International Men’s Day

International Men’s Day coincides with National Lung Cancer Awareness Month which motivated us to take a closer look at the smoking habits of men and more importantly what the impact of those habits might be. You may be surprised by what you read!

Generally, men tend to use all tobacco products at higher rates than women, that is smokeless tobacco and traditional smoking tobacco.

Five out of every 100 men use smokeless tobacco compared to one out of 100 women use smokeless tobacco. (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022).

It is estimated that worldwide, 36.6% of men are smokers compared to 7.5% of women (Kondo et al., 2019).
A possible explanation for this is that men’s neuro pathways are more rewarded from smoking than women’s which suggests that nicotine affects men more strongly. (National Institutes of Health, 2021). Because men are more likely to smoke for the effects of nicotine, they are much more likely to become addicted which could be the reason their tobacco use rates are so much higher.

Men also do not respond as well to short-term medications taken to help quit smoking, making the medications less effective.

Is it worth the risk?

The young male syndrome (YMS) is a term used to describe the tendency of men to take more risks during their reproductive years, which is typically from the late teens to their thirties. The syndrome is based on the idea that risky behaviour allows men to display their skills and qualities to potential mates. Smoking is an example of this kind of ‘risk-taking’ behaviour.

The kinds of risks can be different between cultures, but populations from all over the world show greater risk-taking by males, in particular around puberty and rises during adolescence, before declining when people enter their mid-20s.

For young men and boys, the health costs of risk-taking behaviour often have immediate effects, but it is the development of life-long habits that has the greatest impact on adult health. Once you are addicted to nicotine – it is difficult to break free.

How does smoking impact on men’s health?

Men who use tobacco are at increased risk for many health problems, both short-term and long-term. Smoking and tobacco use can lead to increased insulin resistance, higher blood pressure, increased risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke, and even incident heart failure. Smoking can also cause a decline in cognitive function and lead to premature memory loss for middle-aged men (Kondo et al., 2019).

Smoking will eventually decrease testosterone production. All men experience a slow decline in testosterone production as they age. A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that heavy smokers (36.5 packs or more per year) show a faster age-related decline in testosterone than non-smokers. (20 Dec 2022). Which can lead to erectile issues amongst others.

Erectile dysfunction. Smoking can cause plaque to build up in arteries, which can restrict blood flow to the genitals and make it difficult to get and maintain an erection. Men who smoke are about twice as likely to develop erectile dysfunction as non-smokers.

Fertility problems. Smoking can damage sperm DNA, which can make it harder to conceive and increase the risk of miscarriage and birth defects.

Cardiovascular disease. Smoking can damage the cardiovascular system, which can lead to heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm. Smoking is the number one risk factor for abdominal aortic aneurysm, a condition caused by a weakness in the wall of the aorta. Smokers are four times more likely to die from a ruptured aneurysm than non-smokers.

Lower urinary tract symptoms. Smokers are more likely to experience lower urinary tract symptoms, such as urgency, frequency, and nocturia.

Meningitis. Smoking is a risk factor for contracting meningitis, along with excessive drinking and upper respiratory tract infections.

Other health problems. Smoking can also lead to lung disease, ulcers, osteoporosis, and hip fracture.

What can you do about it?

Feel Good Suffolk has a range of support for you to help quit the habit and this International Men’s Day we are calling out to all male smokers to stop and consider quitting. We have one-to-one support and within the next year, we will be rolling out our ‘Stop Smoking Support Groups’ around the county. Referral couldn’t be easier – find out more here.

We also have a handy downloadable ‘Stop Smoking – Feel Good’ guide to get you thinking about changing your habits, setting goals and maximising your chances of success.

Remember that you are three times more likely to stop smoking with support!

As always if you would like to get in touch with feedback or would just like to share your story we’d be delighted to hear from you.

You can email us at feelgoodsuffolk@suffolk.co.uk care of the Feel Good Suffolk Website Team.
We’ll leave you with a quote from one of the most successful ex-male smokers, Allan Carr (no not that one)…

“To quit successfully, you need to focus on what the cigarette is doing to you. Once you understand you are not making a sacrifice, you are well on your way to freedom.”