The research results of a study on smoking and erectile dysfunction published in the November issue of the Journal of Urology showed that smoking worsens the negative effects of coronary artery diseases and hypertension on a man's ability to achieve and maintain an erection.

Kevin T. McVary from the Northwestern University Medical School who led researchers from University of Washington and Canadian McGill University Medical School said smoking alters the ability of blood to coagulate and accelerates hypertension by promoting vasoconstriction (constriction or narrowing of blood vessels) and atherosclerosis (a disease in which fatty material is deposited on the wall of your arteries, which narrows the arteries and eventually restricts blood flow).

"The vascular system in the penis is subject to the same degenerative diseases of blood vessels in the heart, kidneys, brain and major vascular systems," he said.

Furthermore, hypertension increases the need for drugs that adversely affect erectile functioning.

The researchers said smoking could also cause erectile dysfunction by hindering the body's production of nitric oxide, which is the primary "chemical messenger" involved in penile erection.

While it is unknown how many men in Asia are suffering from erectile dysfunction, it is estimated that 1.68 million Malaysian men above the age of 40 years may be experiencing some degree of erectile dysfunction, according to Pfizer Malaysia sponsored website urology-malaysia.org.