Everyone knows that the
deadliest result of smoking is cancer (we've all seen that nasty
commercial where the old lady talks out of that hole in her throat). But
what about all those other side effects that smoking causes -- the ones
that might not be as serious as cancer, but are pretty important
nonetheless?
Here are some of those
consequences of smoking (and why they might keep you from having lots of
sex). They just might make you think twice before lighting up.
Leathery Skin
There are few things nastier than smoker's skin. Not only is it the
cause of premature wrinkles, but the skin also gets rougher and sometimes
a bit discolored. Picture how Lindsay from the Real World Seattle looks
now -- it's not a pretty sight.
The Cause:
"The exact explanation why smoking causes wrinkling is not well
understood yet, but could be due to several factors," explains John
McKynlay of the New England Research Institute. "It has been shown
that the elastic fibers (protein contained in the connective tissue of the
skin) of a smoker's skin are thicker and more fragmented compared to the
normal skin. Because of the nicotine's effect on the blood vessels, the
dermis experiences chronic ischemia, which damages the elastic fibers and
decreases the synthesis of collagen."
In other words, the
delicate fibers that keep the skin on your face tight weaken. Not only
that, but McKynlay also notes that recent studies show that smoking has a
greater effect on facial wrinkling than sun exposure.
Ashtray Breath
This is another pretty disgusting side effect -- mainly because if
you're a non-smoker dating a smoker, you can forget about ever enjoying a
kiss. Why? Because the phrase, "It's like kissing an ashtray,"
is completely accurate. Don't believe us? Try kissing a hardcore smoker
and see for yourself.
The Cause: The
cause of ashtray breath might be a little more complicated than you think.
Sure, the inhalation of the smoke stinks the mouth up pretty bad, but it's
actually the tar and nicotine build-up on mouth surfaces such as teeth,
tongue and sides of the cheeks.
"Smoking dries
the mouth by inhibiting saliva flow. This, in turn, leads to the growth
of bacteria, causing bad breath," John Spangler, M.D., of Wake Forest
University Baptist Medical Center reports. "Smoking can also
exacerbate gum disease and sinus conditions, such as post-nasal drip, two
important bad breath risks."
Mini-Lungs
Everyone has that one friend who can't walk a flight of stairs without
panting like Oprah at an all-you-can-eat chicken and waffle hut. And while
we're on the subject, have you ever tried to have sex with a hardcore
smoker and make it last more than five minutes? It's like getting
humped by a St. Bernard.
The Cause:
"It's an old adage, but it's very true," explains thoracic
surgeon Frederic W. Gannis, M.D. "Smoking does stunt your growth --
maybe not always externally, but it's proven that children who start
smoking while their bodies are still developing generally have a slightly
smaller lung capacity."
So, smoking may cause
mini-lungs, but the main reason why smokers -- even rookie smokers --
immediately get plagued with low stamina is because polluted lungs have
major trouble letting oxygen through into the blood. That makes for slow
circulation of blood to the heart, arms and legs. It's almost exactly like
a dirty air filter on a car: The engine will still work, but you're only
going to get partial performance.
Impotence
Does this side effect really need
an explanation as to why it sucks? It's a pretty new discovery, but a
study conducted during the first few months of 2001 at Wake Forest
University Baptist Medical Center found that smokers are 26 times more
likely to go soft when it's time to get freaky than non-smokers.
The Cause:
The reason why this happens is simple: Smoking narrows the arteries.
"Smoking is one of the worst things a man can do to his body,"
says Denver urologist Lawrence Karsh, M.D. "Smoking over a period of
time can now be directly linked to the damage and blockage of blood
vessels in the penis resulting in failure to sustain erections."
Of course, if you do
enough research on the subject, you'll see that just as many experts say
that the "smoking causes impotency" controversy is a complete
lie. This may be true. You'll have to come up with your own conclusion,
but when it comes to your (or your boyfriend's) wang, do you really want
to take that chance?