Few people realise that the more a man smokes, the higher is his risk of developing erectile dysfunction, according to a media release from Lilly South Africa ahead of World No Tobacco Day on May 31.
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The World Health Organisation has helped to define erectile dysfunction (ED) as the consistent or recurrent inability of a man to attain and/or maintain an erection sufficient for sexual performance. ED is a common condition, can be progressive and is often treatable.
ED caused by physical factors
Until recently many health professionals believed that ED was caused by mental or emotional conflicts. Patients were often told “It’s all in your head”. Today experts believe that up to 70% of all ED cases may be due to physical conditions, with psychological factors accounting for the remaining 30%. In many cases, there are both psychological and physical reasons for the condition.
One way to improve, or prevent erectile dysfunction, is through making simple lifestyle changes. For some men, adopting a healthier lifestyle, such as quitting smoking, exercising regularly and reducing stress may be all that is needed to find relief. Even for men who require more intensive treatment, adopting these lifestyle changes along with other treatments can help further.
Smoking increases ED risk
Smoking increases the risk of ED by about 50% for men in their 30s and 40s. Not only does smoking reduce life expectancy, but also the quality of life. Often smokers with ED suffer in silence, although their condition may be totally preventable.
In a recent study conducted amongst 1 300 men and published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, smokers in their 40s were three times more likely to have ED compared to non-smokers of a similar age. Another study, conducted amongst 4 500 men in China during 2000 and 2001, found that men who smoke more than a pack of cigarettes a day had a 60% higher risk of developing ED than those who had never smoked.
Other similar studies have noted the negative effects of smoking in men who smoke only 10 cigarettes a day, which in itself is deemed “heavy smoking”, but it is also known that as little as two cigarettes a day may have harmful effects on erection.
How smoking impairs erectile function
During an erection, large quantities of blood flows, under pressure, into the penile arteries, which causes the veins which drain the penis to become compressed, so preventing the immediate outflow of blood. This process is significantly impaired by smoking in the following ways:
Less blood flows into the penis if the inflow route is blocked by long-terms build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries, also known as atherosclerosis, which is caused, in part, by smoking.
Rapid contractions in penile tissue, a direct and immediate result of nicotine stimulation in the brain, restrict arterial blood flow into the penis.
The valve mechanism that traps blood in the penis is impaired as a result of nicotine in the blood stream. Excessive outflow from the penis can reduce the time an erection is maintained.
There is also compelling evidence to suggest that ED can indicate more serious underlying vascular problems. Damage to the small blood vessels of the penis manifested in ED may offer an early warning signal that a smoker is risking serious damage to the arteries of the heart, which could indicate the risk of a stroke or heart attack.
Instead of dismissing ED as something that naturally occurs with ageing, health care practitioners are urging men to take the condition more seriously.
Besides ED, other fertility problems caused by smoking include reduced volume of ejaculate, lowered sperm count, abnormal sperm shape and impaired sperm mobility.
Effects of ED can be reversed
Given that two of the three main side effects of smoking on ED are acute responses to nicotine, by stopping smoking, there is every chance of improved sexual function. “Statistically, after a year of stopping smoking, there should be a return to normality”, says Dr Shingai Mutambirwa, a leading urologist at the Medical University of Southern Africa (MEDUNSA).
The other good news for men who may suffer from ED is that there are treatments available that can vastly improve their condition and lives, as well as that of their partners.
Men who experience erection problems should consult with their doctor who can make a diagnosis and discuss the pros and cons of the treatment options with their patients, possible lifestyle changes as well as safeguard the patient against any underlying vascular problems. – (Health24)
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