Libido is not the same as erection

One of the many reasons lots of couples do not find successful solutions to their erectile challenges is because they somehow confuse libido with erection. Many do not understand that low libido is not the same as erectile dysfunction; so today we shall be looking into this in its fullest details.

Basically, the word libido is used to describe the basic desire for sex or sex drive or the instinct energy or force. In one word, libido is a person’s sex drive. Every living animal has libido which is most times seasonal but the human’s sex drive or libido is ever present. The libido in both men and women is directly tied to their testosterone. Men have about 40 times as much testosterone as women, and this is why men are generally thought to have a more intense sexual drive and more aggressive sexual behaviour. Males reach the peak of their sex drive in their teens, while females reach it in their thirties. The surge in testosterone hits the male at puberty resulting in a sudden and extreme sex drive and sex desire which reaches its peak in early adolescence, and then drops slowly over the man’s lifetime. In contrast, a female’s libido increases slowly during adolescence and reaches its peak in her mid-thirties.

Actual testosterone and oestrogens level, which affect a person’s sex drive vary considerably. For instance, a woman’s desire for sex is correlated to her menstrual cycle, with many women experiencing a heightened sexual desire in the several days immediately before ovulation, which is her peak fertility period. This cycle has been associated with changes in a woman’s testosterone levels during her menstrual cycle. Testosterone levels have a direct impact on a woman’s interest in sex. Testosterone levels rise gradually from about the 24th day of a woman’s menstrual cycle until ovulation or about the 14th day of the next cycle, and during this period, the woman’s desire for sex increases consistently. The 13th day is generally the day with the highest testosterone levels. In the week following ovulation, the testosterone level is in its lowest and as a result, women will experience less interest in sex.

Also, during the week following ovulation, progesterone levels increase, resulting in a woman experiencing difficulty achieving orgasm. Although the last days of the menstrual cycle are marked by a constant testosterone level, women’s libido may boost as a result of the thickening of the uterine lining which stimulates nerve endings and makes a woman feel aroused. Also, during these days, oestrogen levels also decline, resulting in a decrease of natural lubrication. Menopause is still considered by the majority as a factor that can cause decreased sex desire in women. This is because the levels of oestrogen decrease at menopause and this usually causes a lower interest in sex and vaginal dryness which makes intercourse painful. However, the levels of testosterone increase at menopause and this is why some women may experience a contrary effect of an increase in libido and sex drive than when they were in their child-bearing age. Psychologically, the fear of another pregnancy, the pressure of pregnancy, bearing and rearing of children, the stress of being a wife, mother is another major reason for low libido in women. The effect of badly performed female circumcision itself is a reason for low libido also. Aside this psychological effect of rape, wife abuse, ill-informed religious doctrine, barbaric customs and tradition can be a reason for female low libido. Breastfeeding, badly performed episiotomy leading to bad and tight scare formation is another leading cause of low libido in women.

Sometimes, it is difficult for some couples to identify low libido and that is why many men confuse it with erectile dysfunction. Loss of libido doesn’t usually happen suddenly – it’s not like having malaria or typhoid fever where you wake up one morning and you notice fever, aches and tiredness. It can be a gradual process. Though difficult to define precisely, it is a lack of interest in sex for several months.

Please note that frequency of sexual activity is not the best measure of sexual interest, so many circumstances can get in the way of an encounter, even if the desire is there. But if you are in a committed marriage relationship and having sex less often than the norm, let’s say about once a week, well, you might ask yourself whether you are happy with things as they are.

If you’re not happy about your loss of libido, researchers agree that it is best to tackle it fast. To help identify the early warning signs, see whether you answer the following questions true or false: Does touching take place only in the bedroom? Sex does not give you feelings of connection and sharing anymore, one of you is always the initiator and the other feels pressured and reluctantly gives in, you no longer look forward to sex, sex is more mechanical and routine than passionate, you almost never have sexual thoughts or fantasies about your spouse, you now have sex once or twice a month at most. Now if you answered true to many or most of these questions, you may be on your way to losing sexual desire.

Understanding the various causes is the first step to finding the appropriate resolution. Husbands don’t like to talk about it; neither do their wives. But loss of libido in men or inhibited sexual desire stresses a marriage more than any other sexual dysfunction. Losing interest in sex may not be as common an occurrence for men as it is for women: It affects about 15-16 per cent of men, and at least double that many women. But when men lose interest in sex, it scares them more than women. This is because their masculinity is so linked to their sexuality and that awareness is in itself very threatening.

Loss of libido also makes men unhappy about the rest of their lives than it does women. Only 23 per cent of men with loss of libido say they still feel very happy about life in general versus 46 per cent of women. Simply put, it bothers men more because their erection and their ejaculation is like life to them.

Generally, stress leads to loss of libido. Stress such as job stress and self-esteem are also big factors. If a man’s performance at work is challenged, and he doesn’t feel he is achieving or doesn’t feel self-worth, he often numbs himself sexually. Desire is a healthy form of entitlement when husbands don’t feel deserving, and they shut down automatically in all things. Many medical conditions can cause loss of libido. As a matter of fact, the quality of the relationship is an important part of libido to all men. Although it is generally believed that quality of marriage relationship is more important to women, the percentage is the same. The difference is just in the way it is being displayed both by women and men. It is not only women who respond happily to a good marital relationship, men do also. Problems such as anger and disappointment often seen in the bedroom are a signal to other problems in the marriage relationship.

Age is one of the most common causes of lowered sex drive. As people age, their sex drive often lessens, but there are many other reasons. Sometimes, a lowered sex drive may be the result of an illness or drug abuse. Alcoholism is an especially common cause of lowered sex drive. Certain medications may cause a lack of libido in both men and women such as antidepressants, contraceptives, some anti diabetic drugs, some antihypertensive drugs and some anti erectile dysfunction drugs.

Some physical factors that can affect libido are endocrine issues in males; even the frequency of ejaculations affects the libido. Being very underweight or malnourished can cause a low libido due to disruptions from normal hormonal levels. Anaemia is particularly a cause of lack of libido in women due to the loss of iron during their menstrual cycles. Smoking, alcohol abuse and drug abuse may also cause disruptions in the hormonal balances and therefore lead to a decreased libido.

Low libido shouldn’t be confused with erectile dysfunction. This is the reason why some medications such as some aphrodisiacs, herbs or enhancers normally prescribed for ED don’t usually heighten, increase, improve or boost sex drive. Ironically for some categories of husbands, the wrong kind of respect can cause loss of libido. For some husbands, the very love and respect they have for their wives especially after the birth of a baby can become an obstacle to sexual desire. A lot of husbands find it difficult to be sexually aroused to the mother of their children, especially after witnessing normal vaginal delivery, and the stress of birth pains. Sometime the resulting exhaustion of the co-care of a baby or young children with their wives also sap out the libido of some husbands. This can sap libido for men as surely as it does for women.

