Erectile Dysfunction & Smoking – Informative

There is a multiplicity of sexual issues. Erectile Dysfunction is one of them. Erectile Dysfunction or ED is a life scarring condition in which a man becomes unable to generate or sustain an erection strong enough for sexual intimacy. What causes Erectile Dysfunction in men? Well, a lot of things and smoking, which has long been known as detrimental to health, is one of them. In this article, we will talk about the relationship between smoking and ED and some treatments for ED.

Causes of ED

It’s important for everyone to know about the things that contribute to ED. Or in Doctirs language ‘the etiology’.  There are many factors that can contribute to the onset of ED, including physical and psychological factors.

Physical and Psychological Causes

Physical causes of ED include underlying medical conditions that affect blood flow to the penis. Some of the most common physical causes of ED include diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and obesity. Often patients suffer a comorbidity when two conditions combine to accentuate the Erectile Dysfunction. And some common psychological causes of ED are anxiety, depression and stress.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a perpetual disease that hinders the body’s capability to generate or use insulin. This can cause high blood sugar levels, which can damage the endothelial linings of blood vessels and nerves throughout the body, including those in the penis. This can eventually lead a person to suffering Erectile Dysfunction.

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure, often known as hypertension, is an issue that occurs when blood’s force is excessive on artery walls. Over time, this can damage the blood vessels and reduce blood flow to the penis, leading to ED.

Heart Disease

Heart disease is a term that refers to several conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels, including coronary artery disease, heart failure, and peripheral vascular disease. These conditions can reduce blood flow to the penis, leading to ED.

Obesity

Obesity is a state when a person has an abnormally large amount of body fat. This can lead to a variety of health problems, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease, all of which can contribute to ED.

Anxiety

Anxiety is an overwhelming feeling of uneasiness that can range from minor to severe. It can affect a person’s ability to perform sexually, leading to ED.

Depression

Depression is a mental health condition that can cause persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest in activities. It can also affect a person’s ability to perform sexually, leading to ED.

Stress

Stress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension that can be caused by a variety of factors, including work, relationships, and financial problems. It can affect a person’s ability to perform sexually, leading to ED.

Diagnosis of Erectile Dysfunction

In order to diagnose ED, doctors will typically perform a physical exam and ask about the patient’s medical history. They may also perform blood tests or other diagnostic tests to determine the underlying cause of the condition.

Smoking

Can a man obtain ED from smoking? Yes, he can. Because smoking is a major cause of ED. It is a habit in which a person inhales and exhales smoke from burning tobacco. There are many chemicals in tobacco smoke that can damage the body, including the blood vessels that supply blood to the penis.

Chemical Composition of Tobacco

Tobacco smoke contains over 70 known carcinogens, including nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide, and ammonia. These chemicals can damage the body in a variety of ways, including reducing blood flow to the penis, leading to ED.

How Smoking Affects the Body

Smoking can affect the body in a variety of ways, including the respiratory system, cardiovascular system, and reproductive system. Smoking can cause a number of health problems, including lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, and erectile dysfunction.

Erectile Dysfunction and Smoking

Studies have shown that men who smoke are more likely to have ED than non-smokers. Nicotine, the addictive substance in tobacco, constricts blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the penis. This might make getting and keeping an erection difficult. Smoking can also damage the lining of blood vessels, making them less elastic and less able to expand to allow for increased blood flow. This can further reduce blood flow to the penis, leading to ED. In addition, smoking can cause nerve damage, which can also contribute to ED. The chemicals in tobacco smoke can damage the nerves that control blood flow to the penis, making it more difficult to achieve or maintain an erection.

Effects of Secondhand Smoke on Erectile Dysfunction

Secondhand smoke, or the smoke that is inhaled by non-smokers, can also contribute to ED. Studies have shown that men who are exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to have ED than men who are not exposed to secondhand smoke. This is because the chemicals in secondhand smoke can damage blood vessels and nerves in the same way as smoking.

Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile Dysfunction treatment options depend on the underlying cause of the condition. In cases where smoking is the cause of ED, quitting smoking is the first step in treatment. Quitting smoking can improve blood flow and nerve function, leading to an improvement in erectile function.

The most commonly prescribed treatments for ED are oral medications, such as sildenafil (Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra), and tadalafil (Cialis). These medicines function by boosting blood flow to the penis. This makes achieving and sustaining an erection simpler.

Other traditional treatments for ED include vacuum devices, penile injections, and penile implants. These treatments can be effective in cases where oral medications are not effective or are not appropriate.

Modern treatments for ED include shockwave therapy, EMTT for ED, NanoVi and Tesla Chair. These treatments are non-invasive. Shockwave therapy for ED uses high intensity acoustic waves and EMTT therapy uses electro-magnetic energy to increase blood flow to the penis which helps a man achieve an erection much more easily. NanoVi helps in repairing the cell damage and Tesla Chair uses Functional Magnetic Stimulation in order to help a man get rid of ED and other sexual issues. According to Shockwave Clinics Ltd a London based specialized men’s health clinic, thousands of men have been treated with the help of these modern non-invasive treatments.

Prevention of Erectile Dysfunction

Preventing ED involves maintaining a healthy lifestyle and avoiding risk factors that can contribute to the condition. This includes quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, and managing underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Moreover, regular exercise can help improve blood flow and nerve function, reducing the risk of ED.

Conclusion

So, what have we learnt so far? We have learnt that ED is a common issue across the world and among other causes of ED, smoking is a major one. In order to get rid of ED, one must let go of smoking first. But, quitting smoking may or may not be enough for some patients. Thankfully, there are a wide range of Erectile Dysfunction treatment options available as well. Among all the treatments, non-invasive treatments like shockwave therapy, EMTT, NanoVi and Tesla Chair have gained a lot of popularity in recent times due to their non-invasive nature and ease of use.