Erectile Dysfunction Risk Factors: Smoking & Alcohol

Detrimental Effects of Smoking on Male Potency

The potency is the ability of the body to achieve and maintain an erection during sexual intercourse. The opposite condition is called male impotence (sexual impotence, erectile dysfunction), which has many causes. Erectile dysfunction due to smoking is a very frequent phenomenon. Stacy’s Family Pharmacy will try to shed light on the relation of erectile dysfunction and smoking

What is erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction and infertility are not the same. The most common form of impotence is the insufficient hardness of the penis during sexual intercourse. Erection is achieved as a result of “cooperation” between the blood circulation and the peripheral and central nervous system. Arterial blood enters the hollow cavernous bodies of the penis through small blood vessels. Increased arterial blood flow (about 7 times compared to the usual) leads to an erection.

Negative effects of nicotine on the erectile function

Nicotine is a very potent vasoconstrictor, affecting the blood vessels in two ways:

• As a stimulant, nicotine promotes spasm, affecting the arteries of the heart, lungs, eyes, internal organs, hands, feet and, of course, the genitals;
• Nicotine damages the walls of blood vessels, thereby worsening their ability to relax.

How does smoking cause erectile dysfunction? In simple terms, nicotine leads to a decrease in the blood flow needed for erection and prevent it.

Nicotine is a powerful and fast constrictor of blood vessels, so it has an immediate effect on the blood flow.

Doppler studies ultrasound showed that deeper arteries supplying blood to the penis react immediately to cigarette smoke, “shrinking” so that blood flow is not visible after two cigarettes. Even if you quit smoking, the walls of the arteries and nerves recover for a long time from the effects of nicotine.

Smoking affects potency and overall health of the body, the damage caused by nicotine and certain other components of smoke cause great harm to the body

Some of these components include:

• nicotine;
• carbon monoxide;
• isoprene;
• acetaldehyde.

Under the influence of these substances, the blood vessels can not completely relax in response to sexual stimulation.

Does smoking affect potency and quality of sperm?

Harmful substances from tobacco smoke enter the male genital organs through the blood.

Heavy smokers have reduced the number and mobility of spermatozoa, in addition, smoking can damage their structure.

Finnish researchers believe that the mobility of spermatozoa decreases faster in men who smoke a lot if compared with non-smokers. Those who come for infertility examination are recommended quitting smoking first of all. However, there were no hormonal balance differences revealed between smokers and non-smokers.

Does smoking affect potency? Yes, nicotine can lead to poor erection. This was proved in studies on animals, as well as in experimental studies on men.

Thus, subjects were asked to smoke three cigarettes (with a nicotine content of 0.9 mg per cigarette) for half an hour. And their erection really worsened compared to people in the group who smoked cigarettes with a nicotine content of only 0.002 mg per cigarette and with a group that did not smoke at all.

Researchers believe that this was caused by the penetration of nicotine into the vascular system through the autonomic nervous system and a decrease in blood flow. So, the answer to the question “Does smoking affect potency?” is “YES, smoking worsens male potency”.

Heavy smoking and erectile dysfunction

At an annual conference of the American Heart Association, dedicated to cardiovascular diseases, their epidemiology and prevention, there were presented the results of a study on the link between smoking and erectile dysfunction.

This was not the first study confirming the relationship between cigarette smoking and erectile dysfunction. But this research is unique which considers other factors related to erectile dysfunction diagnosis.

IMPORTANT TO KNOW

Heavy smokers often get plaques in the arteries (atherosclerosis). They prevent the normal flow of blood through the vessels, causing circulatory problems throughout the body, such as erectile dysfunction.

Heavy smoking and erectile dysfunction often go hand in hand. At the same time, most people know that smoking seriously damages general health. The effect on potency is only one of the harmful effects of nicotine. Perhaps, this article will be a decisive reason for someone to quit this bad habit. You may try Stacy’s Family Pharmacy anti-smoking medicine which will help you get rid of the bad habit as soon as possible: Chantix, Zyban, Smok-OX, Nicorette Gum, Varenicline for smoking cessation.

Erectile Dysfunction and Alcohol Consumption

Many people mistakenly believe that potency and alcohol are related because the latter is an aphrodisiac. Nevertheless, regular alcohol consumption lowers testosterone level and can actually reduce sex drive to zero.

Alcohol can cause difficulties with maintaining an erection, reduce the release of lubricant and prevent orgasm.

If you drink alcohol in reasonable quantities, it will not cause harm to health, but excessive alcohol will negatively affect erection.

Alcohol can also damage the nerves in the penis, which are responsible for causing an erection. This condition is known as “alcohol impotence”.

How does excessive alcohol affect potency?

Is there a link between alcohol and impotence? Most men experience erectile problems at some point in their lives. However, these unpleasant “misfires” disappear on their own, unlike impotence (erectile dysfunction). Impotence has several causes, and alcohol is one of the mains causes of erectile dysfunction.

How does alcohol affect potency and general health?

Alcohol can block nerve impulses. That’s why drunken people often have slurred speech, emotional outbursts. But even a small amount of alcohol affects the nervous system, causing slower reflexes.

Moderate consumption of alcohol (1-2 glasses per day) can actually improve the health of the cardiovascular system.

Excessive consumption of alcohol can damage the liver, symptoms of hypertension, an increased risk of cancer.

Drinking alcohol causes problems with potency, which leads to a marked deterioration in self-esteem and interpersonal problems. This, in turn, pushes the alcoholic on new binges. That’s why a person who abuses alcohol and suffers from impotence needs not only medications but also the help of a psychologist and a sexologist.

Category: Healthcare

Tags: erectile dysfunction treatment, erectile function, erection loss