To be continue next week; until then, I remain your bedroom instructor.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Whose duty is it?

Sexual duty at home, is it the sole responsibility of the man alone or the woman or both? If my husband is not satisfying me sexually and he is blaming me for not turning him on, what can I do?

Mrs. Ajodele from Kotangora

Sexual task at home is the responsibility of both married partners. I would suggest both parties sit down, make reappraisals, and reach a harmony without prejudice. Ask yourselves questions such as, ‘what am I doing that is turning you off?’ ‘Which areas do you want me to improve?’ Make sure that the environment must be a peaceful and calm one, when both of you are not under any tension or stress.

Stitching was poorly done

Dear Funmi, my last baby was very big, I had to be cut and stitched in the hospital. Unfortunately, the stitching was poorly done and as a result of this, I do have terrible pains any time I am having sex with my husband. What do I do?

Mrs. Odiagbo Omolo from Sapele

Please, you have to see a gynaecologist immediately. Do not wait for a day or two, see him fast. After your visit to the gynaecologist, kindly make sure you do Kegel exercise, pelvic wall exercise and sit bath for a long time. Also, take a lot of turmeric and garlic in your meals.

Foreplay revisited

Hello Funmi, my husband is an ardent reader of your column but he is not good at foreplay. Please, can you re-visit the issue of foreplay?

Mrs. Murtala from Bauchi

This is building up each other’s excitement before the man enters the woman. That is, both husband and wife arouse each other before the husband actually puts his penis inside the vagina of his wife; and this is done by holding each other lovingly, caressing each other tenderly, deep tongue kissing, carefully fondling each other’s sexual organs, touching and rubbing in a loving manner.

Let your spouse know your sensitive areas; for majority of ladies, it is the clitoris, the breasts, especially the nipples and let him know that it takes time before your sexual organs respond, especially the clitoris. Make him kiss and use his tongue to caress your breasts, your nipples, neck gently and lovingly, then later your genitals. As this goes on, the nipples of your breasts are erect and the clitoris increases in size. Caressing should not be done in a hurried way. Only lust and self-gratification are done in haste. Take the time to fully enjoy each other! It is important to understand timing in lovemaking. There should be a gradual building up and intensifying of emotions and sensations. Do not stop or let up the stimulation once it begins, but continue in an ever-increasing manner of arousal.

The whole body of a loving couple is an erotic zone. For the men, the nape of the neck, the back of the ear, the breast, the armpit, the navel, the inner parts of the thigh, the groin, the pubic hair, the shaft of the penis, the eye of the penis are especially their most sensitive areas. All these should be kissed tenderly or caressed gently with the hand and tongue of the wife. If the man’s skin is too dry, you can get a bottle of Pears baby lotion and seductively rub both bodies; it will send sexual signals to the whole body. The female erotic zone includes the base of the neck, the base of the hair, the lips, the armpit, the breasts especially the nipples, the tummy, the navel, the inner parts of the thigh, the pubic hair, the clitoris, the lips of the vagina and the inner parts of the vagina.

All these could be tenderly touched and caressed with the man’s hands or the tongue. Caressing various areas of your partner’s body shows an interest in the whole person.

In foreplay, the husband and the wife should talk freely with themselves. They should tell each other what they want. While caressing one another without a rush, it is advisable for the wife to take a comfortable position with legs apart so that the man will be able to gently play with her genitals. As her husband caresses her, she in turn plays with his nipple, the shaft of his penis, the eye of the penis, the scrotum (some men like it when their scrotum is fondled with). A wife should lovingly participate actively in caressing, kissing and fondling with her husband’s body. While doing this, the woman becomes excited and produces fluid that helps to lubricate her vagina and makes entry of the penis easy. If the wife has a dry vagina, she may either use artificial lubricant, or use her tongue to lubricate the tip of her husband’s penis before the husband enters her. This makes thrusting in and out very easy and painless. Alternatively, she may lovingly tell her husband to use his own tongue to lubricate her vagina since the mouth is always wet with saliva. However, this must be done under very high mouth hygiene.

Husbands, most wives love the inner part of their vagina to be caressed with their husband’s finger; wives are advised to tell their husbands their sexual preferences and not be shy about it. But care must be taken by the husbands not to get the wives infected by dirty fingernails. While the husband is ‘fingering’ his wife, the wife should give him loving direction on how she would love to be caressed with her husband’s fingers. The ‘fingering’ should be directed towards the location of the clitoris to get the it stimulated and excited. Husbands should note that the clitoris should not be rubbed too hard; vigorous rubbing always turns the woman off.

By  FUNMI AKINGBADE

Revealed! How husbands can have better sex with their wives

No doubt, many men (and women) are desirous of a happy marriage and an exciting sex life, but it appears there is a better way to achieve these other than the conventional ways of buying gift items, going on vacations and being a caring, good looking partner.

A study has shown that couples tend to have a higher level of satisfaction in their marriage if the husband looks after the kids. Understandably, that is often seen as a woman’s natural responsibility, and in fact, in the days of yore, in some settings, women used to be saddled with the responsibility of catering for the children and overseeing the home while the men would go out to fend for the family.

But now that women are increasingly becoming an integral part of the workforce in the business and corporate world, the responsibility of doing the house chores and taking care of the kids seem to be falling on the shoulders of both the man and the woman.

Regardless, the study found that when couples share child care equally, both of them would be more satisfied, given that men are oftentimes interested in an exciting sexual experience with their wives and the woman would be willing to make it happen to reciprocate the love.

In the study, the researchers from Georgia State University in the United States examined about 900 heterosexual couples and analysed the data procured from them. They asked pertinent questions from the participants as to how they shared the house chores, who takes care of the kids and how they would rate their sexual satisfaction and their overall happiness in the marriage.

After analysing the data, the researchers found that if men go beyond the conventional way of sharing responsibilities in marriage to share childcare duties with their wives equally, they would both have more satisfaction and enjoy better sex.

In other words, it was found that when women were responsible for most of the childcare activities, both the husband and the wife had the lowest satisfaction in their sexual lives and in the marriage as a whole.

One of the researchers, Daniel Carlson, said, “What we find is that there’s generally little to no downside to men being largely responsible for child care. We conclude that being an engaged father is very important to men, if it weren’t, we wouldn’t see such a high level of satisfaction. And it suggests that father engagement and sharing child care with one’s partner is important to both sexes.

“We found that when men do the majority of the child care, their female partners exhibited the highest overall satisfaction with their sex lives.

A previous study had shown that women in heterosexual relationships tend to reward their husbands with good sex if the man helps in doing some house chores and in taking care of the kids.

