risk of a cardiovascular event such as heart attack, stroke or loss of limb.

Dr Shingai Mutambirwa, urologist and sexual health expert

Age is not a limit to sexual function.

Dr Shingai Mutambirwa, urologist and sexual health expert

He says lack of sex is not good for one's health, adding that sex can be a form of exercise.

Also read: 40 or older? Dr Shingai says you should check for prostate cancer once a year

Dr Shingai explains that if men older than 60 who have sex twice a week increase their life expectancy by six years.

He offers a range of tips on male erections, including the use of a penile pump and other medications.

Take a listen to his expert advice on male sexual health:

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