Medical science regularly focuses on finding the information needed to keep us as healthy as possible. And along with cures for diseases and illnesses, a lot of that research focuses instead on prevention. It makes sense – preventing problems is much easier than correcting them, after all. To do so, we need to identify, understand, and avoid health risks.

One of the biggest health risks in history is certainly smoking cigarettes. This habit has been proven to directly cause or lead to heart disease, cancer, and a variety of other health issues. But at Joseph R. Giove Clinical Hypnosis, I’m surprised at how many people don’t realize the full extent of smoking and how it can impact other parts of their health.

For many, there are certain health issues that are linked to smoking that can come as a surprise. A perfect example of this is in impotence and sexual dysfunction, and it’s important to take a closer look at this problem and how smoking can impact it.

The Hard Data

First, it’s worth taking a look at the numbers related to this issue. A recent study involving over 4,700 men looked at sexual relationships and lifestyle choices. Here’s what the survey found.

• Current and former smokers were roughly 30% more likely to be dealing with impotence of some kind than those who had never smoked.

• Heavy smokers – those who smoke more than a pack a day – have a 60% higher chance of impotence, in particular erectile dysfunction.

• 15% of those who smoke or have smoked in the past reported that they have experienced erectile dysfunction at least once.

• About 12% of non-smokers reported experiencing erectile dysfunction.

But that’s just one study. Another program actually examined things like erection strength throughout the course of the study. Here’s a look at some of the numbers from that study.

• At the beginning of the study, about 20% of participants stated that they suffered from erectile dysfunction.

• When the study concluded, 75% of those who had quit smoking reported experiencing no more problems with impotence

• Those who avoided nicotine altogether developed larger and firmer erections – but these changes only came upon stopping all nicotine, not just smoking in general.

In other words, the evidence is overwhelming – smoking directly causes and worsens impotence and other sexual dysfunction problems. In addition to impacting your health in a dramatic way, it may also be hurting your sex life.

Why Does Smoking Impact Impotence?

The next thing you probably want to understand is how this happens and why smoking causes impotence at all. This isn’t difficult to understand if you take a closer look at how smoking works and how it can impact your life.

First, you’ll need to understand erectile dysfunction itself. Basically, this is a problem wherein the penis fails to fill completely with blood. When the arteries within the penis fill with blood, they expand and create an erection. Poor arterial blood supply means that an erection is difficult to attain – the more blood, the better.

But smoking impedes the blood flow within your body. The chemicals in cigarette smoke damage the blood vessels significantly. This in turn can restrict blood flow moving through them, which in turn means that there isn’t as much blood moving to the penis when there should be. Add to this the fact that smoking can weaken or damage the heart, reducing its ability to pump blood throughout the body effectively, and it isn’t hard to see just how smoking impacts impotence.

Additionally, it’s worth remembering that the blood flow moving throughout the body is dictated by the nervous system. Research shows that smoking can directly impact the nervous system as well, and as a result it can be much harder to get or maintain an erection – the brain isn’t able to properly control the blood flow, and even when it does the damaged arteries make it harder to get the erection.

Additional Health Risks

Along with outright impotence, it’s important to pay attention to the fact that smoking can impact a lot of other aspects of your health that may directly relate to sexual performance. Things like respiratory health, cardiovascular health, and more can all impact your sexual health due to their potential influence on health overall. In short, your smoking will not only directly influence your sex life, but indirectly as well.

And many of the health problems that smoking causes will also have an influence on sex. For example, something like heart disease could trigger fatigue which in turn can reduce your overall desire for sex. This is just one example.

All in all, it’s important to understand that your body is a finely tuned machine, and introducing any chemicals to it that shouldn’t be part of it will undoubtedly impact your health and the way the body performs. This includes your sexual performance.

Overcoming The Problem

Luckily, if you’re experiencing impotence as a result of smoking, there’s hope. The studies show that after smoking, impotence issues lessen dramatically and the strength of erections increase significantly. Just putting down the cigarettes is enough to start moving back towards a healthier you overall and a healthier you in the bedroom.

But, with that said, remember that the data shows that it’s not just smoking that can impact an erection – it’s nicotine itself. In other words, if you’re looking to improve your sexual performance you can’t just stop smoking by using patches, gum, or those electronic cigarettes. Instead, you need to stop nicotine use entirely.

Hypnosis is a perfect way to do so, and offers a way to stop smoking without the use of supporting nicotine. This lets you put down the smokes and start moving towards a healthier you – and a healthier sex life – naturally. Science has proven that it’s highly effective, and that it’s one of the absolute best ways to stop smoking for good.

If you’re a smoker who is dealing with erection problems it might be time to stop smoking. The impact on your life can’t be overstated, and it’s something that you can’t afford to ignore any longer.