The study pointed out that apart from the reward, the women would also have enough strength for sexual activities that might come later. It explained that most women are usually worn out by doing numerous house chores whilst taking care of the kids and at the end of such would have become very tired, such that they would be too weak to have an exciting sexual activity.

“But seeing the man by her side does not only save her of some stress, it is like an expression of love. It could even be annoying to a woman if a husband sits in the room and watches her do the chores only for her to finish the chores and the man would be asking for sex. If such a woman agrees, it would be out of an obligation and she may not enjoy it,” the study added.

Another study had pointed out that sharing house chores and some other works the woman considers as tedious is one of the secrets to a happy marriage, coupled with equality, effective heart-to-heart talk, respect and showing love by words and actions.

Meanwhile, it is common to see people think that women are more gifted in taking care of children, but a neuroscientist, Dr. Sarina Saturn, of Oregon State University, United States, through a study, found that men can also care for children the same way mothers would.

She pointed out that a man’s brain tends to be less active emotionally when the woman is around but that in the absence of the woman, men could be as caring as women, whilst retaining their paternal critical thinking ability.

In a similar account, Kyle Pruett of Yale Child Study Centre in the US, observed that apart from the sexual and the overall intimacy benefits, there are benefits when fathers care for children. The report pointed out that the more fathers took part in feeding, wearing diapers, among others, the more socially responsive the babies were and the more resilient the baby would be when confronted with life challenges.

In a study of children raised by men and those raised by women, the children raised by men were found to be very active and competent and they functioned above expected norms in the areas of adaptation and ability to solve problems.

Also, it was found that the more time a child spends with the father, the higher the baby scored in an infant development test. This means that men raising children may not be a bad idea after all.

Commenting on the study, a psychologist, Prof. Oni Fagboungbe, said women enjoy being showed love and affection and that one of the ways to do that would be for such a man to love the things that are of inestimable value to them.

He explained that women love their children and that a man who shows love to those children would surely be appreciated by the woman.

He said, “To women, children are of inestimable value. They love their children. So, when men show special affection to the children, automatically, the woman tends to adopt that love and reciprocate it and one of the ways they do that is to make the man happy in their own way. There is an adage that if you treat your wife like a queen, she will treat you like a king.

“A study had shown that divorced or single parents get into trouble because men are wise enough to pretend to love their children and in the process, the women tend to give in. They feel if you love me, you will love the things I love, and their children occupy a prominent place in their hearts.”

Fagboungbe explained further that there was nothing wrong with a man taking care of the kids, adding that there are lots of differences between children raised by men and those raised by women.

He said a child with no input of a father figure tends to have feminine characteristics. “He’s not likely to be assertive or bold because the father figure is missing.”

He added, “It is a given that all babies love the mother at an initial stage, which develops from their proclivity for the mother’s breasts, but at a stage, the male child tends to gravitate to the father. But if the father is not available at that time, the baby tends to be overwhelmed with feminism characteristics.

“Even when he is married, he is still obsessed with the mum, and according to the psychoanalytic theory of child development, such people are called mother’s apron. It’s a problem that must be resolved at the early stage. So, it’s good when a man raises a child.”

TUNDE AJAJA

Eat well, age gracefully

Many people wrongly assume that we start ageing only when grey hair sprouts here and there on our heads, or when wrinkles start to appear on certain parts of the body, especially on the foreheads, corners of the eyes, or around the mouth.

Scientists say this is not necessarily the case, as some parts of the body actually wear out long before we look old physically.

For some – and, depending on lifestyle – physical effects of ageing are not immediately pronounced on their physique, especially the face. They are still able to flaunt their ‘ageless’ looks well after their 40th birthday; but even at that, it is an undeniable fact that after age 35, many parts of the body start declaring independence and they embark on southward movement, even if gradually, but definitely surely.

The genitals

For women, age 35 is as tricky as it is decisive. Experts say by mid-30s, women’s breasts start losing tissue and fat, reducing in size and fullness. They contend that sagging starts properly at 40 and the areola (the area surrounding the nipple) can shrink considerably.

For men, researchers say, the penis undergoes significant changes as a man moves from his sexual prime – around age 30 – into middle age and on to older age. The Journal of Sexual Medicine reports that blood flow to the head of the penis reduces at this age, and there is a slow loss of pubic hair.

“As testosterone wanes, the penis gradually reverts to its pre-pubertal, mostly hairless, state,” the journal claims.

In terms of size, scientists say, the penis tends to undergo an actual (and irreversible) reduction in size, length and thickness. “If a man’s erect penis is six inches long when he is in his 30s, it might be five or five-and-a-half inches when he reaches his 60s or 70s,” says the director of sexual medicine at Alvarado Hospital in San Diego, Dr. Irwin Goldstein.

Lungs

Experts also say the lung capacity slowly starts to decrease from the age of 20, and by the age of 40, some people can start experiencing breathlessness, partly because the muscles and the rib cage that control breathing stiffen up. It’s then harder to work the lungs and also means some air remains in the lungs after breathing out, causing breathlessness.

The heart

The heart, too, starts ageing at 40, as it pumps blood less effectively around the body as we get older. Scientists say this is because blood vessels become less elastic, while arteries can harden or become blocked because of fatty deposits forming on the coronary arteries due to eating too much saturated fat. When this happens, the blood supply to the heart is reduced, resulting in painful angina.

The bones

Again, the bones start ageing at 35, according to Roberts Moots, a professor of rheumatology at Aintree University Hospital in Liverpool. He notes that though children’s bone growth is rapid, as the skeleton takes just two years to renew itself completely; in adults, the same process can take 10 years.

“Until the mid-20s, bone density is still increasing; but at 35, bone loss begins as part of the natural ageing process,” Moots says.

Skin, muscles, hair…

The skin, muscles, hair growth and fertility level all take a bashing after age 35. Any wonder that researchers say as we hit 35, stress level is likely to increase, what with the threats of stress-related conditions like obesity, Type-2 diabetes, brain atrophy, heart disease, high blood pressure and more. Ditto the belly fat, wrinkles and decreased libido. And that is why you need certain survival kits to keep you going, look and feel better till the ultimate end.

The eyes

Ophthalmologist, Dr. Steve Odiase, notes that the eye happens to be one of the organs of the body that readily subscribe to ageing. He says, “As you age, you must endeavour to keep your eyes sharp by eating lutein-rich foods. This is because lutein is a powerful antioxidant that helps prevent cataracts and macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in individuals over the age of 60.”

Emotions

As the years roll by, researchers say the ageing person undergoes emotional changes in mood, as evidenced by crankiness, stress, and, sometimes, depression. They recommend fortified cereals, especially those fortified with vitamin B6; and bananas, believed to reduce crankiness, irritability and mood swings.

