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Topics: Vaping, Health, World News, US News, Sex and Relationships
Liv Bridge
Topics: Vaping, Health, World News, US News, Sex and Relationships
Vaping certainly has its pitfalls for your health, but a doctor has revealed the nasty habit can have an undesirable effect on intimacy in the bedroom too.
It's no secret that vaping isn't exactly a good decision for our health, even if research into the long-term effects is still in its infancy.
Despite this, users continue to share their own personal horror stories from e-cigarettes, like a teen who almost died from 'brain swelling' after sharing her vape and another 17-year-old who had to have surgery to remove part of her lung as a result of the habit.
And it's not just youngsters who are keenly feeling the side effects, with one New York mom reportedly being unable to lie down without 'suffocating' while a 34-year-old man from Pennsylvania 'never woke up' after suffering a cardiac arrest believed to have been from vaping.
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Yet despite the concerning anecdotes, countless Americans have turned to e-cigarettes as a way to give up tobacco for good, though even this is under review as scientists are yet to determine if vaping may actually be 'more dangerous' than cigarettes.
Some research even suggests the electronic devices could be more addictive than traditional cigarettes.
Now, however, there's another blow for vape fans - this time in the bedroom.
According to doctor Sophie Dix at the online pharmacy MedExpress, evidence suggests vaping is having a direct consequence on male performance when getting intimate - and at a staggering rate.
She says reports indicate a 20.7 percent prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) among daily vapers while further observations suggest non-vapers have a 38.1 percent higher sperm count.
Doctor Dix added: "It is important to note that those who may have been concerned about their fertility due to long-term vape use need not worry, as the regeneration of sperm is on average around 74 days.
"This means that ceasing the use of vaping altogether could lead to the production of healthier sperm in less than three months."
However, the threat of ED is perhaps more prominent as another study in New York found vaping doubled the risk of the condition in men age 20 and older, with a survey of 13,700 men finding that they were more than twice as likely to suffer the condition when using e-cigarettes every day, as opposed to those who had never vaped.
ED is a common side effect among smokers too, due to the effects of nicotine on the vascular system, though the researchers found the higher chances of ED in regular vapers a surprise.
Doctor Dix is now urging people to quit the habit, not just for the sake of their health but also their sex lives.
On her list of top tips to ditch the habit she recommends finding alternatives.
"Good techniques could include chewing gum, snacking on nutritious foods, or potentially using a stress ball to keep your hands busy," she said.
The doc also says to identify possible triggers, like scrolling on social media or specific environments, and replace them with other techniques, and to incorporate more physical activity in your lifestyle which can help 'reduce cravings' and withdrawal symptoms.
She added: “Quitting vaping is a lifestyle change that might seem like a daunting process to conquer. Gradually reducing your nicotine intake over time instead of switching to another form of nicotine can be a great solution to easing the process.”