Back in the 50’s, smoking was a common, every day occurrence, with everyone from your pregnant wife to your doctor lighting up whenever the craving struck. These days, the adverse health effects of smoking are well documented, so less and less people are picking up the habit. However, there are still millions of smokers out there, and many of them are men. While lung cancer and heart disease are commonly associated with smoking, there are many other health issues that can strike when you’re on a pack-a-day habit. In fact, if you smoke, you may be doing serious damage to your erection.
You see, your erection is entirely reliant upon a set of arteries to supply the penis with blood. When your brain transmits the command to the penis to become erect, blood is pumped through these arteries constantly, allowing the penis to stand at attention. When blood flow is slowed, your penis won’t be able to get the supply of blood it needs to keep an erection, which leads to erectile dysfunction.
Smoking is notorious for causing the blood vessels to narrow. When your blood vessels narrow, blood flow will slow, causing your body to work harder to supply less blood. When arteries narrow, the smaller arteries in the body are typically the first to be affected. Some of the smallest arteries in the body lead directly to the penis, so when smoking narrows your blood vessels, the arteries your erection depends upon will be the first to go.
That’s not to say a lifetime smoking habit is an absolute guarantee that you’re going to lose your erection. If you want to save your erection, quit smoking. Cut cigarettes out of your life, and make positive lifestyle changes. Studies have found that abstaining from cigarettes for as little as two weeks can lead to serious improvements in sexual health. So do yourself a favor and ditch the smokes. Your erection will thank you.