War against wrinkles

Generally, fighting wrinkles become a preoccupation for both men and women as the chronological age progresses, though women tend to engage in this more than men do. Okudo says avoiding exposure to the sun, quitting smoking, treating the skin gently by resisting the temptation to use every highly-promoted skin product that hits the market, are some healthy ways of delaying the onset of wrinkles.

Scientists also say people over 35 need some vitamins that are essential to the prevention of cancer, strengthening the bones, keeping the heart healthy, and generally make you look younger.

Healthy diet is it

One easy way to beat stress, which, experts say heightens the ageing process, is through healthy diet, by avoiding salty and fatty foods. Dietician and weight loss expert, Dr. Angela Okudo, explains that as we age, hormonal changes make a flat belly almost unachievable even if you watch your diet.

She says, “After 35, your sex hormones fluctuate, making your body retain more water and your gastrointestinal tract not as efficient, resulting in bloating.”

She advises regular intake of pineapple juice – an excellent source of potassium, manganese and vitamins C and B6. Pineapple juice is also described as a natural diuretic and helps to flush out any excess toxins in the kidneys and liver.

It is also described as an all-natural belly flattener, as it contains digestive enzymes – bromelain – that help break down the food in the gut that could otherwise cause bloating and gas.

Okudo says, ideally, the majority of the ageing person’s nutrients should come from a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, while taking multivitamin supplements also help in a lot of ways when prescribed by a competent physician.

By SOLAADE AYO-ADERELE

How to detect sexuality challenge early

One of the many challenges of a sincere loving and faithful couple is the inadequate exposure to knowledge at the appropriate time. Before their marriage, many couples are clueless about one or two sexual abnormalities in their bodies and because they were not practising premarital sex, they just assume that all is well. Inasmuch as premarital sex is not being encouraged or aided, it is wise for individuals to carry out some screenings at the very early stage of their existence.

Parents should take their children for prenatal examinations so as to detect early any sex and sexuality abnormalities in them. Many communicable diseases that may lead to impotency, erectile dysfunction and frigidity in women and some ill-reproductive conditions could be detected at this stage. Even parents should count taking their children to the hospital for sexual organs examination and screening as part of healthy growing up plans. It is paramount for young adults to frequently screen or examine themselves against sexually-transmitted diseases, undescended testes, HIV/AIDS infection, absence of testes, obstruction of the sperm pipe, abnormal penis growths, abnormal colouration of the penis, abnormal function of the penis, abnormal libido presentation and so on for the men. While for the young lady, it is very important for her to screen against cervical cancer, cervical incompetency, all abnormalities of the womb, all abnormalities of the ovary, fallopian tubes, all hormonal imbalance or malfunctions, all libidoral abnormalities and also frigidity levels.

The breast is a vital sex organ; it should be examined frequently. Ladies should watch out for discolouration, growth, lump, dimple, discharges of any kind such as fluid, pus, oil even as early as age 12 or even lesser. According to researches, it has been discovered that men and women who have the privilege of early exposure to good screening and medical examination always have better, easier and treatable case invariably making them fulfilled married partners in later years than those who do not.

Even after marriage, it is advisable for couples to do a frequent screening once or twice in a year in order to detect early some silent causes of premature ejaculation, weak erection, erectile dysfunction, arteriosclerosis [this is the hardening of the arteries], frigidity, low libido in men and women, low sperm count, low sperm motility, inability to produce semen or sperm cell, rhesus incompatibility, absence of egg in the womb, female hormonal imbalance, ovarian cyst, blocked fallopian tube, inability of the woman to produce fluid for sex during the thrusting in and out, leading to abnormal dryness, inability to get pregnant, frequent loss of pregnancy due to pre-eclampsia or eclampsia and so on.

I also do advocate that when couples know their conditions, they are able to provide adequate information for the doctor or sexologist or sex therapist. They will make sure there is a first aid box in their homes which should contain a thermometer to check the body temperature. The thermometer is needful especially for those couples who want to understand their menstrual cycle or those who desire to know what natural family planning method is all about, or couples who want to know their ovulation period either to detect safe periods for sex or otherwise.

It is also useful for couples as they are able to give medical personnel cogent answers during interrogation. The first aid box should also contain the blood pressure measurements gadget called the sphygmomanometer. This is a must have gadget in the home of every married couple because it does not only help to detect silent killer illnesses and diseases such as hypertension, heart conditions of both husband and wife, even the children, it definitely does help to detect early what can make erection, ejaculation and penis problems become reversible/arousal and libido problem in both man and woman revocable. Sphygmomanometer is a must have in every home.

The sphygmomanometer, otherwise called blood pressure apparatus, has been packaged in such a way that it can easily be put in the handbag, computer bags or any handy pouch for anyone to take about. It has also come in digital, easy to handle pack that even an uneducated person can operate. But an automatic or electronic device is recommended and the instrument generally has the same basic part, inflatable cuff. The inner layer of the cuff is filled with air and squeezes your arm. The outer layer has a fastener to hold the cuff in place. Heart rate and blood flow are automatically calculated by measuring the changes in the motion of your artery as the blood flows through while the cuff deflates. Gauge for readouts. Some blood pressure monitors can take multiple readings and report the averages. Digital monitors that are fitted on the upper arm are generally the most accurate.

I would like to emphasise on the reason for monitoring your blood pressure at home   because it is extremely relevant to couples’ sexuality. It can also help with early diagnosis; self-monitoring can help your doctor diagnose high blood pressure earlier. Home monitoring is especially important if you have slightly elevated blood pressure (prehypertension) or another condition that could contribute to high blood pressure, such as diabetes or kidney problems. It can also help track your treatment. The only way to notice change in your lifestyle/eating habit or whether those medications are working, is to check your blood pressure regularly. Monitoring blood pressure changes at home can help you and your doctor to make decisions about your treatment, such as adjusting dosages or changing medications. It also encourages better control of your health. Self-monitoring can give you a stronger sense of responsibility for your health. You may feel even more motivated to control your blood pressure with an improved diet, physical activity and proper medication use.

It helps cut your health care costs: self-monitoring might decrease your number of visits to your doctor or clinic. It will also help check if your blood pressure differs outside the doctor’s office. Some people experience spikes in blood pressure due to anxiety associated with seeing a doctor (this is called white coat hypertension). Other people have normal blood pressure at a clinic but elevated pressure elsewhere (called masked hypertension). Regular monitoring of blood pressure at home can help determine if you have true high blood pressure especially knowing that a couple’s blood pressure has a direct link to the survival of their sex life.

