Has your partner ever complained that you snore loudly? Just like erectile dysfunction, you shouldn\u2019t sweep this under the drug! Snoring is the first sign of sleep apnoea, a condition that reduces quality of life and may lead to mortality. It\u2019s so pervasive that even your erection isn\u2019t spared. To rectify this, let\u2019s unpack the connection between sleep apnoea and erectile dysfunction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
An Overview of\u00a0Sleep\u00a0Apnoea\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sleep apnoea is a condition wherein you stop breathing in the middle of sleep. It can be because of a literal blockage or \u2018obstruction\u2019 in your airway hence the name obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). It can also be due to a neurological issue where your brain is unable to transmit the signals needed for you to breathe as in the case of central sleep apnoea (CSA). Some individuals have both factors present which classifies them under mixed sleep apnoea (MSA), but most men experience OSA. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Regardless of cause, all types of sleep disorder share the same symptoms which are: <\/p>\n\n\n\n How\u00a0Sleep\u00a0Apnoea\u00a0Causes Erectile Dysfunction\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n As you\u2019ve noticed in the previous section, erectile dysfunction (ED) is listed as a symptom of OSA\/CSA. This is because these can directly cause ED through these factors: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Low Testosterone\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A restful night of sleep is needed to regulate testosterone which is crucial for all male sexual function (not just erection). Did you know that your testosterone tends to be at its highest after you\u2019ve just woken up? However, if a man has OSA\/CSA\/MSA, there\u2019s lesser testosterone<\/a>. This is because the circadian rhythm affects testosterone production. Instead, what spikes is cortisol, the stress hormone. Cortisol and testosterone have an inverse relationship which means the higher your cortisol levels, the lesser your circulating testosterone will be. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Chronic Inflammation<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0constantly flooded with testosterone and your immune system is unable to properly do its job when you sleep (it becomes naturally active at night), you get chronic inflammation. This means that you are experiencing persistent widespread inflammation. Just like stress, inflammation has its purpose. But when it becomes prolonged, you start to develop chronic diseases that can be dangerous. A lot of chronic diseases can cause ED. In fact,\u00a0chronic inflammation<\/a>\u00a0alone can weaken erections.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cardiovascular Toll\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cortisol and inflammation are known to raise blood\u00a0pressure,\u00a0but the cardiovascular issues caused by OSA\/CSA\u00a0do\u00a0not stop at that. Heart failure, stroke, and atrial fibrillation (irregular\u00a0heartbeat) are all connected to OSA\/CSA. This is\u00a0because of\u00a0the blood pressure and frequent dips in blood oxygen levels\u00a0that\u00a0strain the heart. Note that blood flow is one of the most crucial components of the erectile process.\u00a0This means that having a\u00a0cardiovascular\u00a0disease<\/a>\u00a0predisposes you to ED.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nerve Damage<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Inflammation and excess cortisol can lead to oxidative stress which can damage the nerves. Hypoxia, which happens due to oxygen deprivation, can also kill your nerves. If your nervous system isn\u2019t working properly, your erections may suffer as a result. Blood can\u2019t fill the corpora cavernosa if the brain is unable to properly signal your reproductive system to jump start the erectile process. Often, your erectile strength is the first casualty of a progressed cardiovascular or nerve issue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Obesity<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Obesity is one of the conditions that can cause OSA. Excess fat around the neck and abdomen can put pressure in your airways. It also indirectly worsens OSA by limiting your chest expansion when\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0breathing which means your lung\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0effectively supply oxygen to your blood. Obesity also triggers chronic inflammation which can\u00a0exacerbate\u00a0the\u00a0effects of OSA. Just like OSA, obesity can also lead to ED by itself. Men with obesity are also likely to have the\u00a0metabolic syndrome<\/a>\u00a0which can lead to metabolic diseases like diabetes, kidney disease, and liver disease.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Smoking\u00a0&\u00a0Drinking<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cigarettes and alcohol are often the top culprits in most disorders, not just OSA\/CSA and ED. Both contain toxins that cause cellular damage (and increase your risk of cancer). Cigarettes cause massive inflammation that can make your upper airways swell which means air can\u2019t pass properly while alcohol depresses your nervous system. If you have CSA, alcohol consumption is going to exacerbate it since your brain is already struggling with sending nerve signals. Nicotine and alcohol are also muscle relaxants which may affect your throat and contribute to more constriction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Managing\u00a0Sleep\u00a0Apnoea\u00a0and Erectile Dysfunction\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that you understand the intricate connection between OSA\/CSA and ED, it\u2019s time to take action. We\u2019ve crafted a step-by-step strategy to serve as your gentle guide in tackling both OSA\/CSA and ED: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Conclusion\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Snoring tends to be overlooked but it can be a sign of serious conditions like\u00a0sleep\u00a0apnoea\u00a0which\u00a0inhibits\u00a0erection.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n While OSA\/CSA and ED can be dangerous when allowed to progress,\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0also all treatable.\u00a0So,\u00a0if you think you may have OSA\/CSA, please speak to your general physician ASAP. And, to prevent your ED from getting worse, please\u00a0book a FREE appointment<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0with us.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our team of ED experts will conduct a thorough examination to uncover everything that\u2019s harming your sexual health and provide you with a tailored erectile rehabilitation plan!<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Has your partner ever complained that you snore loudly? Just like erectile dysfunction, you shouldn\u2019t sweep this under the drug! Snoring is the first sign of sleep apnoea, a condition that reduces quality of life and may lead to mortality. It\u2019s so pervasive that even your erection isn\u2019t spared. To rectify this, let\u2019s unpack the connection between sleep apnoea and erectile dysfunction. An Overview of\u00a0Sleep\u00a0Apnoea\u00a0 Sleep apnoea is a condition… Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":5294,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5293","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-erectile-dysfunction"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/menshealthclinic.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5293","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/menshealthclinic.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/menshealthclinic.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/menshealthclinic.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/menshealthclinic.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5293"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/menshealthclinic.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5293\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5295,"href":"https:\/\/menshealthclinic.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5293\/revisions\/5295"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/menshealthclinic.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5294"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/menshealthclinic.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5293"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/menshealthclinic.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5293"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/menshealthclinic.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5293"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
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