So what exactly is going on?? Why so many YOUNG guys (20s, 30s) using cock rings to maintain hard-ons?
Recent medical research has determined that your dick somewhat mirrors your own cardiovascular system. High blood pressure and arteriosclerosis affects all blood vessels, including those of the penis. Controlling blood pressure and cholesterol (and other lipids, such as low density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides (TG)) helps to protect all of your blood vessels, including those of your penis. Blood pressure under poor control can result in erectile dysfunction as well as heart & kidney disease and stroke or other brain issues.
But smooth muscle which surrounds blood vessels (and allows them to constrict or dilate as the need arises) is also affected by aging. The older we get, the more the cells comprising these smooth muscles age and stop working, causing microscopic areas of scar tissue that prevents the muscles from doing their job. Heart attacks are essentially interruptions of blood flow to different parts of the heart muscle; when deprived of oxygen, collections of cells may die and cause scar tissue. In the wrong place, a person can die; In other wrong places, nerves that help the heart beat effectively, may not do so and a heart arrhythmia may develop. Scar tissue from interrupted blood flow occurring in the skeletal muscle may cause scar tissue and interrupt that muscle's ability to constrict and relax, which can cause it's share of problems! This may also contribute to a curve in your erect penis (Peyronie’s disease/penile fibrosis).
So why are younger guys using cock rings? Is it because they look cool, everyone else is using them, or to try to sustain hard-ons for longer? Or is it because of underlying unaddressed health problems like high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes, traumatic injuries, elevated cholesterol??
And what about use of viagra ("vitamin V") or cialis or similar "erectile dysfunction" medications? They usually work pretty well if the above penile blood vessels have not been severely changed from poorly controlled blood pressure, diabetes, etc. What if we were to take viagra or cialis in lower doses daily, irrespective of planned sexual activities? Would this offer some protection against expected age related changes to the smooth vessels of the penis?? Sounds good! But it is controversial, and as far as I know, no "double blinded" clinical study has yet to be done to test this hypothesis. As evidence drives medical progress, all we can do is try it ourselves or not, and hope for the best. The good news is that viagra, cialis and similar medications are not potentially harmful for most men, although they may have annoying side effects (such as temporary headache, blue tinted vision, dizziness, etc.), and MAY have dangerous interactions with other drugs that we may sometimes take: such as excessive alcohol, poppers, speed, ecstasy, crack/cocaine, as well as some prescribed medications. Note, I did not say weed (marijuana)! Go to your favorite free drug interaction app (such as Medscape) or computer program (such as drugstore.com) and check.
What do you think? What are your experiences?
--roc