Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – There is no secret that cigarette smoking can have a very bad effect on your overall health. You may be surprised to know that continuous smoking can become a cause of erectile dysfunction. This issue is becoming more common among younger people. In recent years many studies have revealed that there is a direct link between smoking and erectile dysfunction.
Top doctors have stated that erectile dysfunction in men is making them feel depressed. If you quit smoking it can improve your condition without much effort. When you want to improve your sexual health the best idea is to stay away from smoking.
What Is Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is popularly known as impotence. It is a disease in which men cannot get or keep a firm erection that is necessary for sexual intercourse. Many men shy away from talking about such issues with their doctor or partner. However, approximately 40% of men in their forties are suffering from erectile dysfunction. As men age, the tendency of this disease will increase even further. If you are a chain smoker this disease will be even more common.
When some men reach their 70s the chances of erectile dysfunction increase. ED can affect the self-esteem and confidence of a male. More often, it leads to problems in a relationship. It can contribute to your stress levels and can lead to anxiety or depression. You need to keep your health in check as ED happens due to underlying health issues as well. If you are suffering from heart disease or diabetes it is necessary to seek advice from a doctor.
How Does Smoking Affect ED
If you are a chain smoker the severity of ED is likely to rise. The problem will increase with as much of cigarettes you smoke during the day. According to many studies, erectile dysfunction is more common in men who smoke. While the non-smokers having ED are comparatively lower. When younger people start smoking it can lead to even bigger issues.
With continuous smoking, you can expect the blood vessels to become narrow. The blood supply in the entire body will slow down as well. As the blood circulation becomes the slow very little amount of blood flows to the penis. When there isn’t enough blood supply men will not be able to hold erections for long. If the body is not ready for the sexual activity it can lead to broken relationships and other issues.
How Quitting Smoking Can Improve ED
Erectile dysfunction ED significantly improves once you quit smoking. If you are a heavy smoker the first thing you can do is quit your smoking habit. However, sometimes quitting may not give fruitful results instantly. As smoking affects your blood vessels, it can damage them permanently too. In this situation even when you quit smoking ED will remain the same. It also depends on your age and smoking habits or else the betterment may not take place at all.
According to one study from the BJU International Journal, the symptoms of ED became lower after quitting smoking. After one year of smoking at least 25% of men after one year could improve their ED.
The link between Smoking & Erectile Dysfunction
There is no doubt regular consumption of nicotine and tobacco can have dramatic effects on your sexual health. Normally there are three major side effects that a man may have to face. It includes decreased libido, infertility, and erectile dysfunction. Almost all the studies have shown a strong link between smoking and low sex drive in men. The effects of nicotine have been adverse to the fertility rate of men altogether. Moreover, it is observed that smoking can damage the DNA that is found in both eggs and sperm.
One of the most common sexual issues that occur due to continuous smoking is erectile dysfunction. Time and again science has proved a direct link between smoking and ED. It is all about the biological process that is hard to ignore.
How To Treat Erectile Dysfunction Caused By Smoking?
If you are suffering from erectile dysfunction the first thing you need to do is quitting smoking. There’s good news for all smokers as quitting smoking can lead to improvement in sexual health. This solution may seem challenging to handle though. Many people claim that withdrawal symptoms are difficult to handle. However, nearly all the data proves that men who quit smoking see a rapid improvement in their sexual health.
Nicotine is responsible for decreasing the amount of blood flow toward the penis. A skin patch may not work in your favor here. Another study in 2008 revealed that chewing nicotine gum can also cause erectile dysfunction. This is the reason why you will have withdrawal symptoms even if you try and quit smoking. You can try to decrease the number of cigarettes. There is no doubt lower nicotine levels can improve impotence after some time. Some tried and tested methods for quitting smoking include the following:
- Make a list of reasons before starting to quit
- Note down why all the earlier attempts have failed
- Pay attention to the triggers
- Try using nicotine replacement therapy
- Finding a list of new activities that divert your attention from smoking
- Understand the setbacks or challenges you may have to face
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When to Consult a Doctor?
As you become a chain smoker your body gets addicted to the nicotine. Firstly it affects your heart and later overall health. Smoking occasionally will not lead to erectile dysfunction though. However, those who are familiar with their deadly habit can relate more to the symptoms. If you cannot keep up firm erections it is best to consult a doctor. They may prescribe you some medicines. Whether you are using cigars, cigarettes, or pipe tobacco, all of them have similar effects.
 As your blood vessels become narrow the amount of blood circulation will decrease further. This will further reduce the arterial flow to the entire body. There is no doubt that a good amount of blood supply is necessary for maintaining strong erections. When men feel aroused these arteries open up to flow more blood. However, poor blood flow can make you feel weak and leads to a non-existent erection.
