{"id":13829,"date":"2026-03-26T10:57:45","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T10:57:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.doctorfox.co.uk\/news\/?p=13829"},"modified":"2026-04-09T14:08:04","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T13:08:04","slug":"erectile-dysfunction-treatments-that-actually-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.doctorfox.co.uk\/news\/erectile-dysfunction-treatments-that-actually-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Erectile dysfunction treatments that actually work"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"last-updated entry-meta colour-grey\"><small>Last updated 9 April 2026<\/small><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You\u2019ve probably been told <strong>erectile dysfunction only happens as men get older<\/strong> &#8211; but that\u2019s not true. Erectile Dysfunction can <strong>affect men of any age<\/strong>, and it\u2019s far more common than people realise.<br><br>In this latest video, our clinical Pharmacist <a href=\"https:\/\/www.doctorfox.co.uk\/our-team\/abraham-jacobson.html\" title=\"\">Abraham Jacobson Khodadi<\/a> shows you what\u2019s really happening in the body, the m<strong>ost common causes<\/strong>, how l<strong>ifestyle changes can improve it<\/strong>, and what to know about treatments!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper embed-container\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Erectile Dysfunction Treatments That Actually Work\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cVLPYIXujSk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What<\/strong> is erectile dysfunction and why it happens?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Erectile dysfunction, or ED, means regularly having difficulty getting or maintaining an erection firm enough for sex. An erection happens when the brain sends signals through the spinal cord to open up the blood vessels in the penis, allowing them to fill with blood.<br><br>If blood flow is restricted or the nerve signal is disrupted, that process doesn\u2019t work as well &#8211; and that\u2019s when ED occurs. The most common physical causes include high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, or narrowing of blood vessels.<br><br>Psychological factors like stress, anxiety, depression, or relationship issues can also play a huge role &#8211; and in younger men, that\u2019s often the main cause. Even common medications such as antidepressants or blood pressure tablets can contribute.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is why it\u2019s so important always speak to your healthcare professional if struggling with ED so they can find the cause!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Erectile dysfunction lifestyle changes that help<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For many men, lifestyle changes can make a noticeable difference.<br><br>Let\u2019s look at what helps most:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1. Exercise regularly.<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong> Anything that boosts your heart health improves erectile function &#8211; studies show brisk walking just 30 minutes a day can reduce ED symptoms by up to 40%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>2. Maintain a healthy weight.<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong> Excess belly fat raises oestrogen and lowers testosterone, which affects libido and performance. Even a small reduction in waist size helps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>3. Quit smoking.<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong> Nicotine constricts blood vessels and damages the lining of arteries, directly reducing blood flow to the penis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>4. Limit alcohol.<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong> Regular heavy drinking lowers testosterone and dulls nerve sensitivity.<strong>5. Manage stress and sleep well.<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong> Chronic stress increases cortisol &#8211; a hormone that interferes with testosterone production and sexual response. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep per night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Erectile dysfunction<\/strong> treatment options<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When lifestyle changes aren\u2019t enough, doctors may prescribe medications called <strong>PDE-5 inhibitors<\/strong> &#8211; these work by relaxing the blood vessels in the penis to allow more blood flow when you\u2019re aroused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The most common one is <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.doctorfox.co.uk\/erectile-dysfunction\/sildenafil.html\" title=\"\">sildenafil<\/a><\/strong>, the active ingredient in Viagra.<br><br>It\u2019s usually taken about <strong>one hour before sexual activity<\/strong>, and works best on an <strong>empty stomach<\/strong>, because food &#8211; especially fatty meals &#8211; can delay absorption.<br><br>The effect typically lasts for around <strong>four hours<\/strong>, and you shouldn\u2019t take more than <strong>one dose in 24 hours<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Possible side effects include headache, flushing, blocked nose, dizziness, or mild stomach upset &#8211; I\u2019ve listed a full breakdown of side effects and safety information in the description below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>When to seek medical advice<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If ED happens often, it\u2019s worth getting checked.<br><br>Sometimes it\u2019s an early warning sign of heart disease or diabetes because the blood vessels in the penis are smaller and show problems first.<br><br>So, always speak with a qualified healthcare professional &#8211; don\u2019t ignore it. I will leave more information in the description on seeking medical advice be sure to read it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And don\u2019t forget to join our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@DrFoxUK\/streams\" title=\"\">monthly live Q&amp;A<\/a>, where we discuss health topics and get science-backed answers in real time.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@DrFoxUK\">View our Youtube channel now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last updated 9 April 2026 You\u2019ve probably been told erectile dysfunction only happens as men get older &#8211; but that\u2019s not true. Erectile Dysfunction can affect men of any age, and it\u2019s far more common than people realise. In this latest video, our clinical Pharmacist Abraham Jacobson Khodadi shows you what\u2019s really happening in the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":107,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13829","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-health-news"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO 4.9.10 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"You\u2019ve probably been told erectile dysfunction only happens as men get older - but that\u2019s not true. Erectile Dysfunction can affect men of any age, and it\u2019s far more common than people realise.In this latest video, our clinical Pharmacist Abraham Jacobson Khodadi shows you what\u2019s really happening in the body, the most common causes, how\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"max-image-preview:large\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Ian Shepherd\"\/>\n\t<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.doctorfox.co.uk\/news\/erectile-dysfunction-treatments-that-actually-work\/\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"generator\" content=\"All in One SEO (AIOSEO) 4.9.10\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Dr Fox Pharmacy | Medical, health, pharmacy, and wellness news\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Erectile dysfunction treatments that actually work\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"You\u2019ve probably been told erectile dysfunction only happens as men get older - but that\u2019s not true. 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Erectile Dysfunction can affect men of any age, and it\u2019s far more common than people realise.In this latest video, our clinical Pharmacist Abraham Jacobson Khodadi shows you what\u2019s really happening in the body, the most common causes, how\" \/>\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO -->\n\n","aioseo_head_json":{"title":"Erectile dysfunction treatments that actually work","description":"You\u2019ve probably been told erectile dysfunction only happens as men get older - but that\u2019s not true. 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