COLD winter months can get men down in more ways than one, experts claim.
The changing seasons can cause seasonal affective disorder — a type of depression that increases your risk of erectile dysfunction (ED).
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Abbas Kanani, a pharmacist at Chemist Click, said shorter, darker days can make men’s “energy for everything in life go down”.
He said: “Many men experience changes in their mood and libido during the winter months.
“Sex takes energy, both physical and mental.
“We also tend to be less active in winter and to stay less hydrated which is not ideal for getting or maintaining an erection.”
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Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) affects around 2million Brits and is a type of depression that has a seasonal pattern.
SAD can occur at any time of the year but is more common in the winter.
It is thought to be caused by lower levels of sunlight affecting the brain, increasing amounts of a hormone called melatonin, which makes you feel sleepy.
The lower sunlight can also reduce how much serotonin your body produces, which is linked to depression, as well as affecting the body’s internal clock.
Symptoms include persistent low mood, lack of energy and irritability — and it can also increase the risk of ED.
ED affects around 16.5million men in Britain and can be caused by mental health issues, including depression and anxiety.
A study based in Turkey, published in the medical journal Anrologia, showed more ED symptoms were diagnosed at hospitals in winter seasons from 2010 to 2020.
Another paper, published in Nature, showed Google searches for the condition also peak in the colder months in the US.
Dr Belen Mora Garijo, of the University of Miami, said the surge “implies an increase in ED during winter”.
She said: “This novel finding may help increase awareness of ED’s associated lifestyle risk factors.”
Mr Kanani said SAD can cause people to drink too much alcohol, exercise less and eat a worse diet — all of which can increase the risk of ED.
He said: “As tempting as it may be to pick up cakes and biscuits instead of fruits and vegetables in the colder months, it may be doing more harm than good.”
11 tips to help with erectile dyfunction and seasonal affective disorder
Things you can do to help with erectile dysfunction:
- lose weight if you’re overweight
- stop smoking
- eat a healthy diet
- exercise daily
- try to reduce stress and anxiety
- do not drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week
- do not cycle for a while, if you cycle for more than 3 hours a week
Things you can do to help with seasonal affective disorder:
- lifestyle measures – including getting as much natural sunlight as possible, exercising regularly and managing your stress levels
- light therapy – where a special lamp called a light box is used to simulate exposure to sunlight
- talking therapies – such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or counselling
- antidepressant medicine – such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Source: The NHS