Study on mice may unlock sleep-sex connection
If you've ever had mice in your house, you know that two becomes 20 pretty quickly. Mice are breeding machines, and I dare say it would take a lot to make one of these critters lose its libido.
So, if something is serious enough to make mice stop having sex, you ought to be pretty concerned it could have the same effect on you.
A recent study found that some of the complications that come with sleep apnea caused pretty significant erectile dysfunction in mice. Researchers subjected the mice to the type of oxygen deprivation that is common in men with sleep apnea, and found that the ability of the mice to get erections was cut by more than half. There was a huge improvement once the mice received regular oxygen levels again.
I get frustrated watching men who suffer from sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction steered onto some pill that just treats the erectile dysfunction. This research clearly shows you should try to treat the sleep apnea first, and you just might see the sexual dysfunction take care of itself. That's a pretty safe and simple solution that keeps you clear of the dangerous side effects – such as heart attacks and vision loss -- that accompany drugs for erectile dysfunction.
The gentle nighttime oxygen that is usually used to treat sleep apnea can work beautifully – most people quickly get used to the little mask worn over the nose, especially when they notice how much better they feel during the day.
If you're still having problems with erectile dysfunction, try ginkgo biloba (240 milligrams a day – Nature's Way Ginkgold is a quality, widely available product). It does a great job of increasing blood flow throughout your body, including to the penis. It can also work for guys who lose the ability to obtain a normal erection when they're put on SSRI antidepressant drugs like Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, Lexapro or Paxil.
