Well, as if smoking wasn’t already plenty bad for your health, more studies are showing the long-term ill effects of smoking cigarettes. It’s been known for some time now that cigarette smoking hardens blood vessels, making them more brittle and prone to damage. To a point, the damage is irreversible.

Despite these health risks, it seems that people continue to pick up this nasty habit. It is expensive and provides absolutely no health benefits, there is no rational reason to smoke cigarettes. I guess it fits into the category of people who wear sunglasses indoors

Today’s Sunday Sex Sizzler brings home the point a little harder . . . or not

Smoking Damages Penile Blood Vessels

The shaft of the penis contains three sponge-like chambers that can fill with blood and cause an erection. Blood is pumped into the penis under great pressure, which causes an erection. Valves in the penis prevent blood from leaving the penis and maintain the erection. Damage to the blood vessels in the penis can interfere with this process and make erections difficult or impossible. Finnish researchers- in a ten year study- found that smoking damages penile blood vessels and increases the incidence of erectile dysfunction (ED). Men over 50 who smoked and developed blood vessel disease were 50 percent more likely to develop ED during the study. Smokers who didn’t develop blood vessel problems were less likely to have erection problems. ED may be a symptom of serious heart disease and should be followed up with a thorough medical exam. (Urology, 68: 1318-1322, 2006)

Is your soldier not snapping to attention? Before you jump the gun and pop that little blue pill, perhaps you should hit the gym instead. If you wanna be hard, it takes hard work.

Shortcuts with pills that promise a bigger, longer and harder erection usually falls short of their claims (pun intended).

This edition of Sunday Sex Sizzler provides medical research that supports the theory that erectile dysfunction has more to do with your health & fitness level than your age.

Lack of Exercise Makes Men Go Limp

Fitness and metabolic health are the keys to good sex because they provide physical and mental benefits. Metabolically fit men can control blood flow that gives them erections on demand, staying power for prolonged, wild sex and hormone regulation that maximizes desire, instills confidence and maintains control. Sex problems, such as trouble getting erections, reduced sexual desire or lack of energy for sex, are surprisingly common in 20-, 30- and 40-something men. That accounts the mega sale of sex-boosting drugs like Viagra and Cialis. What most guys don’t understand is that small lifestyle changes can do more for your sex life than a reservoir of erection-promoting pills. Americans want it easy: Why exercise if you can get the same results from a pill? A two-year study at the Cologne University Medical Center found that endurance exercise was just as effective as Viagra for treating erectile dysfunction(ED) in middle-aged men. Erection problems often stem from abnormalities in the cells lining the blood vessels. Healthy cells secrete a chemical called nitric oxide, which is very important for delivering blood to the penis and other tissues. Blood vessels of obese, out-of-shape men lose their capacity to control blood flow and get healthy erections. Researchers from Johns Hopkins Medical School showed that men who watched television 5 or more hours per day increased their risk of erectile dysfunction by 300 percent. In the past, ED was a problem of middle and old age. The national obesity and diabetes epidemic is making the problem more prevalent in younger men aged 20 through 40. Stay active if you want to stay hard! (American Journal Medicine, 128:151-157, 2007; paper presented at European Association of Urology, April 2003)

The gym has long overtaken the supermarket as the place for men and women to hook-up. Hell, I get more attention from women at the gym than I ever did in nightclubs. It’s always been my theory that when men work-out we release more pheromones (the stuff that makes women go Ga-Ga) through sweating and vigorous movement. Pheromones have no odor, if you stink up like an oxen it may counteract the benefits. So you stinkers out there should still stock up on the deodorant and maybe even consider taking a shower before a workout if you wanna be a lady-slayer in the gym

This Sunday Sex Sizzler shows that some research may back up some of my theories. So if you’re not sweating at the gym, not only are you not getting much of a workout, you may not be getting any poontang either.

