Every year, June 11 to June 17, the world celebrates Men’s Health Week. It is a time to bring awareness to health issues that affect men and focuses on getting men to become aware of problems they may have or could develop and gain the courage to do something about it. It is estimated by the NHS that half of all men between the age group 40 to 70 suffer from erectile dysfunction.

It is not just older men lacking in the lead. A study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine showed that impotence affects as many as one in four men under the age of 40. Fortunately, there are few things that can help men in getting stronger and better erections.

1. Exercise: Blood flow is the key to a healthy erection. And there’s nothing that encourages blood flow like aerobic exercise. Along with keeping you in shape, it builds the body’s nitric oxide which helps maintains erections. Psychologically as well, being fit increases confidence in body and attractiveness and so will lead to less anxiety and more drive.

2. Sleep: Not getting enough shut eye could also be shutting down your sex life as sleep plays an important role in maintaining testosterone levels. If you’re tired, your libido and desire for sex can be affected, meaning weaker erections.

3. Reduce Alcohol & Cigarettes: In one study, researchers found that smokers’ penises are smaller than those belonging to non-smokers. In addition to damaging blood vessels, smoking can cause damage to penile tissue itself, making it less elastic and preventing it from stretching. Alcohol consumption, in long term, can affect erections due to nerve damage.

4. Lose Weight: 50% of all men with diabetes are impotent. Staying trim is the best way to avoid diabetes. There are blood vessels in your penis, so any diet that is bad for your gut is also bad for your penis’ long-term health.

5. Vasectomy: If you are done with producing offspring or are not planning to not have children at all, consider shutting down the sperm factory. The risk of a contraceptive failure can be a big source of anxiety for some men. The anxiety can, in turn, lead to erection problems and cause a vicious circle that makes performance anxiety such as a mood killer.

Erectile Dysfunction can be caused by multiple reasons and they can be both emotional and physical disorders. Some common causes are diabetes, hypertension, obesity, stress, anxiety, drug use and more. These tips can help men to perform well with stronger erections. Get the Popeye act going minus the spinach.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 13, 2018 05:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).