Berlin. It is well known that smoking promotes erectile dysfunction. A study now shows that e-cigarettes – which are considered a healthier alternative for many – are also a risk factor for potency problems.
Smoking is harmful to health and can affect men’s sexuality: the words “Smoking threatens your potency” are therefore warned on cigarette packets. The reason: Smoking promotes deposits in the blood vessels, which in men can also disrupt the blood flow to the penis – and so according to the Barmer health insurance Favor erection problems. In addition, cigarette smoke can reduce the quality and quantity of sperm. Many therefore prefer to use e-cigarettes, which are considered healthier. However, a study from the USA has now shown that vaporizers also increase the risk of potency problems.
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E-smokers increase the risk of erectile dysfunction
For those in the “American Journal of Preventive Medicine“published study used data from more than 13,000 men aged 20 and over who reported erectile dysfunction in a previous study. The evaluation found that the risk of erectile dysfunction in men who smoked e-cigarettes was increased by a factor of 2.4 was higher than that of those who had never smoked an e-cigarette, so the risk of erectile problems is more than twice as high for e-smokers.
dpa / Robert F. BukatyAccording to the study, smoking e-cigarettes increases the likelihood of erectile dysfunction regardless of other risk factors.
More than half of the participants (53 percent) were former cigarette smokers, 21 percent also smoked conventional cigarettes at the same time and 14 percent used other tobacco products. For those who had previously smoked conventional cigarettes, the risk was even higher.
Nicotine reduces blood flow
There is evidence that erectile dysfunction occurs because nicotine reduces blood flow. In addition, consuming e-liquids with and without nicotine would lower testosterone levels. However, the risk of potency problems could be reduced with physical activity: “Those who were physically active on a weekly basis were less likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction than those who did not report physical activity,” the study says.
The study was the first to investigate the relationship between e-cigarette consumption and erectile dysfunction. The results suggested that smoking e-cigarettes had a negative effect on potency regardless of age and other risk factors.
The researchers stated that e-smokers should be aware of the potential risk of e-cigarettes for potency – precisely because e-cigarettes are often perceived as a healthier alternative to traditional glow sticks.