Over the last few years, vaping has been rapidly gaining popularity as an alternative to smoking. According to an article published by Statistique Canada, approximately one in five Canadians aged 20 to 24 reported vaping in 2022. The same report revealed that approximately one in seven Canadian youth aged 15 to 19 reported vaping in the same year. While vaping might be a safer alternative to smoking, there are health risks involved, including erectile dysfunction. Does vaping cause erectile dysfunction? What can you do to prevent erectile dysfunction from vaping? Let’s explore the connection between vaping and erectile dysfunction.
What is vaping?
Vaping is an alternative to smoking. You use a vaping device to produce an aerosol mist that you inhale. This means that instead of cigarette smoke, you get aerosol mist into your lungs. A vaping device is sometimes called an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette), a vape pen, or simply a vape. These devices come in various designs, shapes, and sizes. Some are disposable while others are refillable and rechargeable. The liquid that turns into an aerosol mist is called an e-juice or e-liquid. An e-juice often contains nicotine, flavouring, and other chemicals. Some e-juices don’t contain nicotine.
So, why do people vape?
Some are trying to quit smoking.
They believe that vaping is a safer alternative to smoking.
Vaping doesn’t stain the teeth.
They want to experience smoking but hate the odour of cigarettes.
Those who want to get around anti-smoking laws.
They want to try the various flavours of e-juices.
What are the health risks of vaping?
Although many believe that vaping is a safer alternative to smoking, vaping comes with health risks. Let’s check out some of the negative effects of vaping on your health.
Nicotine dependence
Vaping can result in nicotine dependence. Although there are nicotine-free vapes, most e-liquids contain large amounts of nicotine. Nicotine is a highly addictive chemical found in cigarettes.
Some e-liquids contain extremely large amounts of nicotine, such as the Juul Pod. Juul is a popular brand name for vaping products. According to an article published by the Canadian Lung Association, one Juul Pod contains the same amount of nicotine as 20 cigarettes. This means that consuming one Juul Pod has the same effects as smoking one pack of cigarettes.
Lungs
The lungs are the primary organs that vaping affects. This is because the aerosol mist from vaping gets inhaled into your lungs. Short-term effects of vaping include chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath, and nausea. These might be signs of lung damage due to vaping.
Prolonged vaping can result in more serious lung issues. It can worsen existing lung conditions like asthma, COPD, and lung cancer. You should also consider that breathing in the harmful chemicals from e-liquids can cause irreversible damage to the lungs.
Brain
The nicotine from e-liquid can damage the brain. According to an article published by the Government of Canada, vaping nicotine can alter brain development. Nicotine is especially harmful to the brains of adolescents and young adults. Brain development continues until about the age of 25. Vaping and exposing yourself to nicotine while the brain develops can have lasting effects. It can hamper your brain’s ability to learn. Nicotine can also cause brain inflammation which can lead to the loss of memory functions.
Can vaping cause erectile dysfunction?
Aside from the various health issues already mentioned, can vaping give you erectile dysfunction? Yes, it can. According to an article published by CNN, healthy men between the ages of 20 and 65 are twice as likely to develop erectile dysfunction when they vape. According to an article published by the Government of Canada, 40% of Canadian men suffering from erectile dysfunction also smoke. Although the likelihood of developing erectile dysfunction when vaping is lower than when smoking, the risk is still present and should not be ignored.
So, how does vaping lead to erectile dysfunction? The main culprit is nicotine. Nicotine and other chemicals present in e-liquids reduce the ability of your arteries to dilate. When your arteries cannot dilate, they restrict blood flow throughout the different organs of your body, including the penis. The restricted blood flow means that you might not achieve an erection. If you do achieve an erection, it might not be as hard as usual. Or, you might not be able to maintain your erection throughout the entirety of your sexual intercourse.
Testosterone is a hormone that plays a key role in both the physical and psychological aspects of sexual arousal and erections. Testosterone increases sexual desire, which can lead to more sexual activities. Studies concerning the connection between nicotine and testosterone have shown mixed results. Some studies showed that nicotine can cause an increase in testosterone levels. Others have shown that nicotine causes lower testosterone levels. Because of the contrasting results from various studies, the best course of action is to err on the side of caution and assume that the nicotine in e-liquids can adversely affect testosterone levels.
