A new study has suggested that men who get erections in the morning are less likely to die from heart disease or strokes. Scientists asked up to 1,800 men in Belgium how often they got 'morning glory'. Those who frequently had morning erections were 22 percent less likely to die.
Men Who Get Morning Wood Are Less Likely To Die From Strokes, New Study Reveals
By
Zainab Pervez in
Health and Fitness
On 12th June 2022
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WAKING up with "morning glory" is part and parcel of being a man. Having a morning erection is actually good for you. In fact, it's usually a sign that your body is nice and healthy.
The study, which was published in the journal Age and Ageing, involved scientists asking up to 1,800 middle-aged and older men in Belgium how often they got ‘morning glory.’ They found that those who frequently had morning erections were around 22 per cent less likely to die from the major killers.
Dr Leen Antonio, lead researcher and assistant professor of endocrinology at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, said: 'Erectile dysfunction and poor morning erections are associated with increased mortality.'
'Loss of morning erections are a sign your arteries are not functioning properly,' Dr Geoff Hackett, the ex-president of the British Society for Sexual Medicine, told The Sun.
'That means you are at significant risk of a heart attack or stroke within three to five years.
'This applies to celibate, single men — not just those who have a partner.'
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Nocturnal penile erections occur during Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep - the phase during which we dream.
Some men may experience nocturnal penile tumescence during non-REM sleep as well, particularly older men. The reason for this is unclear.
The reason men wake up with an erection may be related to the fact we often wake up coming out of REM sleep.
Since there are several sleep cycles per night, men can have as many as five erections per night and these can last up to 20 or 30 minutes.
Erectile dysfunction, also known as impotence, is when a man is unable to get or maintain an erection. It is more common in men over-40s but affects men of all ages. Failure to stay erect is usually due to tiredness, stress, anxiety, or alcohol, and is not a cause for concern.
However, it can be a sign of an underlying medical condition such as high blood pressure or cholesterol, side effects of medication, or hormonal issues. Lifestyle factors than can affect the condition include obesity, smoking, cycling too much, drinking too much, and stress.
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It is reported that Boots has started selling its own-brand Viagra, in a move hailed by doctors amid the cost of living crisis.
Marc Donovan OBE, the chief pharmacist at Boots, said: 'Erectile dysfunction is a common condition that affects most men at some point in their lives, and is generally nothing to be worried or embarrassed about'
They now offer a four-pack of impotence pills for £14.99 — £5 cheaper than the original version.
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Both products contain exactly the same active ingredient, Sildenafil, which expands blood vessels and boosts blood flow to the genitals. Boots hopes the move will 'increase accessibility' for men struggling with erectile dysfunction as economic pressures 'continue to rise'.
Experts welcomed it as 'good news' given the worsening cost of living crisis as it gives men a cheaper over-the-counter option for men.