For men looking for a reason to quit smoking, researchers have found a pretty good one'erectile dysfunction.
Kevin McVary, associate professor of urology at Northwestern University Medical School found strong links between smoking, coronary artery disease and impotence.
Although the underlying cause of erectile dysfunction in smokers is poorly understood, there is evidence that smoking may impair production of nitric oxide, the principal chemical messenger involved in penile erection. Nitric oxide also plays an important role in cardiovascular health and inhibition of apoptosis, or programmed cell death.
While the results of the group's study indicated that impotence is linked to smoking and its related health risks, additional basic and clinical science studies will be required to determine the exact mechanism of the smoking effect and establish clinical practice guidelines for men with erectile dysfunction.
