Among the side effects of smoking, erectile dysfunction is rarely discussed. Sure, we understand that smoking increases our risk of developing cancer, dealing with heart disease, and causing our untimely demise, but trouble in the bedroom? No way!
Shockingly, new data suggests that men who smoke two-dozen cigarettes or more during their waking hours are 60% more likely to experience trouble in the bedroom. If there was ever a reason for men to quit smoking, the inability to maintain or achieve erections is by far the most prominent. If you’re debating whether you should quit smoking, here is the reasons why you should end smoking immediately.
Smoking Damages the Cardiovascular System, Making Erections a Rarity
The male sex organ and the cardiovascular system intertwine in a delicate dance that generates the male libido. To understand this, think of the hose outside of your home. If your hose clogs with dirt and debris, watering your plants not only becomes a difficult challenge, but you’re likely to wind up soaked in the process.
Similarly, excess smoking floods the veins and arteries with a substance called amyloid plaques. These plaques line the interior walls of the arterial system, making it a challenge to pump oxygen-rich blood throughout the system.
Moreover, the prolonged buildup of amyloid plaques leads to a life-threatening disease: atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is “when the arteries thicken and obstruct blood flow to the body.” If left untreated, this can take a patient’s life in the blink of an eye.
However, these issues affect more than the heart; atherosclerosis negatively impacts all cardiovascular systems, including the arteries and capillaries that supply blood to the sex organs. And to rewind to our fourth-grade sexual education class: a healthy supply of blood is needed to achieve an erection and maintain its integrity during intercourse. From this vantage point, we can see why most male smokers suffer in silence from feelings of inadequacy and sexual dissatisfaction.
How Long Until My Erections Come Back?
For men who’ve dropped smoking for good, expect your manhood to return in 3 to 6 months. From this vantage point, the next logical question is, “will testosterone increase after quitting smoking?”
Smoking compromises the integrity of the endocrine system — the set of organs responsible for maintaining adequate hormone production and regulation. When you smoke, you disrupt the processes of your endocrine system. After a smoker decides to drop their pastime once and for all, testosterone levels stabilize within a year.
How Can I Increase My Stamina After Quitting Smoking?
Quitting smoking can help boost your stamina back into its original form. And before you ask, “does quitting smoking increase size?” As mentioned earlier, both of these benefits come when the health of your cardiovascular system improves and oxygenated blood pushes into your reproductive system.
Since the arterial integrity of your member is devoid of extensive plaque buildup, the additional flow into the organ will give the appearance of a larger erection. Although this is only a temporary illusion, a 10% or 15% size increase from optimal blood flow is typical for ex-smokers.
Moreover, the boost in stamina gives men a newfound appreciation for their romantic lives. Think of blood cells as microscopic delivery drivers: On the bed of each driver’s truck is an oxygen molecule, ready to be delivered to various locations throughout the body. When you become stimulated or, in this case, have sex, your lungs, muscles, and reproductive organs need additional oxygen to deal with stress placed upon your system.
When we quit smoking, we allow more hypothetical drivers to reach their destination, thus boosting our stamina and ability to perform longer. For men who want to reclaim their sexual prowess and “move on” with their lives, quitting smoking is a step in the right direction.