Few things are as of great a concern to a man as tumescence dysfunction, and understandably so. Men take pride in the manner in which their male organ operates and when there is a “kink” in the machinery, it can create anxiety. Clearly, tumescence dysfunction is linked to the greater area of male organ health, but it can also be related to more general health matters. In this regard, one area which has received more attention in recent years is the possibility of a link between sleep apnea and tumescence dysfunction.

Sleep apnea

Most people have heard of sleep apnea, but not everyone really knows what it is. According to the Mayo Clinic, sleep apnea is defined as “a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts.” People with sleep apnea tend to snore very loudly and they often awake from a night’s sleep feeling unrested.

There are three types of sleep apnea:

• Obstructive sleep apnea, which is caused by the manner in which the throat muscles relax or tighten;
• Central sleep apnea, which means the brain isn’t properly sending messages to the muscles to regulate the breathing; and
• Complex sleep apnea syndrome, which is a combination of the other two forms of sleep apnea.

In addition to loud snoring and feeling unrested, a person with sleep apnea may experience periods of wakefulness during the night, insomnia, dry mouth, irritability, attention issues, sleepiness or morning headaches.

The tumescence dysfunction connection

So sleep apnea is unpleasant, but what might it have to do with tumescence dysfunction? Well, there definitely seems to be a connection – many men with sleep apnea also report issues with obtaining or maintaining a firm male organ.

Although studies are ongoing to provide a definitive answer, there seem to be two ways in which sleep apnea may contribute to poor member hardness.

• Male hormone production. Studies (both in animals and humans) have found that when male subjects are placed in a situation in which they receive an inadequate amount of sleep, their male hormone levels are negatively affected. Since chronic sleep apnea impacts a man’s sound sleep, this may result in lowered male hormone – which in turn has an impact on sensual drive and tumescence function.

• Nitric oxide production. In addition, some studies have shown that men with sleep apnea produce less nitric oxide, which is valuable for increasing blood flow to the manhood. When that blood flow is impeded, firmness is more difficult to achieve and to maintain.

Treatment

Men who think they have sleep apnea (whether it is affecting their tumescence function or not) should consult with a doctor. Treatment often involves using what is called a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine, which is used at night to keep a continuous flow of air going into the body. But sometimes there are other options that can be equally effective, such as losing weight or stopping smoking.

Tumescence dysfunction from sleep apnea (or other causes) may require specific strategies for treatment, but regardless of the course chosen, it pays to keep the member in good general health. Daily use of a first class male organ health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) is always a plus. It may interest men to know that some cremes contain L-arginine, an amino acid that is very helpful in creating nitric oxide. As mentioned above, nitric oxide plays a role in keeping blood flowing to the member in an appropriate manner. Try to make sure that the crème also contains vitamin C, which is a key component of collagen, a tissue in the body that gives skin its tone and elasticity and is vital for male organ tumescence.

Visit http://www.menshealthfirst.com for additional information on most common manhood health issues, tips on improving male organ sensitivity and what to do to maintain a healthy member. John Dugan is a professional writer who specializes in men's health issues and is an ongoing contributing writer to numerous websites.