It's no secret that bad habits do not bring any health benefits, only harm. Smoking is mistaken for the safest habit, but it is not.
After all, tobacco smoke adversely affects absolutely all systems and organs of the human body. And, of course, men's health is also affected. How does smoking affect potency in men? This article will answer that question.
Effects of tobacco smoke on blood vessels
Smoking and potency are incompatible things. This is due to damage to blood circulation, including in the genitals.
Oxygen is the most important component of the vital activity of every cell in the human body. Red blood cells are responsible for the oxygen supply.
With every breath in the lungs, the erythrocytes of the pulmonary circulation are saturated with oxygen molecules.
With the next heartbeat, saturated red blood cells are sent into the systemic circulation and carry oxygen throughout the body through arterial blood flow.
After the blood cells (erythrocytes) give off oxygen, they absorb carbon dioxide from the cells and return to the heart with the venous flow.
Here, too, red blood cells are diverted into the small (pulmonary) circulation and carbon dioxide is released in the lungs, which is excreted with exhalation.
The same process occurs with smoking, but instead of oxygen, erythrocytes carry tobacco smoke molecules saturated with substances harmful to the body:
- carbon monoxide;
- Acetaldehyde;
- Nicotine;
- hydrazine;
- Ammonia;
- Benzene;
- Acetone;
- nitrogen oxides;
- Formaldehyde;
- acrolein;
- 2-nitropropane;
- Hydrogen cyanide and about 4700 other chemically toxic compounds in various proportions.
Nicotine is a substance that leads to addiction and the development of dependence on smoking.
Tobacco toxic substances also affect the circulatory system.
So, smoking products affect the deposition of cholesterol in blood vessels, provoke blood density, that is, the risk of thrombosis increases.
Tobacco smoking severely constricts blood vessels, which reduces blood flow to small vessels and capillaries throughout the body.
Such processes affect the whole body and are the cause of the development of such diseases and pathologies:
- brain (smoking causes headaches, irritability, insomnia, brain tumors, strokes);
- Gastrointestinal tract (violation of digestive function, loss of appetite, severe intestinal disease - diarrhea, gastritis, peptic ulcer);
- vision (impaired visual acuity, amblyopia (tobacco), cataracts);
- It affects hearing acuity - hearing loss;
- teeth (yellow plaque, tooth loss, gum disease);
- nail plates with a yellow tint;
- skin (dark circles under the eyes, grayish skin tone, early wrinkles, skin pigmentation);
- cardiovascular system (hypertension, ischemia, myocardial infarction, severe damage and thinning of the walls of blood vessels, edema, varicose veins, gangrene);
- The combination of smoking and potency is manifested in such pathological processes as impotence, poor sperm motility. In women, the pathology of pregnancy, fetal development, labor activity.
After going through this list, you should think about whether the cigarette is worth the risk of developing such consequences.
How does smoking affect potency?
Does smoking affect potency? Impotence in smokers is precisely associated with damage to the vessels that supply blood to the penis.
In addition, the process of deterioration of the condition of blood vessels is also observed in novice smokers and in passive smoking (frequent presence in smoky rooms).
The suppression of the endocrine system also affects the state of men's health. In the event of an attack of poison (smoking), the body goes into emergency mode.
The functions of the endocrine glands are redirected to protect the man's immune and other systems. But the production of testosterone (the secret produced by the prostate) already lacks energy and power.
The effect of smoking on potency depends on the duration of smoking and the number of cigarettes smoked, but even one cigarette impairs erectile activity, reducing it by 20%. Quite often smoking is combined with frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages, daily stress.
And temporary impotence can be attributed to nervous work, overwork, but not to smoking. Of course, both stress and alcoholic beverages affect male power, but smoking is not the last. Quitting smoking can lead to normal erections over time.
Statistical data
How does smoking affect potency? According to statistics, out of 120, 000 middle-aged men (28-52 years) surveyed have temporary or permanent erection problems (impotence). At the same time, only 15% of men (impotent) recognized the relationship - smoking and potency in men.
Reduced levels of testosterone inhibit sexual desire, "libido" is reduced to almost zero. This problem should give a man an idea to find out the reason that affected potency.
And one of the main causes of erectile dysfunction is the influence of smoking. So, smoking 1 pack of cigarettes a day leads to male impotence in 60% of cases.
Smoking and impotence are directly related. In addition to the ability to have an erection, the reproductive function is also disturbed, i. e. smoking worsens the sperm quality. According to statistics, in 75% of experienced smokers, sperm are unable to fertilize a female egg.
Treatment of tobacco addiction
The negative effects of smoking on male potency make it necessary to take measures to quit smoking and restore erectile function.
To get rid of nicotine addiction, a smoker with an impressive experience lacks willpower, and the withdrawal syndrome is manifested by a significant deterioration in health.
The symptoms of nicotine withdrawal are:
- increased appetite;
- Irritability;
- inability to concentrate (attention is distracted by the thought of a cigarette);
- Fear;
- Bad mood.
Treatment of this addiction should have an integrated approach that combines elimination of psychological and physical components.
The psychological factor of nicotine addiction is eliminated by hypnotherapy, psychotherapy, reflexology, medication. In the course of treatment, the desire to smoke decreases.
Reflexology - acupuncture on active points can boast of great popularity and good results.
This method can significantly reduce the level of addiction and eliminate the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.
Tobacco addiction is considered stronger than alcohol or drug addiction. 60% of male smokers need professional help. Only 5% of long-term smokers successfully and completely quit smoking without outside help.
Before proceeding with the choice of treatment method, you need to diagnose the smoker's health condition and the severity of nicotine addiction. The severity of the addiction is determined using some psychological tests, for example the questionnaire by Karl Fagerström (Sweden).
The simplified form of the questionnaire consists of three questions:
- How many cigarettes are smoked per day?
- How long does it take to smoke the first cigarette?
- Is there a strong urge to smoke or are there withdrawal symptoms?
These data are quite enough to find out the true condition of the man and choose the method of his treatment.
Most often, smokers try to forget a smoke break by replacing it with snacks. In this case, you need to monitor the calorie content in order not to gain weight.
It is recommended to follow a diet on the principle of separate nutrition - in small portions, but often.
You can even replace smoking breaks in good time with this type of food. Peppermints and lollipops work well, as does a nicotine patch.
Conclusion
After giving up bad habits, including smoking, the body begins to get rid of nicotine after two hours, on day 2-3 tobacco sediment comes out of the alveoli with sputum, the circulatory system already supplies the body with oxygen, and not tobacco combustion products. Nicotine cravings subside within a month.
Along with the restoration of the structure of the walls of blood vessels, blood circulation in all organs and systems, including the penis, improves, which means that quitting smoking helps normalize sperm potency and quality.
Therefore, it is worth forcing yourself to give up this addiction and qualitatively improve your lifestyle.
Quitting smoking is difficult, but possible, according to ex-smokers' comments. If the smoker has not started smoking again within six months, then this time is enough for the complete cleansing of the body and the gradual restoration of all functional abilities.