They're touted as the natural remedy for erectile dysfunction (ED), but what you may be popping to perform in bed may cause reactions you weren't expecting.
A recent investigation by the Associated Press revealed that male enhancement pills touted with natural ingredients may actually have more of the drug contained in prescription-only equivalents. And Pfizer, maker of Viagra, reported that it conducted its own study of over 3,000 herbal enhancement supplements and found that nearly 70 per cent of them contained the main ingredient found in Viagra.
The danger of unknown ingredients doesn't lie in the established and approved lab-tested brands, but in unregulated knock-offs sold over the Internet.
Matthew Pyatt, a naturopathic doctor with Grassroots Naturopathic in Calgary, says there are alternatives to the happy little blue pill, citing there are certain proven amino acids, vitamins and herbs that can be used.
"As with any treatment by (naturopathic doctors), we look at getting at the root cause of the condition. Viagra and some plants are only shot-gun or Band-Aid approaches. They treat the symptom but not the root cause. People should be aware that what the label says may not always be what's in the bottle or it could be laced with pharmaceuticals."
Erectile dysfunction can be caused by many physiological factors such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, chronic illness and high cholesterol. If occurring for more than three months, it is recommended to seek help.
"There can be emotional connections, as well," Pyatt says. "Stress can lead to hormonal imbalances, which can contribute to ED. ED is also a side-effect of certain medications. Low sex drive in patients taking anti-depressant medication is very common as well."
Even lack of a good night's sleep can affect performance. Dr. Adam Moscovitch, medical director of the Canadian Sleep Institute, says studies have shown a link between sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea and snoring, and absence of sex drive and erectile dysfunction.
"The best and historically most reliable way to determine if a man is experiencing ED physiologically is to test him while he is in REM sleep," he says. "The only muscles working during REM sleep are the eyes, respiratory muscles and the male reproductive organ. The test bypasses the psychological barriers and looks only at the physiology. If a person has a good erection in REM sleep, their problem is not physiological."
Moscovitch says about nine per cent of the Canadian population experiences sleep apnea, but there is not enough research to show a link between the disorder and ED.
"This disorder is very common among men, and limits the amount of oxygen, blood flow and energy to the body and brain. This can limit or inhibit sexual performance. Sometimes we see men who have a rapid turnaround in their sexual desire and performance just from getting treatment for their sleep apnea, in particular if the sleep disorder was severe."
Sales for natural performance enhancers has reached $400 million annually in the U.S. alone
cipient of whatever information self-appointed elites such as Sen. Edwards deign to let us have.
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