Firstmed Blog

Men who smoke during their 30s and 40s double their risk of suffering from erectile dysfunction, the Observer has reported.

In addition to taking three days off work per year through illnesses and other smoking-related complaints, men who are addicted to the habit are more likely to become impotent, according to the newspaper.

It added that it takes eight hours for the nicotine and carbon monoxide levels in a smoker’s blood to reduce by half and for oxygen levels to return to normal after they stop smoking.

Last week, the British Acupuncture Council stated that acupuncture can be “very effective” for those who wish to give up smoking.

Acupuncturist Daniel Maxwell said: “With acupuncture, it helps to reduce the cravings - it doesn’t stop them but it powerfully reduces them.

“It detoxes the body of the nicotine, so that the cold turkey lasts not as long and it also rebalances the body and relaxes you.”

He added that stress is often a trigger for smoking and that acupuncture can reduce that stress.