Two new studies have shown that sleep problems are associated with erectile dysfunction and urologic conditions such as incontinence (involuntary urination or defecation).
The first study, which examined the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and erectile dysfunction, found that men with erectile dysfunction were more than twice as likely to have OSA than those without erectile dysfunction. And the more sever the erectile dysfunction, the greater likelihood of having OSA. The findings suggest that men with erectile dysfunction should be screened for OSA, said the researchers at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.
OSA is a disorder that occurs during sleep, in which a person’s upper airway temporarily collapses, causing them to stop breathing.
Health screening of 870 men found that 63 percent had OSA, 5.6 percent had a history of diabetes, and 29 percent had a history of smoking.
The second study, preformed by researchers at New England Research Institutes, Inc. in Watertown, Mass., found that sleep problems precede certain urologic conditions, such as urinary incontinence, lower urinary tract symptoms, and the need to get up during the night to urinate (nocturia). The researchers followed-up with 1,610 men and 2,535 women for five years, assessing sleep disturbances and the development of urologic symptoms.
The investigators found that short sleep duration among men and restless sleep among men and women was strongly associated with the incidence of lower urinary tract symptoms (8 percent among men and 13 percent among women). Incidences of urinary incontinence and nocturia were associated with restless sleep among women but not men, according to the researchers.
We know that proper amounts of sleep and quality of sleep can impact a wide range of health conditions, including erectile function and lower urinary tract symptoms,
The relaxing effects make massage a helpful aid in restoring restful sleep, and may be especially beneficial in treating sleeping problems that stem from stress, migraine headache, pain, and muscle and joint stiffness.
N.B. These studies were presented at a medical meeting, the data and conclusions should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.