Author: Madeleine Williams, MPH - 3 min read
Reviewer: Chris Kyle, M.D.
Tobacco is a stimulant made from dried and fermented leaves. Its addictive effects come from nicotine, which triggers the adrenal glands to release epinephrine, also known as adrenaline. This activates the central nervous system and increases dopamine release, creating short-term feelings of pleasure.
Cigarette smoking remains the most common form of tobacco use, though vaping and e-cigarettes have grown in popularity. Other forms include cigars, cigarillos, pipe tobacco, shisha, and smokeless products like dip, snuff, and chew.
No matter the form, tobacco affects the body in similar ways.
How tobacco affects physical health
Smoking is one of the most harmful habits for overall health. Tobacco use damages nearly every organ in the body and significantly increases the risk of disease.
Some statistics that put the risk in perspective:
- In the United States, 1 in 5 deaths is attributed to tobacco use.
- Worldwide, about half of long-term tobacco users die from tobacco-related causes.
- Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the U.S.
Beyond lung disease, tobacco increases the risk of:
- Hypertension
- Heart disease, heart attack, and stroke
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Lung cancer, leukemia, and pneumonia
- Type 2 diabetes
Pregnant individuals who smoke face higher risks of miscarriage and premature birth, and children exposed to tobacco smoke are more likely to experience learning and behavioral challenges.
Smokeless tobacco is not a safer alternative. Products like dip and chew are linked to dental disease and cancers of the mouth, throat, head, and neck. Even short-term use can cause nausea, headaches, dizziness, and vomiting.
Why tobacco use can lead to erectile dysfunction
Tobacco is one of the most common causes of drug-induced erectile dysfunction.
Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor, meaning it narrows blood vessels. Erections depend on healthy blood flow into the penis. When blood vessels are constricted, getting and maintaining an erection becomes more difficult.
A 2006 Australian study found that heavy smokers, defined as those smoking more than 20 cigarettes per day, were 39 percent more likely to experience ED than non-smokers. When tobacco causes long-term damage to blood vessels, ED can become chronic.
Cigarette smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals. Substances such as carbon monoxide, arsenic, and acetone further impair circulation and damage the vascular lining, compounding the effects of nicotine on erectile function.
“When tobacco causes long-term damage to blood vessels, ED can become chronic.”
Occasional erectile difficulties can happen to anyone. Alcohol use, stress, or poor sleep can cause short-term issues. But frequent ED can affect confidence, relationships, and overall quality of life.
If tobacco use is contributing to ED, continuing to use it often means continuing the problem.
Are vaping and other alternatives safer?
There is no truly safe form of tobacco.
While vaping and e-cigarettes are often marketed as lower-risk alternatives, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned about vaping-associated lung injury and deaths. Importantly, vaping still delivers nicotine.
“Switching delivery methods does not eliminate the underlying problem.”
Because nicotine is the primary factor that restricts blood flow, vaping carries many of the same risks for erectile dysfunction as smoking cigarettes.
Switching delivery methods does not eliminate the underlying problem.
Can quitting improve erectile function?
In many cases, yes.
Blood vessel damage caused by tobacco use can be partially reversible, especially when quitting happens earlier rather than later. Improvements in erectile function depend on age, duration of use, and the severity of vascular damage, but stopping tobacco often leads to better circulation over time.
Nicotine addiction is powerful, and quitting is more successful with support.
Effective cessation strategies include:
- Behavioral therapy or counseling
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Nicotine replacement therapy
- Prescription medications such as varenicline (Chantix)
- Combining medication with counseling, which often works best
Letting family, friends, and partners know about your goal can also help reduce triggers and increase accountability.
The Takeaway
Smoking was once seen as cool or even attractive. Today, the health consequences are well established.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 14 percent of U.S. adults smoked cigarettes in 2019, down from 20.9 percent in 2005. That decline reflects growing awareness of the risks.
Tobacco use harms the heart, lungs, blood vessels, and sexual health. If you’re considering quitting, the benefits extend far beyond your lungs. Your circulation, energy levels, and erections are likely to improve as well.
Quitting isn’t easy, but it’s one of the most effective steps you can take for both long-term health and sexual function.