Male Sweat makes Women Hot

Don’t cover up your natural body odor with overpowering colognes and aftershaves. Scientists from the University of California, Berkeley found that male sweat contains chemicals that trigger sexual arousal and excitement in women. The odor of sweat increases production of the adrenal hormone androstenedione (made famous by home-run slugger Mark McGwire), which triggers physiological and psychological changes in women that turns them on. Twenty-one women sniffed from a jar containing either male sweat or baker’s yeast while watching a relaxing nature video. The researchers monitored heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, skin temperature and fidgeting while the women watched 5-minute videos that were funny, sad or erotic followed by a 10-minute neutral video. Mood, sexual arousal and stress hormones (cortisol) were greatest after the women sniffed the male sweat. The take-home message from this study is that sweat turns women on more than baker’s yeast. (Journal of Neuroscience, 27: 1261-1265, 2007)

You Can Be a Lion in the Bedroom

Sex is very important to most men. We think about it every day, purchase sex-enhancing supplements by the boatload, and have made porno movies and other adult products a $10 billion a year industry. The National Bureau of Economic Research found that good sex is central to happiness in men and women. If sex is so important, why do so many men neglect the thing that makes good sex possible – their bodies? Duke University Medical Center researchers found that obesity, smoking and physical inactivity were the most significant contributing factors to erectile dysfunction (ED). They examined more than 22,000 men who reported no significant erection problems in 1986 and surveyed them again in 2000. Compared to normal-weight men, ED was 20 percent greater in overweight and 70 percent greater in the obese. Past smokers were 10 percent more likely to have ED while current smokers increased their risk by 70 percent. Regular physical activity cut the risk of ED by 30 percent. Lions in the bedroom don’t smoke, but maintain a normal weight and get plenty of exercise. (Nature Clinical Practice Urology, 4: 16-17, 2007)

BOING! SCHWING! Lol, Viagra has changed our generation in ways we cannot comprehend. All of a sudden that cranky, old neighbor couldn’t wipe that smile off his face, old marriages were revived, infidelity increased when men realized they could still sleep with women other than their wives and women realized their hunky neighbor’s plumbing still worked, the sex trade flourished and condom sales witnessed an all-time high.

But can Viagra help with exercise? Technically, increased blood flow to the muscles can increase maximum lift capacity for weight lifters. I don’t know how I’d feel about working out with a big hard-on though, might get in the way and cause some serious injury Pfizer, the maker of the blue pill, is trying to persuade the Food and Drug Administration to allow Viagra to be sold over-the-counter with their argument of it’s fitness enhancing qualities. Welcome to another edition of Sunday Sex Sizzler!

Over-the-counter Sales of Viagra Unlikely

Viagra has been wildy successful since its introduction by Pfizer in 1998, with yearly sales of $1.2 billion. Viagra sales are down, so the drug giant is seeking new ways to make money from the famous bluepill. For example, the company funded a study at Stanford University showing Viagra increased exercise capacity at altitude (Journal Applied Physiology, 100: 2031-2040, 2006). Pfizer would like to sell Viagra over the counter. However, the Food and Drug Administration is unlikely to approve this because of the drug’s side effects. In some people, Viagra can cause sudden loss of vision, dangerously low blood pressure and erections lasting more than 4 hours. It can be deadly if taken with other drugs, such as nitroglycerin. Erection problems in middle-aged and older men suggest poor metabolic health and coronary artery disease. The risk of dangerous drug interactions would increase because men who take Viagra also take other drugs to treat their health problems. (Newsday, Jan. 12, 2007)

Americans love sex surveys. Beta Research Corporation, a New York-based market research company, found that we’re a sexy bunch, but our sexual activities vary by gender, age and even political party. Nearly 60 percent of technology-savvy Americans use cell phones, BlackBerrys or PDAs to help them hook up. Republicans like the woman on top, while Democrats like it doggy style. Women are more sexually adventurous than before, with 35 percent willing to have sex on airplanes, 20 percent surfing the net regularly for porn and 35 percent admitting to extramarital affairs. Forty-five percent of women over 40 sport a natural bush, while 84 percent of women in their 20s prefer the newborn-baby look. men value looks when searching for a partner, while women value kindness. There were few landslide preferences in any area, so it’s possible to find a 23-year-old Republican woman with lush pubic hair who likes porn, doesn’t own a cell phone and wants it doggy style. (New York Post, Jan. 17, 2007)

Alrighty folks, here’s another Sunday Sex Sizzler! This week are some hot tips for first date success. Although this write-up is geared more towards guys I’m sure a lot of the tips below can be equally spread across the board for women as well. Unless you’re a gold-digger

Taboo Topics on the First Date

First dates are a lot like job interviews: you try to make a good impression and be on your best behavior. It’s difficult to let your hair down and be yourself. You can’t change that and have to follow the rules. Penthouse summarized 10 first-date conversation killers that will quickly send you to the cemetery of forgotten men.