Please note that no matter what type of home blood pressure monitor you choose, proper use requires training and practice. Before using a monitor for the first time, have your doctor watch you use the device to see if you’re doing it properly. Measure your blood pressure twice daily and please do measure your blood pressure at about the same time, same place, same posture each day. The first measurement should be in the morning before eating or taking any medications, and the second in the evening. Each time you measure, take two or three readings to make sure your results are accurate. Don’t measure your blood pressure right after you wake up; give a period of few minutes’ intervals. You can prepare for the day by praying first, then do the measuring, but don’t eat breakfast or take medications before measuring your blood pressure. If you exercise after waking up, take your blood pressure before exercising. Do not measure your blood pressure within 30 minutes of drinking caffeine or Coca-cola, Pepsi or smoking. Avoid food, caffeine, tobacco and alcohol for 30 minutes before taking a measurement. Also, go to the toilet first. A full bladder and bowels may affect your reading and can increase blood pressure slightly.

Find a quiet place to check your blood pressure. Sit correctly with your back straight and supported (on a dining chair, for example, rather than a sofa). Sit quietly before and during monitoring, you will need to listen to your heartbeat. When you’re ready to take your blood pressure, sit for five minutes in a comfortable position with your legs and ankles uncrossed and your back supported against a chair, with your arm resting on a firm surface and your feet flat on the floor. Try to be calm and not think about stressful things. Don’t talk while taking your blood pressure. Make sure your arm is positioned properly and that the cuff around your arm is at the same level as your heart. Always use the same arm when taking your blood pressure. Rest your arm, raised to the level of your heart, on a table, desk or chair arm, your arm should rest comfortably at heart level. You might need to place a pillow or cushion under your arm to elevate it high enough. You may need to support your arm with a cushion and to be sure it is at the correct height. Your arm should be relaxed, not tensed.

Wear loose-fitting clothes like a short sleeved T-shirt so that you can push your sleeve up comfortably and place the cuff on bare skin, not over clothing. Rolling up a sleeve until it tightens around your arm can result in an inaccurate reading, so you may need to slip your arm out of the sleeve. Make sure the middle of the cuff is placed directly above the elbow. Always use the same arm for blood pressure readings, as each arm will give you a slightly different reading. If possible, use the arm that your doctor or nurse uses. Take a repeat reading. Wait for three to four minutes after the first reading, and then take another to check accuracy. Accurately record all your results, record all of your readings, including the date and time. Blood pressure varies throughout the day, and readings are often a little higher in the morning. Also, your blood pressure might be slightly lower at home than in a medical office, typically by about five points.

Take two or three readings, each about two minutes apart, and then work out the average. Some people find that their first reading is much higher than the next readings. If this is true for you, keep taking readings until they level out and stop falling, then use this as your reading. Record your readings but do not round up your measurements up or down – if you don’t keep accurate records of your blood pressure, it may affect health. It’s important to take the readings at the same time each day, such as morning and evening; do not be alarmed if you get an unexpected high reading – a one-off reading may be nothing to worry about. Measure your blood pressure again at another time, but if you find that it continues to be high after a period of time, see your doctor. Understand the readings, optimal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg (systolic pressure is 120 and diastolic pressure is less than 80). Do not check your blood pressure too often – you may become worried or stressed about small changes in your reading. This can raise your blood pressure in the short-term. Worrying about your blood-pressure reading may actually make it higher.

Many factors affect blood pressure. If one arm consistently has higher blood pressure than the other, that arm should be used to measure your blood pressure. If you did not get an accurate reading, do not inflate the cuff again right away. Wait one minute before repeating the measurement. Start by reapplying the cuff. Follow your doctor’s instructions on when and how often you should measure your blood pressure. Record the date, time, systolic and diastolic pressures. You should also record any special circumstances like any recent exercise, meal, or stressful event. At least once in a year, and especially after you first purchase your blood pressure monitor, bring your monitor with you to your doctor’s clinic to check the machine’s accuracy. This is done by comparing a blood pressure reading from your machine with one from the doctor’s office machine. As much as this is a perquisite for many homes, home blood pressure monitoring is not a substitute for visits to your doctor, and home blood pressure monitors may have some limitations.

False rising: Many things can make your blood pressure rise temporarily for a short time. For example, stress, smoking, extreme cold/ hot temperatures, exercise, caffeine, and certain medicines.

Questions and Answers

How do I keep myself agile for her sexually?

Hi Funmi, you are the best; please keep it up. I have good news for you. I am 61 years old, soon to be grandfather. I just retired and I am so grateful to God for this. I just want to spend the rest of my life with my wife. We have been married for 25 years now. My question is, how do you advise I keep myself agile for her sexually?

Mr. Monday from Abuja

Congratulations, may you live long and witness better days with your life partner. There are just some simple habits that contribute to a healthy heart that you just have to stick to. When your heart is healthy, you will be sexually sound.

You have to manage your blood pressure; high blood pressure is the most significant risk factor for heart diseases. Then you have to get active, getting moderate exercises- 30 minutes a day- helps reduce the risk of heart disease. Also control your cholesterol; too much ‘bad’ cholesterol in the blood can clog arteries, thus increasing the risk for heart attack and stroke. Sir, you also have to eat better, vegetables, fruits, whole grain products and fat –free or low-fat products without many calories. Retirees tend to gain weight easily, please work towards that because obesity is a major risk factor for heart disease. At this stage, you must reduce your blood sugar level. This always leads to diabetes and adult with diabetes are more likely to have heart disease than those without it. Try and stop smoking and consumption of alcohol; these increase the risk for heart disease as well as cancer and other diseases. Note sir that getting drunk does not enhance sexual performance but desire for sex. Lastly, understand your body language and know when to give yourself a sexual break to be the best. You can go on a leisure trip together with your wife.

By Funmi Akingbade

How to detect sexuality challenge early

One of the many challenges of a sincere loving and faithful couple is the inadequate exposure to knowledge at the appropriate time. Before their marriage, many couples are clueless about one or two sexual abnormalities in their bodies and because they were not practising premarital sex, they just assume that all is well. Inasmuch as premarital sex is not being encouraged or aided, it is wise for individuals to carry out some screenings at the very early stage of their existence.

Parents should take their children for prenatal examinations so as to detect early any sex and sexuality abnormalities in them. Many communicable diseases that may lead to impotency, erectile dysfunction and frigidity in women and some ill-reproductive conditions could be detected at this stage. Even parents should count taking their children to the hospital for sexual organs examination and screening as part of healthy growing up plans. It is paramount for young adults to frequently screen or examine themselves against sexually-transmitted diseases, undescended testes, HIV/AIDS infection, absence of testes, obstruction of the sperm pipe, abnormal penis growths, abnormal colouration of the penis, abnormal function of the penis, abnormal libido presentation and so on for the men. While for the young lady, it is very important for her to screen against cervical cancer, cervical incompetency, all abnormalities of the womb, all abnormalities of the ovary, fallopian tubes, all hormonal imbalance or malfunctions, all libidoral abnormalities and also frigidity levels.

