It's no secret that bad habits do not bring health benefits, only harm. Smoking is mistakenly considered the least dangerous habit, but it is not.
After all, tobacco smoke affects absolutely all systems and organs of the human body. And, of course, men's health is also disturbed. How does smoking affect potency in men? This article will answer this 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 delivering oxygen.
Thus, during each breath in the lungs, the erythrocytes of the pulmonary circulation are saturated with oxygen molecules.
At 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 up oxygen, they take carbon dioxide from the cells and return to the heart with the venous current.
Again, red blood cells are redirected to the small (pulmonary) circulation and in the lungs carbon dioxide is released, which is excreted during exhalation.
The same process occurs when you smoke, 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 approximately 4700 other toxic chemical compounds in various proportions.
Nicotine is a substance that leads to addiction and the development of tobacco addiction.
The toxic substances in tobacco also affect the circulatory system.
So, smoking products affect the deposition of cholesterol in blood vessels, cause blood density, that is, the risk of thrombosis increases.
Smoking severely constricts blood vessels, which reduces blood flow to small vessels and capillaries throughout the body.
Such processes affect the whole body and lead to the development of such diseases and pathologies:
- Brain (smoking causes headaches, irritability, insomnia, brain cancer, strokes);
- Gastrointestinal tract (violation of digestive function, decreased appetite, severe intestinal disorder - diarrhea, gastritis, peptic ulcer);
- Vision (impaired visual acuity, amblyopia (tobacco), cataract);
- 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 complexion, first wrinkles, skin pigmentation);
- Cardiovascular system (hypertension, ischemia, heart attack, severe damage and thinning of the walls of blood vessels, edema, varicose veins, gangrene);
- The combination of smoking and potency manifests itself in such pathological processes as impotence, poor sperm motility. In women, the pathology of pregnancy, the development of the fetus, labor activity.
After reviewing this list, you should ask yourself if cigarette smoking is worthy of 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 observed even in novice smokers and with passive smoking (frequent presence in smoky rooms).
In addition, the oppression of the endocrine system affects the health status of men. During a toxic attack (smoking), the body goes into emergency mode.
The functions of the endocrine glands are redirected to protect the immune system and other human systems. But the production of testosterone (the secret produced by the prostate) is already lacking in energy and strength.
The effect of smoking on potency depends on the duration of smoking and the number of cigarettes smoked, but even one cigarette affects erectile activity and reduces it by 20%. Quite often, smoking is associated with frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages, everyday stress.
And temporary impotence can be attributed to nervous work, overwork, but not smoking. Of course, stress and alcoholic beverages also affect male strength, but smoking is not the last. Quitting smoking can bring back normal erections over time.
Statistical data
How does smoking affect potency? According to statistics, out of 120, 000 middle-aged men (28-52 years old) surveyed, they have temporary or permanent erection problems (impotence). At the same time, only 15% of (impotent) men realized the relationship - smoking and potency in men.
Reduced levels of testosterone inhibit sexual desire, the "libido" is reduced to almost zero. This problem should lead a man to the idea of finding out the reason that harmed potency.
And one of the main causes of erectile dysfunction is the influence of smoking. Thus, smoking 1 pack of cigarettes a day leads to male impotence in 60% of cases.
Smoking and impotence are directly linked. But also, along with the erectile function, the reproductive function is also disturbed, that is, smoking deteriorates the quality of sperm. According to statistics, in 75% of experienced male smokers, sperm are not able to fertilize a female egg.
Tobacco addiction treatment
The negative impact of smoking on potency in men makes it necessary to take steps to quit smoking and restore erectile function.
In order 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);
- Anxiety;
- Bad mood.
The treatment of this addiction should have an integrated approach that combines the elimination of psychological and physical components.
The psychological factor of nicotine addiction is eliminated by hypnotherapy, psychotherapy, reflexology, drugs. During treatment, the urge to smoke decreases.
Reflexology - active point acupuncture can boast of great popularity and good results.
This method can significantly reduce the level of addiction and eliminate nicotine withdrawal symptoms.
Tobacco addiction is considered stronger than alcohol or drug addiction. 60% of male smokers need professional help. Only 5% of long-time smokers succeed and quit smoking completely without outside help.
Before proceeding to the choice of the method of treatment, it is necessary to diagnose the state of health of the smoker and the severity of nicotine addiction. The severity of addiction is determined using certain psychological tests, for example, the questionnaire of Karl Fagerström (Sweden).
The simplified form of the questionnaire consists of three questions:
- How many cigarettes do you smoke per day?
- How long does it take for the first cigarette to be smoked?
- Is there a strong urge to smoke or are there withdrawal symptoms?
These data are quite enough to find out the true condition of a man and choose the method of his treatment.
Most often, smokers try to forget about a cigarette break, replacing them with snacks. In this case, you need to monitor the calorie content so as not to gain excess weight.
It is recommended to follow a diet according to the principle of separate nutrition - in small portions, but often.
This way of eating, you can replace cigarette breaks even in time. Peppermints and lollipops help well, as well as 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 with sputum comes out of the alveoli, the circulatory system is already supplyingoxygen to the body, not the combustion of tobacco products. The craving for nicotine disappears within a month.
Along with the restoration of the structure of the walls of blood vessels, the blood circulation of all organs and systems, including the penis, improves, which means that quitting smoking helps to normalize the potency and quality of sperm.
Therefore, it is worth forcing yourself to quit this addiction and qualitatively improve your lifestyle.
According to comments from former smokers, quitting smoking is difficult, but possible. If within six months the smoker has not started smoking again, then this time is quite enough for the complete cleansing of the body and the gradual restoration of all functional abilities.