Pain relievers may cause erectile dysfunction

If you’re a man who takes ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to manage muscle soreness or osteoarthritis pain, Kevin Soden, MD, wants you to know about one potential side effect: erectile dysfunction.

Transcript

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Hi, I'm Dr. Soden, here with an important tip for guys. Do you regularly take ibuprofen and other non-steroidal

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anti-inflammatory drugs, known as NSAIDs, to manage muscle soreness or osteoarthritis pain?

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You should know about this potential side effect-- erectile dysfunction. A study of 80,000 middle-aged men

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found that over 35% of those who regularly took those over-the-counter pain relievers had ED.

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But only 24% of those not taking the meds had ED. That surprised the researchers.

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They expected that the anti-inflammatory benefits of NSAIDs help with ED since inflammation in the arteries

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can cause erection problems. So how can you relieve everyday aches and pains and prevent erectile dysfunction?

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Try these strategies. Skip red meat and any foods with added sugars or sugar syrups.

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They clog your arteries, and that can lead to ED. Eat only 100% whole grains.

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That's good for your heart and your weight. Good heart health and keeping your weight down helps prevent pain and ED.

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Choose cold water fish, like salmon, that's loaded with anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty

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acids. Finally, get at least 30 minutes of added physical activity a day.

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Exercise also helps ED. [WHOOSHES] [HEART BEAT THUMPS]