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SYMPTOM: Low sex drive

Be on the lookout for: Decreased libido or erectile dysfunction. “Low libido is not a simple thing,” says Hangee-Bauer. “It can be a condition in and of itself, but it can also be a symptom of something else.”

Why: Guys may assume bedroom activity decreases naturally with age, but a low sex drive may indicate something more serious is amiss. A common culprit is low testosterone, which can lead to heart problems and bone loss, says Espinosa. Erectile dysfunction may also be a warning sign of impending heart disease or stroke. “The arteries that go to the male genitals are smaller than the arteries that go to the brain,” explains Bonhomme. If blood can't flow to the penis to cause erections, blood flow may be dangerously weak in other parts of the body, too.

How to prevent it: Weight-bearing exercise and healthy stress management support balanced testosterone levels, says Espinosa. “There seems to be a connection between highly stressed men and lower testosterone levels,” he warns. And try to get a full eight hours of sleep, too. Researchers have found that men who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea — breathing problems that interrupt normal sleeping patterns — produce lower levels of testosterone.

If you're over 50 and suffer from low libido, Hangee-Bauer suggests 160 mg a day of ginkgo biloba. Not only does the herb relax artery walls to improve circulation to the penis, says Hangee-Bauer, but it can also help blood flow to the brain and have a mild antidepressant effect.

Denver-based freelance writer Joel Warner is a frequent contributor to Delicious Living.

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