The breast is a vital sex organ; it should be examined frequently. Ladies should watch out for discolouration, growth, lump, dimple, discharges of any kind such as fluid, pus, oil even as early as age 12 or even lesser. According to researches, it has been discovered that men and women who have the privilege of early exposure to good screening and medical examination always have better, easier and treatable case invariably making them fulfilled married partners in later years than those who do not.

Even after marriage, it is advisable for couples to do a frequent screening once or twice in a year in order to detect early some silent causes of premature ejaculation, weak erection, erectile dysfunction, arteriosclerosis [this is the hardening of the arteries], frigidity, low libido in men and women, low sperm count, low sperm motility, inability to produce semen or sperm cell, rhesus incompatibility, absence of egg in the womb, female hormonal imbalance, ovarian cyst, blocked fallopian tube, inability of the woman to produce fluid for sex during the thrusting in and out, leading to abnormal dryness, inability to get pregnant, frequent loss of pregnancy due to pre-eclampsia or eclampsia and so on.

I also do advocate that when couples know their conditions, they are able to provide adequate information for the doctor or sexologist or sex therapist. They will make sure there is a first aid box in their homes which should contain a thermometer to check the body temperature. The thermometer is needful especially for those couples who want to understand their menstrual cycle or those who desire to know what natural family planning method is all about, or couples who want to know their ovulation period either to detect safe periods for sex or otherwise.

It is also useful for couples as they are able to give medical personnel cogent answers during interrogation. The first aid box should also contain the blood pressure measurements gadget called the sphygmomanometer. This is a must have gadget in the home of every married couple because it does not only help to detect silent killer illnesses and diseases such as hypertension, heart conditions of both husband and wife, even the children, it definitely does help to detect early what can make erection, ejaculation and penis problems become reversible/arousal and libido problem in both man and woman revocable. Sphygmomanometer is a must have in every home.

The sphygmomanometer, otherwise called blood pressure apparatus, has been packaged in such a way that it can easily be put in the handbag, computer bags or any handy pouch for anyone to take about. It has also come in digital, easy to handle pack that even an uneducated person can operate. But an automatic or electronic device is recommended and the instrument generally has the same basic part, inflatable cuff. The inner layer of the cuff is filled with air and squeezes your arm. The outer layer has a fastener to hold the cuff in place. Heart rate and blood flow are automatically calculated by measuring the changes in the motion of your artery as the blood flows through while the cuff deflates. Gauge for readouts. Some blood pressure monitors can take multiple readings and report the averages. Digital monitors that are fitted on the upper arm are generally the most accurate.

I would like to emphasise on the reason for monitoring your blood pressure at home   because it is extremely relevant to couples’ sexuality. It can also help with early diagnosis; self-monitoring can help your doctor diagnose high blood pressure earlier. Home monitoring is especially important if you have slightly elevated blood pressure (prehypertension) or another condition that could contribute to high blood pressure, such as diabetes or kidney problems. It can also help track your treatment. The only way to notice change in your lifestyle/eating habit or whether those medications are working, is to check your blood pressure regularly. Monitoring blood pressure changes at home can help you and your doctor to make decisions about your treatment, such as adjusting dosages or changing medications. It also encourages better control of your health. Self-monitoring can give you a stronger sense of responsibility for your health. You may feel even more motivated to control your blood pressure with an improved diet, physical activity and proper medication use.

It helps cut your health care costs: self-monitoring might decrease your number of visits to your doctor or clinic. It will also help check if your blood pressure differs outside the doctor’s office. Some people experience spikes in blood pressure due to anxiety associated with seeing a doctor (this is called white coat hypertension). Other people have normal blood pressure at a clinic but elevated pressure elsewhere (called masked hypertension). Regular monitoring of blood pressure at home can help determine if you have true high blood pressure especially knowing that a couple’s blood pressure has a direct link to the survival of their sex life.

Please note that no matter what type of home blood pressure monitor you choose, proper use requires training and practice. Before using a monitor for the first time, have your doctor watch you use the device to see if you’re doing it properly. Measure your blood pressure twice daily and please do measure your blood pressure at about the same time, same place, same posture each day. The first measurement should be in the morning before eating or taking any medications, and the second in the evening. Each time you measure, take two or three readings to make sure your results are accurate. Don’t measure your blood pressure right after you wake up; give a period of few minutes’ intervals. You can prepare for the day by praying first, then do the measuring, but don’t eat breakfast or take medications before measuring your blood pressure. If you exercise after waking up, take your blood pressure before exercising. Do not measure your blood pressure within 30 minutes of drinking caffeine or Coca-cola, Pepsi or smoking. Avoid food, caffeine, tobacco and alcohol for 30 minutes before taking a measurement. Also, go to the toilet first. A full bladder and bowels may affect your reading and can increase blood pressure slightly.

Find a quiet place to check your blood pressure. Sit correctly with your back straight and supported (on a dining chair, for example, rather than a sofa). Sit quietly before and during monitoring, you will need to listen to your heartbeat. When you’re ready to take your blood pressure, sit for five minutes in a comfortable position with your legs and ankles uncrossed and your back supported against a chair, with your arm resting on a firm surface and your feet flat on the floor. Try to be calm and not think about stressful things. Don’t talk while taking your blood pressure. Make sure your arm is positioned properly and that the cuff around your arm is at the same level as your heart. Always use the same arm when taking your blood pressure. Rest your arm, raised to the level of your heart, on a table, desk or chair arm, your arm should rest comfortably at heart level. You might need to place a pillow or cushion under your arm to elevate it high enough. You may need to support your arm with a cushion and to be sure it is at the correct height. Your arm should be relaxed, not tensed.

Wear loose-fitting clothes like a short sleeved T-shirt so that you can push your sleeve up comfortably and place the cuff on bare skin, not over clothing. Rolling up a sleeve until it tightens around your arm can result in an inaccurate reading, so you may need to slip your arm out of the sleeve. Make sure the middle of the cuff is placed directly above the elbow. Always use the same arm for blood pressure readings, as each arm will give you a slightly different reading. If possible, use the arm that your doctor or nurse uses. Take a repeat reading. Wait for three to four minutes after the first reading, and then take another to check accuracy. Accurately record all your results, record all of your readings, including the date and time. Blood pressure varies throughout the day, and readings are often a little higher in the morning. Also, your blood pressure might be slightly lower at home than in a medical office, typically by about five points.

Take two or three readings, each about two minutes apart, and then work out the average. Some people find that their first reading is much higher than the next readings. If this is true for you, keep taking readings until they level out and stop falling, then use this as your reading. Record your readings but do not round up your measurements up or down – if you don’t keep accurate records of your blood pressure, it may affect health. It’s important to take the readings at the same time each day, such as morning and evening; do not be alarmed if you get an unexpected high reading – a one-off reading may be nothing to worry about. Measure your blood pressure again at another time, but if you find that it continues to be high after a period of time, see your doctor. Understand the readings, optimal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg (systolic pressure is 120 and diastolic pressure is less than 80). Do not check your blood pressure too often – you may become worried or stressed about small changes in your reading. This can raise your blood pressure in the short-term. Worrying about your blood-pressure reading may actually make it higher.

