Erectile dysfunction or male impotence is described as the lack of ability to obtain and maintain an erection for complete penetrative intercourse. It is estimated that this health problem affects about 30 million American men. Numerous studies have also indicated that men who are or were smoking in the past have a staggering 11 times higher risk of having ED compared to non-smokers.

It is believed that smoking delivers both acute and chronic impact on the erectile abilities, as both humans and animals have shown negative effects of smoking over the erectile physiology during various studies.

Male impotence is often associated with older men and is typically caused by the problems of blood circulation and blood vessel conditions. Smoking is known as a primary negative factor over these factors as it often causes the hardening and damage of veins and arteries. And we all know how sensitive erection abilities are to changes in blood circulation, especially in the penile area.

The most effective way to deal with erectile dysfunction is of course preventing it earlier. If you are a smoker and have health problems like diabetes you have an even higher risk of experiencing erectile problems. First of all, you should start controlling your blood sugar levels with corresponding diabetes treatments. You have to understand that erectile dysfunction is only a mild health problem compared to strokes and heart attacks that are often caused by smoking and circulatory issues like diabetes.

Stop smoking

Of course, it is much easier said than done, still there's no better stimulus to stop smoking than the risk of erectile issues. There are many ways you can cease smoking, the only problem will be choosing the one you like the most: drugs, patches, hypnosis, psychological treatments, etc. Remember that ED is not the only health problem caused by smoking, as there are many other more serious issues associated with nicotine addiction.

Get your sugar levels under control

In case you have blood sugar level problems or are diagnosed with diabetes, you should pay very close attention to keeping your sugar levels down. Ask your doctor how to achieve this and don't let the problem progress to a more serious form, as it will be much harder to deal with it later and even drugs like Viagra won't help you much.

Drink less alcohol

Alcohol is known to boost sex drive at the initial stage, but abusing alcohol is a sure way to have ED at a certain point of your intimacy. If you have trouble controlling your alcohol intake, you should address a healthcare professional and see what can be done about it.

Learn how to deal with stress

Stress is another negative factor that can strongly affect the quality of a man's sexual life. Excessive stress and fatigue result in the decrease of sex drive and the inability to maintain good erections. Even if you buy Viagra or any other erectile dysfunction medications there is a high risk of the problem remaining persistent, as stress is a psychological cause for ED. Learn about stress management, take some time to rest, makes sure to get enough sleep and you won't be needing any drugs like Viagra to enjoy a good sexual life.