Link Found Between
Smoking and Erectile Dysfunction

If heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers have not been reason enough for men to quit smoking, consider this: The habit also increases the risk of erectile dysfunction, according to a report in the journal Tobacco Control.

In fact, emerging research shows that men with a pack-a-day habit are almost 40 percent more likely to struggle with erectile dysfunction than men who do not smoke.

"Smoking delivers nicotine and other vasoconstrictors that close down the blood vessels" of the penis, explains Dr. Jack Mydlo, at Temple University School of Medicine and Hospital in Philadelphia.

Erectile dysfunction — also called ED or impotence — is the inability to achieve or sustain an erection on repeated occasions.

It is estimated that about two of every 100 American men have erectile dysfunction serious enough to warrant a physician's visit, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders (NIDDK). The risk of erectile dysfunction increases as men age.

Blood Vessel Constriction Occurs
A recent study of more than 8,000 Australian men between the ages of 16 and 59 found that those who smoked less than a pack a day had a 24 percent increased risk of erectile problems.

And, as the number of cigarettes smoked went up, so, too, did the chances of erectile dysfunction. Those men who averaged more than 20 cigarettes a day increased their risk of erectile dysfunction by 39 percent.

Another study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, found that male smokers in their 40s were more likely to experience erectile difficulties than older nonsmoking males.

The risk of erectile dysfunction was nearly doubled for smoking men in their 40s compared to nonsmokers in their 50s.

"Smoking, because it causes blood vessel constriction, is a very big cause of erectile dysfunction," says Dr. Larry Lipshultz, chief of male reproductive medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

Smoking is not the only cause of impotence problems — other lifestyle habits can have a big impact on men's sexual health.

Obesity, heavy alcohol consumption, and recreational drug use can all cause erectile dysfunction. And a sedentary lifestyle can also contribute to erectile problems, adds Dr. Lipshultz.

Other causes include diabetes; heart disease; cancer surgery of the prostate, bladder, colon or rectum; high blood pressure medications or antidepressants; a spinal injury; and a hormone imbalance, usually low testosterone, explains Dr. Lipshultz.

All of these conditions or lifestyle factors contribute to erectile difficulties in three major ways: by reducing blood flow, causing nerve damage, or changing the hormonal environment.

Healthy Lifestyle Helps Reduce Risk
While there are medications that can help treat erectile dysfunction, both Drs. Mydlo and Lipshultz advocate a healthy lifestyle for maintaining good sexual health.

"Take better care of yourself," advises Dr. Lipshultz. "Make sure you're not obese, eat well, exercise, and if you have diabetes or hypertension, make sure they're well-controlled."

He adds that by addressing lifestyle factors, you may not need medication to treat erectile dysfunction.

Dr. Mydlo echoes that advice, adding, "Stop smoking, drink in moderation, lose weight, and maintain good blood pressure."

Dr. Mydlo adds one more word of caution: "Don't use ED medications — Viagra, Cialis — if you don't need them. Erections that last longer than four hours - priapism - can cause permanent scar tissue and permanent impotence. It's not a good idea to use these drugs casually."

Always consult your physician for more information.

Online Resources

(Our Organization is not responsible for the content of Internet sites.)

4woman.Gov on Men's Health

American Academy of Family Physicians

American Urological Association

CDC - Men's Health

Men's Health Network

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

NIH - Men's Health Issues

Tobacco Control - Smoking and erectile dysfunction: findings from a representative sample of Australian men