Men, by now you know sitting is bad for you but did you know sitting for extended periods of time could lead to erectile dysfunction (ED)? Dr. Vernikos, in her book “Sitting Kills, Moving Heals,” cites studies of reduced testosterone levels in men during bed rest and feels it stands to reason hormone levels will also decrease with prolonged sitting. This is also true for the smooth muscle inside blood vessels in the penis. The penis is a spongy tissue filled with blood vessels. An erection occurs when these muscles are stimulated and can relax to fill up the tissue with blood (how Viagra works). Sitting obstructs blood circulation to the genital area, especially if one is overweight. Therefore, anything that restricts blood flow to the penis determines the extent of the erection.
