Smoking causes impotence

JAKARTA (JP): An Australian health expert warned Saturday that smoking and drinking alcohol may lead to impotence and premature ejaculation.

Antara quoted Jack Vaisman of Sydney as saying during a break in a seminar on new treatment for impotence and premature ejaculation, that medication for hypertension, diabetes, and ulcers may also cause sexual problems among men.

Another speaker at the seminar was Bambang Sukamto.

He quoted United States research which says that more than 10 percent of men of various age groups suffer from impotence. The study also says that 80 percent of men experience such problems at some stage in their life.

Vaisman said a disturbance in blood flow is the cause of sexual dysfunction, a condition that often causes shame, inferiority or a feeling of worthlessness.

The expert also highlighted a shift in the treatment of impotence. In the 1970s, most health experts attributed the condition to psychological problems. Today, it is acknowledged that many impotence cases are caused by physical problems, especially the reduced quality of veins in the penis.

Vaisman recommended medication that helps the blood flow, accompanied by counseling.

Bambang said between 50 and 100 Indonesians travel to Australia every month to seek help for impotence. These days, several Indonesian doctors in Jakarta, Surabaya and Bandung already have the skills to treat impotence following training with Vaisman.

"Patients of impotence no longer need to seek help abroad, as it only wastes money. Seek treatment here, with cheaper costs and similar results," Bambang said. (swe)