It's no secret that bad habits bring no health benefits, only harm. Smoking is mistakenly considered the least dangerous habit, but it's not.
After all, tobacco smoke negatively affects 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 that question.
Effects of tobacco smoke on blood vessels
Smoking and potency are incompatible things. This is due to damage to blood circulation, including 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 supplying oxygen.
Thus, during each breath in the lungs, the erythrocytes of the pulmonary circulation are saturated with oxygen molecules.
With the next heartbeat, the saturated red blood cells are sent to the systemic circulation and carry oxygen throughout the body with the arterial bloodstream.
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 they are released by carbon dioxide, which is excreted with excretion.
The same process occurs when smoking, but instead of oxygen, erythrocytes carry tobacco smoke molecules saturated with substances that are harmful to the body:
- Carbon monoxide;
- acetaldehyde;
- Nicotine;
- hydrazine;
- Ammonia;
- Benzene;
- Acetone;
- Nitrogen oxide;
- Formaldehyde;
- acrolein;
- 2-nitropropane;
- Hydrogen cyanide and approximately 4, 700 other toxic chemicals in various proportions.
Nicotine is a substance that leads to addiction and the development of addiction to smoking.
Toxic substances from tobacco also affect the circulatory system.
Thus, the products of smoking affect the deposition of cholesterol in the blood vessels, provoke the density of the blood, that is, the risk of thrombosis increases.
Tobacco smoke severely constricts blood vessels, reducing 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 cancer, stroke);
- Gastrointestinal tract (violation of digestive function, impaired appetite, severe intestinal disturbance - diarrhea, gastritis, peptic ulcer);
- Vision (reduced visual acuity, amblyopia (tobacco), cataracts);
- Affects hearing acuity - hearing loss;
- Teeth (yellow plaque, tooth loss, gum disease);
- Nail plates with a yellow tint;
- Skin (dark circles under the eyes, greyish 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 is manifested by pathological processes such as impotence, poor sperm motility. In women, the pathology of pregnancy, fetal development, work 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 supply the blood supply to the penis.
In addition, the process of deterioration of the state of blood vessels is observed even in novice smokers and with secondhand smoke (frequent occurrence in smoky rooms).
In addition, the oppression of the endocrine system affects the health 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 systems of 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 smoking. Of course, both stress and alcoholic beverages also affect male strength, but smoking isn't the last. Quitting smoking can restore normal erections over time.
Statistics
How does smoking affect potency? According to statistics, out of 120, 000 middle-aged men (28-52 years old) interviewed 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 testosterone levels inhibit sexual desire, "libido" is reduced to almost zero. This problem should lead a man to the idea of discovering the reason that has damaged the potency.
And one of the main causes of erectile dysfunction is the influence of smoking. Hence, smoking 1 pack of cigarettes a day leads to male impotence in 60% of cases.
Smoking and impotence are directly related. But also, along with the erectile function, the reproductive function is also disturbed, that is, smoking worsens the quality of sperm. According to statistics, in 75% of experienced smoking men, spermatozoa are unable 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.
To get rid of nicotine addiction, a smoker with an impressive experience lacks willpower, and withdrawal syndrome is manifested by a significant deterioration in health.
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 the psychological and physical components.
The psychological factor of nicotine addiction is eliminated by hypnotherapy, psychotherapy, reflexology, drugs. In the treatment process, the desire to smoke decreases.
Reflexology - acupuncture in active points can boast 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 to be stronger than alcohol or drug addiction. 60% of male smokers need professional help. Only 5% of long-term smokers quit smoking successfully and completely without outside help.
Before proceeding with the choice of treatment method, it is necessary to diagnose the health of the smoker 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 need to smoke or are there withdrawal symptoms?
These data are enough to find out the true state of man and to choose the method of treatment of him.
Most often, smokers try to forget a smoking break by replacing them with snacks. In this case, it is necessary to monitor the calorie content in order not to gain 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, smoking breaks can also be replaced over time. Mind and lollipop help well, as does a nicotine patch.
Conclusion
Having given up bad habits, including smoking, the body begins to get rid of nicotine after two hours, on day 2-3 the tobacco sediment with sputum comes out of the alveoli, the circulatory system already supplies the body with oxygen, and not the combustion of tobacco products. The craving for nicotine disappears within a month.
Together with the restoration of the structure of the walls of blood vessels, it improves the blood circulation of all organs and systems, including the penis, which means that quitting smoking helps to normalize the potency and quality of spermatozoa.
Therefore, it is worth striving to give up this addiction and qualitatively improve one's lifestyle.
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 enough for the complete cleansing of the body and the gradual restoration of all functional abilities.