Another thing that you need to know about vaping is that e-liquids may contain heavy metals, such as lead, nickel, and cadmium. These heavy metals get released in the vapour that vaping devices produce. Lead and cadmium exposure increases your risk of high blood pressure. High blood pressure or hypertension is a risk factor for erectile dysfunction. High blood pressure causes damage to your blood vessels. When your blood vessels are damaged, they make it harder for blood to flow to your penis, and you will have a harder time getting an erection. It is not just hypertension itself that can lead to erectile dysfunction. The medications for treating high blood pressure can cause ED. Examples of hypertension medications linked to ED include beta-blockers, thiazide diuretics, and aldosterone antagonists.
How to prevent erectile dysfunction from vaping
Now that we better understand vaping and how it can cause erectile dysfunction, the question is how do you prevent ED caused by vaping?
Quit vaping
This is the most obvious answer. It is also probably the most challenging because of how addictive nicotine can be. Going cold turkey or quitting suddenly is the hardest way. However, it is also the most beneficial because you are immediately distancing yourself from the negative effects of vaping.
If you cannot quit immediately, the next best thing is to do it gradually. Reduce your nicotine gradually. You can do this by switching to an e-liquid with less nicotine content. This step-down approach might be your best chance to quit completely. You can also try nicotine replacement therapy. This means getting nicotine from other sources aside from vaping and smoking. Nicotine patches and gums are great alternatives to sate your cravings for nicotine. If you are still having difficulty, there are support groups and smoking cessation programs you can join.
Boost your cardiovascular health
Improving your cardiovascular health is a great way to minimize vape’s damage to your blood vessels. Start by exercising regularly. You don’t have to be a gym nut to improve your cardiovascular health. 30 minutes of moderate activity each day, such as brisk walking, jogging, or cycling can be of great help.
A healthy diet can also be of great help. Make sure that your diet includes plenty of vegetables, fruits, lean meats, and whole grains. These are foods that support proper blood circulation throughout your body.
Hormonal balance
Due to the negative impact of vaping on your hormone levels, promoting hormonal balance can help you prevent developing erectile dysfunction. One way to promote hormonal balance is by maintaining an ideal weight. Obesity causes lower testosterone levels and compounds your risk of erectile dysfunction. You should also try to get enough sleep each night. Lack of quality sleep leads to lower testosterone levels and higher levels of stress hormones.
Consider other means of lowering stress
Stress reduction is one of the main reasons why people vape. If you use vaping as a coping mechanism for stress, consider healthier alternatives. Instead of vaping, try chewing gum or drinking tea instead. Candies can also be effective but you might want to go for sugar-free options to avoid the risk of diabetes.
Regular health checkups
Getting yourself checked regularly can help prevent serious health issues. Have your blood pressure and cholesterol levels checked since they can affect blood flow and result in erectile dysfunction. You can also have your testosterone level checked.
If you feel that you have erectile dysfunction, don’t hesitate to discuss it with one of our Canada-licensed doctors at Mens’ Health Clinic (MHC). One of our partner doctors can help pinpoint the exact source of your issue and help develop a customized treatment plan to address all possible causes of your ED. A customized treatment plan is more efficient than relying on pharmaceutical options that might not resolve other health issues. It can help you save time and money. An efficient customized treatment plan from MHC can help ensure that your ED gets treated immediately and that it won’t negatively affect your self-esteem and your romantic relationship.
Conclusion
Does vaping cause erectile dysfunction? Yes, it can. Should you live with erectile dysfunction just because you vape? No, you don’t. Vaping can have health implications but there are things you can do to minimize your risks. You can quit or reduce your vaping. You can also lower your nicotine intake. You can also make yourself healthier through exercise and a healthy diet. If your vaping results in ED, seek professional help. Avail of a customized treatment plan from MHC to address your ED and get you back on your feet immediately. Book a FREE consultation today!