Many factors affect blood pressure. If one arm consistently has higher blood pressure than the other, that arm should be used to measure your blood pressure. If you did not get an accurate reading, do not inflate the cuff again right away. Wait one minute before repeating the measurement. Start by reapplying the cuff. Follow your doctor’s instructions on when and how often you should measure your blood pressure. Record the date, time, systolic and diastolic pressures. You should also record any special circumstances like any recent exercise, meal, or stressful event. At least once in a year, and especially after you first purchase your blood pressure monitor, bring your monitor with you to your doctor’s clinic to check the machine’s accuracy. This is done by comparing a blood pressure reading from your machine with one from the doctor’s office machine. As much as this is a perquisite for many homes, home blood pressure monitoring is not a substitute for visits to your doctor, and home blood pressure monitors may have some limitations.

False rising: Many things can make your blood pressure rise temporarily for a short time. For example, stress, smoking, extreme cold/ hot temperatures, exercise, caffeine, and certain medicines.

Questions and Answers

How do I keep myself agile for her sexually?

Hi Funmi, you are the best; please keep it up. I have good news for you. I am 61 years old, soon to be grandfather. I just retired and I am so grateful to God for this. I just want to spend the rest of my life with my wife. We have been married for 25 years now. My question is, how do you advise I keep myself agile for her sexually?

Mr. Monday from Abuja

Congratulations, may you live long and witness better days with your life partner. There are just some simple habits that contribute to a healthy heart that you just have to stick to. When your heart is healthy, you will be sexually sound.

You have to manage your blood pressure; high blood pressure is the most significant risk factor for heart diseases. Then you have to get active, getting moderate exercises- 30 minutes a day- helps reduce the risk of heart disease. Also control your cholesterol; too much ‘bad’ cholesterol in the blood can clog arteries, thus increasing the risk for heart attack and stroke. Sir, you also have to eat better, vegetables, fruits, whole grain products and fat –free or low-fat products without many calories. Retirees tend to gain weight easily, please work towards that because obesity is a major risk factor for heart disease. At this stage, you must reduce your blood sugar level. This always leads to diabetes and adult with diabetes are more likely to have heart disease than those without it. Try and stop smoking and consumption of alcohol; these increase the risk for heart disease as well as cancer and other diseases. Note sir that getting drunk does not enhance sexual performance but desire for sex. Lastly, understand your body language and know when to give yourself a sexual break to be the best. You can go on a leisure trip together with your wife.

By Funmi Akingbade

How to detect sexuality challenge early

One of the many challenges of a sincere loving and faithful couple is the inadequate exposure to knowledge at the appropriate time. Before their marriage, many couples are clueless about one or two sexual abnormalities in their bodies and because they were not practising premarital sex, they just assume that all is well. Inasmuch as premarital sex is not being encouraged or aided, it is wise for individuals to carry out some screenings at the very early stage of their existence.

Parents should take their children for prenatal examinations so as to detect early any sex and sexuality abnormalities in them. Many communicable diseases that may lead to impotency, erectile dysfunction and frigidity in women and some ill-reproductive conditions could be detected at this stage. Even parents should count taking their children to the hospital for sexual organs examination and screening as part of healthy growing up plans. It is paramount for young adults to frequently screen or examine themselves against sexually-transmitted diseases, undescended testes, HIV/AIDS infection, absence of testes, obstruction of the sperm pipe, abnormal penis growths, abnormal colouration of the penis, abnormal function of the penis, abnormal libido presentation and so on for the men. While for the young lady, it is very important for her to screen against cervical cancer, cervical incompetency, all abnormalities of the womb, all abnormalities of the ovary, fallopian tubes, all hormonal imbalance or malfunctions, all libidoral abnormalities and also frigidity levels.

The breast is a vital sex organ; it should be examined frequently. Ladies should watch out for discolouration, growth, lump, dimple, discharges of any kind such as fluid, pus, oil even as early as age 12 or even lesser. According to researches, it has been discovered that men and women who have the privilege of early exposure to good screening and medical examination always have better, easier and treatable case invariably making them fulfilled married partners in later years than those who do not.

Even after marriage, it is advisable for couples to do a frequent screening once or twice in a year in order to detect early some silent causes of premature ejaculation, weak erection, erectile dysfunction, arteriosclerosis [this is the hardening of the arteries], frigidity, low libido in men and women, low sperm count, low sperm motility, inability to produce semen or sperm cell, rhesus incompatibility, absence of egg in the womb, female hormonal imbalance, ovarian cyst, blocked fallopian tube, inability of the woman to produce fluid for sex during the thrusting in and out, leading to abnormal dryness, inability to get pregnant, frequent loss of pregnancy due to pre-eclampsia or eclampsia and so on.

I also do advocate that when couples know their conditions, they are able to provide adequate information for the doctor or sexologist or sex therapist. They will make sure there is a first aid box in their homes which should contain a thermometer to check the body temperature. The thermometer is needful especially for those couples who want to understand their menstrual cycle or those who desire to know what natural family planning method is all about, or couples who want to know their ovulation period either to detect safe periods for sex or otherwise.

It is also useful for couples as they are able to give medical personnel cogent answers during interrogation. The first aid box should also contain the blood pressure measurements gadget called the sphygmomanometer. This is a must have gadget in the home of every married couple because it does not only help to detect silent killer illnesses and diseases such as hypertension, heart conditions of both husband and wife, even the children, it definitely does help to detect early what can make erection, ejaculation and penis problems become reversible/arousal and libido problem in both man and woman revocable. Sphygmomanometer is a must have in every home.

The sphygmomanometer, otherwise called blood pressure apparatus, has been packaged in such a way that it can easily be put in the handbag, computer bags or any handy pouch for anyone to take about. It has also come in digital, easy to handle pack that even an uneducated person can operate. But an automatic or electronic device is recommended and the instrument generally has the same basic part, inflatable cuff. The inner layer of the cuff is filled with air and squeezes your arm. The outer layer has a fastener to hold the cuff in place. Heart rate and blood flow are automatically calculated by measuring the changes in the motion of your artery as the blood flows through while the cuff deflates. Gauge for readouts. Some blood pressure monitors can take multiple readings and report the averages. Digital monitors that are fitted on the upper arm are generally the most accurate.

