Smoking and Erectile Dysfunction

The article is professionally consulted by MSc Vo Thien Ngon - Urologist, Department of General Surgery, Vinmec Danang International General Hospital.

Erectile dysfunction (English name is Erectile Dysfunction), also known as impotence, can be caused by a variety of physical and psychological factors, including smoking which is believed to be one of the triggers. little effect on fertility. Men smoking can cause impotence, erectile dysfunction,..

Erectile dysfunction is defined as a condition in which the penis is not erect or erect enough and lasts long enough for sexual intercourse.
Erectile dysfunction is a disease occurring in men that has existed for thousands of years and is increasingly common today. This disease is not a very dangerous disease affecting the health and life of men, but it greatly affects the quality of life as well as the bravery and faith of men.

Research into the effects of smoking on men's erections reported at the American Heart Association Annual Meeting held in Miami found:
“Smoking and Erectile dysfunction has a direct relationship with each other. Smoking increases the buildup of plaque in the arteries, known as atherosclerosis. Plaque impedes blood flow through blood vessels and causes a host of circulatory problems throughout the body, such as erectile dysfunction.”
In this study, researchers collected data on 4,764 men in China with an average age of 47, the collected information included health status, smoking history and quality of sexual relationship. current education. The results of the study found that:
Men who smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day have a 60% higher risk of erectile dysfunction than men who never smoke. 15% of past and current smokers have experienced symptoms of erectile dysfunction. Among men who have never smoked, 12% have erectile problems.

An erection of the penis is the result of increased blood flow to the genitals when a man has sexual desire, receives sexual stimulation created by himself or by his partner.
Smoking can damage every part of your body. The chemicals in smoke damage the lining of your blood vessels and affect how they work. These chemicals can also harm the heart, brain, kidneys, and other tissues throughout the body.
Smoking's health risks and affects the erection of the penis:
Smoking promotes atherosclerosis and narrows the arteries (arterial constriction) thereby reducing blood circulation The whole body, including the penis, leads to impotence. Smoking can cause depression of the nervous system, reducing the ability to transmit stimuli that cause erectile dysfunction. In addition, smoking also reduces the quantity, quality, motility and deformation of sperm. It causes infertility, miscarriage, birth defects. Smoking can cause impotence even for people who breathe in secondhand smoke (passive smoking).

Once you quit smoking, your health will be improved immediately such as lowering blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart attack and most importantly preventing erectile dysfunction, blood circulation in the penis will start begin to improve within 2 to 12 weeks from the day you quit smoking.
Here are some tips to get you started:
Pick a day to quit and then prepare for that day. Remove all cigarettes, ashtrays, matches and lighters from your home, office and car. If you smoke more than nine cigarettes a day, ask your doctor about medications that can help you quit. Change the habit. Try to avoid people or situations that make you want to smoke. Seek the support of family, friends, and co-workers. Tell everyone around you that you are quitting smoking. Make time for relaxing activities to reduce stress and avoid cravings. Do exercise. Spend a lot of time in places where smoking is not allowed. Use low-calorie snacks when you have symptoms of cravings for cigarettes. Remind yourself of the benefits of not smoking, including improved sexual function. You may have some withdrawal symptoms, but they usually last less than 2 weeks. Some people gain weight when they quit, but you can maintain your weight by exercising regularly and limiting the amount of fat in your diet.

Smoking cessation aid Nicotine gum: A box of 48 pieces and you chew one piece of gum every 1 to 2 hours, but no more than 24 pieces per day. Nicotine patch: You apply it directly to the skin once a day and should only be used during the day. Nicotine lozenges: Treatment usually lasts about 12 weeks. After 1-2 hours will take 1 tablet for the first 6 weeks, 2-4 hours / 1 tablet in weeks 7-9 and every 4-8 hours in weeks 10-12. Nicotine nasal spray: This spray is available by prescription only. The spray delivers nicotine into your bloodstream quickly with one spray in each nose at a dose once or twice an hour. Nicotine inhaler: This is also available by prescription. Nicotine is released from the inhaler into the mouth. Nicotine-free drugs: Bupropion (Zyban) is the only FDA-approved medication to aid smoking cessation that does not contain nicotine. You should start taking this medicine one to two weeks before you start to quit and use it for 7-12 weeks. Talk to your doctor to find out what support is right for you.

Article reference source: Webmd.com