That exercise is good for your health especially your heart cannot be over emphasized. But exercise does something else—it makes your sex life better. By getting involved in regular exercise for several times in a week, you’ll not only be increasing your health but improving your sex life.

Erectile dysfunction (impotence) is alarmingly increasing among Nigerian men. Steps must be taken to stem the tide.  The trend is currently affecting drug compliant to certain medication exposing such people to complication of the primary disease. Some men prefer to develop stroke (brain attack) or heart attack to taking any drug that will affect their sexual performance.  I sympathize with these group of people because even when women say no problem, be rest assured that there are basket full of tensions at home. What God has joined together let no impotence put asunder. It is my prayer that God will keep our homes.

As challenging as erectile dysfunction may be, this mountain is surmountable. Regular exercise is a very cheap and proven way of dealing with poor erectile function. Studies have found a direct correlation between physical inactivity and a lack of potency. So, exercise can increase your potency and it can also make your sex life more enjoyable.

Sometimes a combination of physical and psychological issues causes erectile dysfunction. For instance, a minor physical problem that slows your sexual response may cause anxiety about maintaining an erection. The resulting anxiety can lead to or worsen erectile dysfunction. This can still be handled with increased physical activity. Do not be depressed.

I came across a study that confirmed that more physically fit men and women rated their own sexual desirability higher than less active men and women the same age. Eighty percent of men and 60% of females who exercised two to three times weekly rated their own sexual desirability as above average. As the number of days of exercise per week increased, so did the ratings of sexual desirability.

Another study showed that men and women who were more physically fit rated their own sexual performance higher. Among people who exercised four to five days per week, 88% of the women and 69% of the men reported their own sexual performance as above average or much above average.

The reason for this will not be farfetched. I once listen to Coach Festus Onigbinde interview about the need for regular exercise and he concluded that people that exercise enjoy their life in all ramifications because there will be good blood circulation to all parts of the body. He also regretted the sudden disappearance of the regular exercises that our great ground parents used to give to new born babies of old.  How many of our new born babies of nowadays have such exercises imbibed in them. No wonder the prevalence of childhood obesity is increasing and we have now many adults with metabolic syndrome which is a major physical cause of impotence.

Regular exercises increase your confidence because of an improved body image and better cardiac endurance.  The excess body fat  are burnt and ‘pot belly’  disappears  for better body image that make men and women attractive to each other with better libido. This, on its own, can take care of psychological causes of impotence.

Let me borrow this saying in the erectile dysfunction world that “penis health is heart health.” Erectile dysfunction is often caused by circulatory problems. In order to have an erection, the penis must swell with blood. Blocked arteries, high blood pressure and other cardiovascular issues can interfere with that process. Exercise keeps the heart and arteries healthy, reducing the risk of erectile dysfunction.

Exercise releases endorphins, a chemical that give a feeling of pleasure or a state of bliss.  Your sex drive and feelings of sexual pleasure also use an endorphin release system. Each time you exercise (or have sex), your body releases these endorphins. The more frequent and intense the releases, the easier it is for sexual arousal and pleasure in the future.

Women who frequently exercise become aroused more quickly and are able to reach an orgasm faster and more intensely because of the release of endorphin into the circulation. Wives, before you complain about that man, get involved also in regular exercise to improve on your arousal system and help your husband.

In Yoruba saying ‘ ko si arugbo ni Ghana’ meaning people no de dey old for Ghana. They always look and behave young. Old age is not an excuse for sexual impotence. Get up sir, and have regular exercises. Researchers looked at men over the age of 50 and found that those who were physically active reported better erections and a 30% lower risk of impotence than men who were inactive.

Sixty-year-olds who exercise frequently report having the same amount of sex and sexual pleasure as people decades younger. One study examined the sexual frequency and satisfaction ratings of swimmers aged 60 and found that they were the same as those 20 years younger. If you exercise a lot, your “sexual age” will be years younger than your chronological age.

I want to conclude that all these studies were done in the Caucasian population. Can it be true of the black race? I need your comments based on your personal experiences. I have mine, but yours will make a better conclusion. Send your comment to my mail or the phone.

Till next week, maintain a healthy heart.