Sexuality and Smoking
Did you know that one of the most common side effects of smoking is sexual dysfunction? That’s right…decreased libido (in both genders), an inability to become aroused, and erectile dysfunction in men are frequently the result of tobacco use.
This is something that seems to dramatically contradict the “sexiness” of smoking in major media outlets. For instance, most major films (around 60%) show a major or lead character lighting up, but this person is never shown as at all disinterested in sex. In fact, they are often depicted as the personification of sexy.
Which is the more realistic image? It is the non-Hollywood concept that is most realistic. Smokers create a huge range of health problems for themselves that include circulatory issues, respiratory trouble, emotional problems and more. This is usually due to the toxicity of cigarettes and the effects of nicotine.
Nicotine heads to the reward centers of the brain, but it is an addictive substance that creates an ever-increasing demand for more and more of it. This tends to mean that a smoker is going to be far more fixated on finding a way to get their next hit of nicotine than on sexual activity with a partner.
In fact, many studies have shown that people who are heavy smokers are not usually all that happy. This is because they might experience some “pleasure” from the consumption of nicotine, but they are only actually satisfying their addiction and nothing else.
In addition to making a smoker less interested in sexual activity, smoking is also going to impair their physical ability to engage it. This is because it causes respiratory issues and leads to fatigue and exhaustion much faster than in a non-smoker. Study subjects stated that light-headedness, nausea, and being out of breath were such strong deterrents to sexual activity that they began to avoid it altogether.
This is actually a very sad set of statistics when you realize that people were choosing to continue smoking rather than enjoying their lives. This is made even more profound when you understand that the average smoker’s life is shortened by a decade or more due to their habit. This means that they are enjoying a much lower quality of life, over a much shorter period of time, while exposing themselves to serious illness.
Though a smoking cessation program is not easy or fun, the many benefits make it plain that it is the smartest choice. There are many options, and even a heavy smoker can find the right treatment.
