Erectile Dysfunction & Smoking
Erectile Dysfunction has become a very commonplace condition in men nowadays. Erectile Dysfunction or simply known as ED is a condition in which a man is unable to have an erection during sexual intercourse and even if an erection comes to pass, he cannot sustain it for long. Many things can drive a man to Erectile Dysfunction and smoking is one of them. Smoking has a very pernicious effect on a man’s general health. In this article, we will explore the relationship between Smoking and ED. We will also talk about some of the treatments of ED.
What is Erectile Dysfunction?
One may ask, what is ED? To put it in unambiguous terms, ED means the inability of a person to have an erection or hold it for long enough in order to participate in partnered sex. ED affects a man in number of ways. It destroys a man’s confidence, self-belief and general well-being. Because of the nature of this illness, many men are reticent to talk about it, which is very unfortunate.
What causes Erectile Dysfunction in men? Well, ED can be brought on by a variety of interconnected variables, including physical, psychological, and lifestyle issues. Physical factors that contribute to ED include diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and neurological disorders. Psychological factors that contribute to ED include depression, anxiety, and stress. Smoking, drinking alcohol, and a lack of physical exercise are just some lifestyle variables that contribute to ED.
The Link Between Smoking and Erectile Dysfunction
Smoking is a significant risk factor for ED. Several studies have shown that men who smoke are more likely to develop ED than non-smokers. For example, a study published in the Journal of Urology found that men who smoked were more than twice as likely to develop ED as non-smokers. So, can smoking cause ED? Yes, there is possibility.
Mechanisms by which Smoking Causes Erectile Dysfunction
One may ask, how can a man experience ED from smoking? Answer is, smoking causes ED by damaging the blood vessels, nerves, and hormonal balance in the body. Specifically, smoking causes the following changes in the body that contribute to ED:
Damage to blood vessels: Smoking damages the endothelial lining of the blood vessels, which can lead to atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a disease in which the arteries tighten and become rigid owing to plaque formation. This can reduce blood flow to the penis, which makes it more difficult to achieve and maintain an erection.
Damage to nerves: Smoking can damage the nerves that control the blood vessels in the penis. This damage can lead to a decrease in the sensitivity of the penis, which can make it more difficult to achieve an erection.
Decreased testosterone levels: Smoking can decrease testosterone levels in men. Testosterone is a hormone that needs to be produced for male sexual function. Low testosterone levels could worsen ED.
Increased risk of other conditions: Smoking increases the risk of other conditions that contribute to ED, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
Treatment Options for Erectile Dysfunction
There are several Erectile Dysfunction treatment options. These include:
Medications: To treat ED, medicines like sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), and vardenafil (Levitra) are widely available. These medicines boost blood flow to the penis, which makes getting and keeping an erection less difficult.
Vacuum devices: Vacuum pumps for Erectile Dysfunction are devices that use suction to draw blood into the penis, which can help achieve an erection. These devices are typically used in combination with a constriction ring around the base of the penis to maintain the erection.
Penile injections: Penile injections involve injecting a medication directly into the penis to help achieve an erection. Alprostadil is the most commonly prescribed medicine for penile injections.
Penile implants: Penile implants are the instruments that are surgically inserted in the penis. These devices can help achieve an erection by compressing a reservoir of fluid in the device, which in turn inflates the penis.
Shockwave therapy: Shockwave therapy for ED is a non-invasive treatment which uses low intensity shockwaves to increase blood flow to the penis. Because of the non-invasive nature and lack of heavy side-effects of shockwave therapy, patients are getting more interested in this treatment option.
Lifestyle changes: Lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, losing weight, and exercising regularly can help improve ED in some cases. These changes can improve overall cardiovascular health and increase blood flow to the penis.
Psychological counseling: In some cases, ED may be caused by psychological factors such as anxiety or depression. Psychological counseling can help address these issues and improve ED.
Conclusion
It’s important to understand that, ED is a very common condition and nobody should feel that it’s the end of the world if he is suffering from it. There are a number of treatments available for ED as we have mentioned in this article. We have also talked about how smoking may affect a man’s sexual performance by causing ED. So, what can a smoker do if he is suffering from ED? Well unsurprisingly, he should quit smoking and seek medical attention. If he wants to try non-invasive treatments then shockwave therapy is the best treatment he can get right now. Shockwave therapy has become a popular viable alternative compared to traditional ED treatments. So, he could undergo shockwave treatment for ED. Although not all clinics offer this treatment, among those who do, MansMatters is one of the best. Shockwave Clinics Ltd is a UK-based men’s health group of clinics which specializes in treating men with sexual issues using non-invasive treatments like shockwave therapy, EMTT therapy, NanoVi and Tesla Chair.