Impotence. It?s a word most men are afraid of since it affects their masculinity, their interaction with the opposite sex, and their very dignity. But like it or not, everyone suffers from impotence from time to time. And as you grow older, you may experience it more often, especially if you drink, smoke, are overweight or suffer from diseases like diabetes, heart problems or kidney disease.

However, impotence is not the end of the world. The important thing to remember is you are not alone. Neither are you abnormal in any way. Impotence is a common problem that can easily be corrected depending on the cause. A good doctor will tell you how to deal with it.

If impotence is not caused by medication, an accident or a disease, your chances of being cured are even greater. To keep the flames of love burning, here are some practical home remedies from Consumer Guide:

Mind your medications. Prescription drugs for high blood pressure, depression, ulcer, and insomnia all have one thing in common: they can make you impotent. Check with your doctor if you?re taking any of these medicines. Your physician may change them.

Say no to alcohol. William Shakespeare was right when he said that alcohol ?provokes the desire but takes away the performance.? While moderate drinking, especially red wine, is good for the heart and can release sexual inhibitions, too much can disrupt hormone levels, inhibit sexual desire, and eventually damage the nerves in the penis.

Quit smoking. No butts about it: Men who smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day have a 60 percent chance of becoming impotent than men who don?t. Smoking promotes atherosclerosis (the build-up of plaque in the arteries). This, in turn, causes circulatory problems that lead to impotence. So stop smoking now before it?s too late.

Get protection. No, buying a condom won?t prevent impotence. But protecting your crotch from injury definitely will. If you engage in sports like biking, karate, and horseback riding, make sure your penis is safe from harm. Injury to the penis is a sure way of becoming impotent and surgery is often required to correct this.

Don?t suffer in silence. Impotence affects both you and your partner so it makes sense to involve her in seeking solutions to the problem. Don?t be ashamed to discuss the matter with your loved one. Remember that two heads are better than one and granting your impotence is not caused by a medical problem, both of you can easily find ways to remedy the situation.

Avoid aphrodisiacs. They?re supposed to enhance sexual desire but experts said none of them work and some like Spanish fly can even be dangerous. Skip them unless you want to spend the night in a hospital.

Think positive. Feelings of guilt, fear, self-pity, anger or resentment won?t make you a hot lover. Make sex a less threatening experience by communicating with your partner. Be open about sex and don?t be afraid to experiment. That way, your bed won't become a battlefield.

Seek help. If these measures don?t help, don?t be afraid to bring your problem to a doctor. Impotence can be treated with behavior modification techniques, oral medications, injectable drugs, vacuum devices or in rare cases surgery. One popular product that is non-invasive and free from side effects is Erectasil. This Male Enhancement cream can help you rise to the occasion in just 60 seconds. For details, visit http://erectasil.com

Jill Stewart is a health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premiere online health news magazine http://www.healthnfitnesszone.com