I would like to emphasise on the reason for monitoring your blood pressure at home   because it is extremely relevant to couples’ sexuality. It can also help with early diagnosis; self-monitoring can help your doctor diagnose high blood pressure earlier. Home monitoring is especially important if you have slightly elevated blood pressure (prehypertension) or another condition that could contribute to high blood pressure, such as diabetes or kidney problems. It can also help track your treatment. The only way to notice change in your lifestyle/eating habit or whether those medications are working, is to check your blood pressure regularly. Monitoring blood pressure changes at home can help you and your doctor to make decisions about your treatment, such as adjusting dosages or changing medications. It also encourages better control of your health. Self-monitoring can give you a stronger sense of responsibility for your health. You may feel even more motivated to control your blood pressure with an improved diet, physical activity and proper medication use.

It helps cut your health care costs: self-monitoring might decrease your number of visits to your doctor or clinic. It will also help check if your blood pressure differs outside the doctor’s office. Some people experience spikes in blood pressure due to anxiety associated with seeing a doctor (this is called white coat hypertension). Other people have normal blood pressure at a clinic but elevated pressure elsewhere (called masked hypertension). Regular monitoring of blood pressure at home can help determine if you have true high blood pressure especially knowing that a couple’s blood pressure has a direct link to the survival of their sex life.

Please note that no matter what type of home blood pressure monitor you choose, proper use requires training and practice. Before using a monitor for the first time, have your doctor watch you use the device to see if you’re doing it properly. Measure your blood pressure twice daily and please do measure your blood pressure at about the same time, same place, same posture each day. The first measurement should be in the morning before eating or taking any medications, and the second in the evening. Each time you measure, take two or three readings to make sure your results are accurate. Don’t measure your blood pressure right after you wake up; give a period of few minutes’ intervals. You can prepare for the day by praying first, then do the measuring, but don’t eat breakfast or take medications before measuring your blood pressure. If you exercise after waking up, take your blood pressure before exercising. Do not measure your blood pressure within 30 minutes of drinking caffeine or Coca-cola, Pepsi or smoking. Avoid food, caffeine, tobacco and alcohol for 30 minutes before taking a measurement. Also, go to the toilet first. A full bladder and bowels may affect your reading and can increase blood pressure slightly.

Find a quiet place to check your blood pressure. Sit correctly with your back straight and supported (on a dining chair, for example, rather than a sofa). Sit quietly before and during monitoring, you will need to listen to your heartbeat. When you’re ready to take your blood pressure, sit for five minutes in a comfortable position with your legs and ankles uncrossed and your back supported against a chair, with your arm resting on a firm surface and your feet flat on the floor. Try to be calm and not think about stressful things. Don’t talk while taking your blood pressure. Make sure your arm is positioned properly and that the cuff around your arm is at the same level as your heart. Always use the same arm when taking your blood pressure. Rest your arm, raised to the level of your heart, on a table, desk or chair arm, your arm should rest comfortably at heart level. You might need to place a pillow or cushion under your arm to elevate it high enough. You may need to support your arm with a cushion and to be sure it is at the correct height. Your arm should be relaxed, not tensed.

Wear loose-fitting clothes like a short sleeved T-shirt so that you can push your sleeve up comfortably and place the cuff on bare skin, not over clothing. Rolling up a sleeve until it tightens around your arm can result in an inaccurate reading, so you may need to slip your arm out of the sleeve. Make sure the middle of the cuff is placed directly above the elbow. Always use the same arm for blood pressure readings, as each arm will give you a slightly different reading. If possible, use the arm that your doctor or nurse uses. Take a repeat reading. Wait for three to four minutes after the first reading, and then take another to check accuracy. Accurately record all your results, record all of your readings, including the date and time. Blood pressure varies throughout the day, and readings are often a little higher in the morning. Also, your blood pressure might be slightly lower at home than in a medical office, typically by about five points.

Take two or three readings, each about two minutes apart, and then work out the average. Some people find that their first reading is much higher than the next readings. If this is true for you, keep taking readings until they level out and stop falling, then use this as your reading. Record your readings but do not round up your measurements up or down – if you don’t keep accurate records of your blood pressure, it may affect health. It’s important to take the readings at the same time each day, such as morning and evening; do not be alarmed if you get an unexpected high reading – a one-off reading may be nothing to worry about. Measure your blood pressure again at another time, but if you find that it continues to be high after a period of time, see your doctor. Understand the readings, optimal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg (systolic pressure is 120 and diastolic pressure is less than 80). Do not check your blood pressure too often – you may become worried or stressed about small changes in your reading. This can raise your blood pressure in the short-term. Worrying about your blood-pressure reading may actually make it higher.

Many factors affect blood pressure. If one arm consistently has higher blood pressure than the other, that arm should be used to measure your blood pressure. If you did not get an accurate reading, do not inflate the cuff again right away. Wait one minute before repeating the measurement. Start by reapplying the cuff. Follow your doctor’s instructions on when and how often you should measure your blood pressure. Record the date, time, systolic and diastolic pressures. You should also record any special circumstances like any recent exercise, meal, or stressful event. At least once in a year, and especially after you first purchase your blood pressure monitor, bring your monitor with you to your doctor’s clinic to check the machine’s accuracy. This is done by comparing a blood pressure reading from your machine with one from the doctor’s office machine. As much as this is a perquisite for many homes, home blood pressure monitoring is not a substitute for visits to your doctor, and home blood pressure monitors may have some limitations.

False rising: Many things can make your blood pressure rise temporarily for a short time. For example, stress, smoking, extreme cold/ hot temperatures, exercise, caffeine, and certain medicines.

Questions and Answers

How do I keep myself agile for her sexually?

Hi Funmi, you are the best; please keep it up. I have good news for you. I am 61 years old, soon to be grandfather. I just retired and I am so grateful to God for this. I just want to spend the rest of my life with my wife. We have been married for 25 years now. My question is, how do you advise I keep myself agile for her sexually?

Mr. Monday from Abuja

Congratulations, may you live long and witness better days with your life partner. There are just some simple habits that contribute to a healthy heart that you just have to stick to. When your heart is healthy, you will be sexually sound.

You have to manage your blood pressure; high blood pressure is the most significant risk factor for heart diseases. Then you have to get active, getting moderate exercises- 30 minutes a day- helps reduce the risk of heart disease. Also control your cholesterol; too much ‘bad’ cholesterol in the blood can clog arteries, thus increasing the risk for heart attack and stroke. Sir, you also have to eat better, vegetables, fruits, whole grain products and fat –free or low-fat products without many calories. Retirees tend to gain weight easily, please work towards that because obesity is a major risk factor for heart disease. At this stage, you must reduce your blood sugar level. This always leads to diabetes and adult with diabetes are more likely to have heart disease than those without it. Try and stop smoking and consumption of alcohol; these increase the risk for heart disease as well as cancer and other diseases. Note sir that getting drunk does not enhance sexual performance but desire for sex. Lastly, understand your body language and know when to give yourself a sexual break to be the best. You can go on a leisure trip together with your wife.

By Funmi Akingbade