Men who use e-cigarettes twice as likely to suffer erectile dysfunction, study ...

Men who use e-cigarettes twice as likely to suffer erectile dysfunction, study ...
Men who use e-cigarettes twice as likely to suffer erectile dysfunction, study ...

Men who vape or use e-cigarettes are more than twice as likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction, a new study has suggested.

American researchers surveyed nearly 14,000 men over the age of 20 and found those who used the devices had a 2.4 times higher chance of impotence than non-smokers.

While the study did not prove the link, the experts believe a high level of nicotine in vaping liquid reduces blood flow to the penis by hampering the ability of blood vessels to dilate.

And even fluids without nicotine contain chemicals that may reduce the amount of testosterone circulating in the body, researchers say.  

The team, from New York's Grossman School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins University, said men should be warned about the potential impact vaping could have on their love life — as England gets ready to become the first country in the world to prescribe e-cigarettes to help smokers quit.

About one in five men in the UK and US are believed to suffer from impotence and with it becoming more common as men age, with over half of cases in the over 50s. 

Men who use e-cigarettes or vapes could be twice as likely to have problems getting or maintaining an erection according to a new study (stock image)

Men who use e-cigarettes or vapes could be twice as likely to have problems getting or maintaining an erection according to a new study (stock image)

Traditional smoking has been long established as cause of erectile dysfunction due to the chemicals contained in tobacco products, such as nicotine, damaging the blood vessels connected to the penis. 

While vaping is generally considered healthier than traditional smoking  scientists have recently been exploring a possible relation between the sexual health problems and e-cigarette products.

WHAT IS IMPOTENCE?

Erectile dysfunction, also known as impotence, is when a man is unable to get or maintain an erection.

It is more common in the over-40s but affects men of all ages.

Failure to stay erect is usually due to tiredness, stress, anxiety or alcohol, and is not a cause for concern.

However, it can be a sign of an underlying medical condition such as high blood pressure or cholesterol, side effects of medication, or hormonal issues.

Lifestyle factors than can affect the condition include obesity, smoking, cycling too much, drinking too much, and stress. 

Source: NHS Choices 

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Lead author of the latest study, Dr Omar El Shahawyl, said the findings indicated that, vapers were more likely to suffer erection problems than non-vapers, even considering previous smoking history.  

'Our analyses accounted for the cigarette smoking history of participants, including those who were never cigarette smokers to begin with, so it is possible that daily e-cigarette vaping may be associated with higher odds of erectile dysfunction regardless of one’s smoking history,' he said.

With vaping on the rise as a healthier alternative to smoking, Dr Shahawyl said more research was needed to explore any potential consequences on men's sexual health.

'We need to fully investigate the relationship between vaping products and erectile dysfunction, and potential implications for men’s sexual health,' he said.

'Our findings underscore the need to conduct further studies to contextualize the e-cigarette use pattern that is relatively safer than smoking.'

The research was based on the a survey, with the 13,711 original participants later narrowed down to 11,207 with no prior cardiovascular disease diagnosis. 

In both groups men who used e-cigarette products were twice as likely to experience erectile dysfunction, 2.2 times more likely in the larger sample size and rising to 2.4 times as likely in the sample without cardiovascular disease. 

Almost half of all participants were former cigarette smokers, 21 per cent were current cigarette smokers, and 14 percent used vapes and e-cigarettes.  

In total, 10 per cent of all men in the sample reported experiencing erectile dysfunction.

One limitation of the study was that it based on self-reporting meaning that the results may be influenced by men lying on the questionnaire. 

The authors also did not state whether the risk erectile dysfunction for people who use vapes and e-cigarettes was higher or lower than that of traditional smoking. 

The researchers, who published their findings in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine said they next plan to examine if different types of electronic nicotine delivery devices have differing affects on erectile dysfunction and if it can be reversed by stopping.  

Vaping damages DNA and raises risk of cancer study claims — but it's not as bad as traditional smoking 

Vaping damages people's DNA in the same way as smoking normal cigarettes — but to a lesser degree — a study warned today.

These biological changes can cause diseases such as cancer, according to the University of Southern California study.

Vaping

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