Smoking, in many cases, is regarded as a coping strategy. Many smokers tend to smoke a cigarette to cope from a stressful situation. Have you ever heard someone grab their cigarette to get out of a room the moment tension ensues? It is a means of escape for many, but the addicting habit almost always never leaves people who start smoking.
Furthermore, smoking is not only correlated with stress but with mental health issues. From a study that was published in Psychological Medicine journal in 2019, it was found that people who got into the habit of smoking were nearly two times at risk of developing schizophrenia or depression, compared to people who don’t smoke.
There seems to be an undeniable link between mental health and smoking. The American Lung Association further states that the nicotine dependence of those with mental health conditions are 2-3x higher than the general population. And people with a history of depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues are also more predisposed to smoke more frequently.
The link between smoking and mental health conditions appears to be a vicious one underscored by the presence of stress. Many smokers use smoking to self-medicate and ease stressful feelings when they feel unable to cope or are out of control. Smoking tends to be classified as an emotion-focused coping mechanism, wherein the activity is conducted out of an attempt to reduce the emotional distress from a particular stressor.
In the same way that individuals turn to smoking, it in turn affects their mental health states and brings to light common concerns like addiction, depression, schizophrenia, and stress, among others. Once one falls into the rabbit hole, it becomes doubly challenging to get out and regain one’s sense of balance.
Smoking and Mental Illnesses Among Adults in the United States
Although smoking is one of the most preventable leading causes of illness and death, it remains a primary health hazard and concern in the United States. This concern mainly points to those people who are mentally vulnerable.
In a really shocking data reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people with mental illness in the United States who account for 25% of the entire adult population, appear to be consuming 40% of all the cigarettes sold in the market.
Even more significantly, those people receiving mental health treatments have very low cessation rates (the key metric used to describe percentage of smokers who quit the habit successfully) compared to those who are not mentally challenged or seeking mental health treatment.
In 2019, US adults reported very high smoking rates amongst people with mental illness and who similarly demonstrated greater impairment in mental function. People with mental illness aren’t only more likely to smoke and abuse substances, but they are more frequent smokers and have smoked a greater number of cigarettes compared to those without mental health disorders. There’s roughly 70-85% of people diagnosed with schizophrenia who smoke, and 50-70% of people diagnosed with bipolar disorder are known to be smokers.
Impotence and Smoking
Smoking isn’t only common amongst people with mental illnesses, but multiple studies also reveal another negative consequence brought by the habit of smoking cigarettes and tobacco: impotence.
Impotence or erectile dysfunction is the inability of a man to achieve and sustain an erection. It can be one of the most common but least talked about matter in the locker room for obvious reasons. Yet, no matter how common erectile dysfunction can be for men, with nearly more than half of the male population aged 40-70 experiencing E.D., it can still affect men’s health in a variety of ways.
Smoking tobacco or cigarettes is one of the main causes of impotence. Multiple studies tell us that men who are able to successfully kick the cigarette habit, also achieved better erections and could even reach maximum sexual arousal five times greater than those who do not manage to quit smoking.
Smoking does not only affect male potency, but from a BJUI Journal published in 2016, it appears to do more damage to male sperm as compared to non-smokers. The study confirmed that men who smoke had greater damage to their sperm, partly due to inflammation that’s evident in their testes, caused by the smoking habit. Furthermore, smoking affected men’s sperm by causing a DNA fragmentation. At worst, due to damaged sperm, men could ultimately have problems with their fertility and experience difficulties in conceiving.
However, another 2011 study on smoking and impotence, further disclosed that, out of 20% male participants who suffered from erectile dysfunction, 75% of them managed to quit smoking and simultaneously were able to treat their condition. By quitting smoking, a high percentage of men appeared to regain better sexual health.
Smoking not only damages men’s sperm, but also the blood vessels, preventing blood flow from circulating during sexual activity. This blockage primarily causes erectile dysfunction.
Not only is smoking a leading cause of E.D. but both are also closely linked with the condition atherosclerosis or a plaque build-up within one’s arteries. Needless to say, smoking causes loads of circulatory problems throughout the body.
Key Takeaways
Smoking remains one of the major, but preventable leading causes of illnesses and death worldwide. In some really shocking data, it appears that smoking is also highly associated with people suffering from a variety of mental illnesses including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder, among others.
One of the most addictive activities to indulge in, smoking is a hard habit to break once started. This is an even more problematic situation for people with mental health conditions, who hardly possess sufficient self-regulation capabilities. Regardless, mentally ill people are also predisposed to turning to smoking and smoke more cigarettes than those who are not mentally ill or going through mental health treatments.
With smoking appearing to be a common habit amongst those struggling mentally, it is also closely linked to impotence and male infertility. Smoking is one of the major causes of erectile dysfunction in men. Smoking, mental health conditions, and erectile dysfunction all appear to be looped within a vicious cycle, ultimately affecting and causing these problems to surface. But there is hope after all, such that if only men manage to quit smoking, there is a higher chance for them to regain their health and no longer experience erectile dysfunction.
Erectile dysfunction or impotence can be one of the most common sexual dysfunctions known to men and in most cases, they can be caused by a person’s lifestyle. If smoking mainly causes E.D., by quitting smoking, there’s a huge chance that someone can reverse their condition by natural means.
Don’t underestimate the power of choosing a healthier lifestyle and gaining more control over your health. In some cases, E.D. could demand more than a shift in lifestyle, and a need for medical attention. Don’t be afraid to consult your physician if problems such as impotence, addiction, and chronic stress bother you.
Thrones Health, a US-based telemedicine company, services men suffering from conditions like premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, and hair loss, among others. This is your sign to seek consultation from your doctor at the convenience of your own homes and privacy. With discreet delivery of products, nobody else has to know what bothers you, as long as your physician does and as long as you’re doing the best you can for your health moving forward.
Don’t take your health for granted. Get started with an online consultation at Thrones Health today.
