Smoking and Erectile Dysfunction

Smoking and impotence

The British Medical Association estimates that up to 120,000 men have Erectile Dysfunction because of smoking. For men in their 30s and 40s, smoking increases the risk of erectile dysfunction (ED) by about 50 per cent. Erection can't occur unless blood can flow freely into the penis, so these blood vessels have to be in good condition. Smoking can damage the blood vessels and cause them to degenerate: nicotine narrows the arteries that lead to the penis, reducing blood flow and the pressure of blood in the penis. This narrowing effect increases over time, so if you haven't got problems now, things could change later. Erection problems in smokers may be an early warning signal that cigarettes are already damaging other areas of the body such as the blood vessels that supply the heart.

 

 

 

My wife says I've changed so much;

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Well, here's the truth.

The more you smoke the worse it gets.

Men who smoke are 40 percent more likely to struggle with erectile dysfunction than men who don't. "Smoking delivers nicotine and other vasoconstrictors that close down the blood vessels" of the penis, explained Dr. Jack Mydlo, chairman of urology at Temple University School of Medicine and Hospital in Philadelphia.

A recent study of more than 8,000 Australian men between the ages of 16 and 59 found that those who smoked less than a pack a day had a 24 percent increased risk of erectile problems. And, as the number of cigarettes smoked went up, so, too, did the chances of erectile dysfunction. Those men who averaged more than 20 cigarettes a day increased their risk of erectile dysfunction by 39 percent, reported the study, published in the journal Tobacco Control. An American study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, found that male smokers in their 40s were more likely to experience erectile difficulties than older non smoking males. The risk of erectile dysfunction was nearly doubled for smoking men in their 40s compared to non smokers in their 50s. "Smoking, because it causes blood vessel constriction, is a very big cause of erectile dysfunction," said Dr. Larry Lipshultz, chief of male reproductive medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Smoking isn't the only cause of impotence problems. Obesity, heavy alcohol consumption and recreational drug use can all cause erectile dysfunction. And a sedentary lifestyle can also contribute to erectile problems," Lipshultz added. "Other causes include diabetes; heart disease; cancer surgery of the prostate, bladder, colon or rectum; high blood pressure medications or anti depressants; a spinal injury; and a hormone imbalance, usually low testosterone."

All of these conditions or lifestyle factors contribute to erectile difficulties by reducing blood flow, causing nerve damage, or changing the hormonal environment. While there are medications that can help treat erectile dysfunction, both Mydlo and Lipshultz advocated a healthy lifestyle for maintaining good sexual health. "Take better care of yourself. Make sure you're not obese, eat well, exercise, and if you have diabetes or hyper tension, make sure they're well-controlled," advised Lipshultz, who added that by addressing lifestyle factors, you may not need medication to treat erectile dysfunction. Mydlo echoed that advice, adding, "Stop smoking, drink in moderation, lose weight, and maintain good blood pressure."

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