It is no secret that bad habits do not bring health benefits, but only harm. Smoking is mistakenly considered the least dangerous 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 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 harm to blood circulation, including in the genitals.
Oxygen is the most important component of the vital activity of every cell of the human body. Red blood cells are responsible for delivering oxygen.
So, during each 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 to the systemic circulation and carry oxygen throughout the body with arterial blood flow.
After the blood cells (erythrocytes) have given 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 are released from carbon dioxide, which is excreted with exhalation.
The same process occurs when 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 4, 700 other toxic chemical 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 entire body and are the cause of the development of such diseases and pathologies:
- Brain (smoking causes headaches, irritability, insomnia, brain cancer, strokes);
- Gastrointestinal tract (violation of the digestive function, impaired appetite, severe intestinal disorder - diarrhea, gastritis, peptic ulcer);
- Vision (impaired visual acuity, amblyopia (tobacco), cataract);
- It affects the acuity of hearing - 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, heart attack, severe damage and thinning of the walls of blood vessels, edema, varicose veins, gangrene);
- The combination of smoking and potency is manifested by such pathological processes as impotence, poor sperm motility. In women, the pathology of pregnancy, fetal development, labor activity.
After reviewing this list, you should think about whether the cigarette is worthy of the risk of developing such consequences.
How does smoking affect potency?
Does smoking affect potency? Impotence in smokers is associated precisely with damage to the vessels that provide blood supply to the penis.
Moreover, the process of deterioration of the state of blood vessels is observed even in novice smokers and with passive smoking (frequent presence in smoky rooms).
Also, the oppression of the endocrine system affects the state of men's health. 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 systems of the man. But the production of testosterone (the secret produced by the prostate gland) already lacks 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 combined with the frequent use 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 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 men (impotent) realized the relationship - smoking and potency in men.
Reduced testosterone levels inhibit sexual desire, "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. So, smoking 1 pack of cigarettes daily leads to male impotence in 60% of cases.
Smoking and impotence are directly related. But also, along with erectile function, the reproductive function is also disturbed, that is, smoking worsens the quality of sperm. According to statistics, in 75% of smoking men with experience, spermatozoa 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 measures to stop 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.
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, medications. In the process of treatment, the craving for smoking decreases.
Reflexology - acupuncture at active points can boast of great popularity and good results.
This method can significantly reduce the level of dependence, as well as 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 stop smoking without outside help.
Before proceeding with the choice of treatment method, it is necessary to diagnose the health status of the smoker and the severity of nicotine addiction. The severity of addiction is determined using some psychological tests, for example, the questionnaire of 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 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 state of the man and to choose the method of his treatment.
Most often, smokers try to forget about a smoke break by 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.
In this way of eating, you can replace smoke breaks even in time. Mints and lollipops help well, as well as a nicotine patch.
Conclusion
Having given up bad habits, including smoking, the body begins to clear itself of nicotine after two hours, on day 2-3 tobacco sediment with sputum comes out of the alveoli, the circulatory system already delivers oxygen to the body, and not tobacco combustion products. The craving for nicotine subsides within a month.
Together 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 spermatozoa.
Therefore, it is worth forcing yourself to quit this addiction and improve your lifestyle qualitatively.
According to the comments of 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.