• Religion: This topic conjures up repressed feelings she learned in Sunday school. Avoid this if you want things to go further that night.
• Politics: Images of George W. Bush do not make women think of crazy sex.
• Weather: This topic is boring and ordinary and won’t separate you from the pack.
• Childhood hang-ups: You’re an adult; act like one. Women like strong, tough guys, not wimps.
• Family: You want her to think of you, not your dysfunctional relatives.
• Your ex: If you aren’t over her, don’t date (or at least don’t talk about her). Women want a clear field.
• Money: Talking about money shows no class. If you have money, you come across as materialistic. If you’re poor, she’ll see you as a poverty-stricken loser who will try to use her.
• Death: Women look to the future when shopping for men. Talking about death signifies there may be no future.
• Health: Women want guys at the top of the gene pool. Aches and pains signify weakness.

Be confident, witty and cocky. Listen intently to what she says and ask questions. You can avoid first-date minefields. (Penthouse, Jan. 2007)

In this installment of Sunday Sex Sizzler, I guess the latest in chemical aids has swung from the mainstream of sports, to even affecting the porn industry. And current undisputed porn queen Jenna Jameson has something to say about it! Considering she’s dating UFC champ Tito Ortiz, not many are disputing her complaints.

Jenna Blasts Male Porn Stars

Many of baseballs’s great home run hitters have been criticized for possible steroid use. Some baseball fans feel their exploits on the playing field were less worthy because they were chemically aided. Porn stars are the latest victims of chemical prejudice. Porn queen Jenna Jameson criticized male porn stars for relying on Viagra to make it through grueling sex scenes. We feel that Jenna is overly harsh toward her male co-stars a doesn’t appreciate basic biological differences between men and women. While a star of her magnitude can say, “I want what I want when I want it,” male porn stars without Viagra would have to say, “You’ll get what I got when I get it!” (New York Post, Dec. 29, 2006)

Guys, think you know how to turn a lady on? Think again. It’s long been known that women are a lot more cerebral when it comes to attraction than men are. We’ve all seen it: the mediocre, pudgy dude with the hot girlfriend. Our first instinct is to look to see what car he’s driving But sometimes things just don’t add up and guys just have to realize that being an underwear model isn’t all that. Kinda gives us dot com geeks a chance after all. Now I just gotta find a hottie who’s impressed with my knowledge of Star Trek trivia:) Here’s this week’s installment of Sunday Sex Sizzler!

What Turns Women On?

The sex drive is a complicated process in women. Masters and Johnson said that women begin their sexual response with desire, leading to arousal, orgasm and satisfaction of the initial desire. Scientists now see the female sexual response as a far more complicated process requiring a combination of physical changes (e.g., increased vaginal blood flow and lubrication, elevated breathing and heart rate, uterine contractions) and psychological factors (e.g., status of the relationship, stress, fantasy, imagination). Blood androgen levels (e.g., testosterone) are central to stimulating sexual desire at the physical and emotional levels. University of Texas researchers found that sexual arousal was complex in women and included psychological cues linked to emotional bonding, erotic stimulation, visual images and romance. The most significant cues in order of importance were: support from the partner, watching erotic movies, feeling love and commitment with a partner, reading about sex, watching people involved in sexual activity and “dirty talking”. Surprisingly, conventional wisdom about female erotic cues was off the mark. Cues that men think turn women on – such as pleasant-smelling colognes, romantic dinners, watching sunsets, seeing a well-toned body, laughing with a romantic partner and acting confident – were less important than emotional bonding cues. The study showed large perceptual differences between the sexes regarding what turns women on. (Journal Sexual Medicine, 3: 838-852, 2006)

Curious what all the ladies reading this think . . .

Does Size Matter?

“Is that a gun in your pocket, or are you just glad to see me?” Mae West said what women have thought since time immortal: the penis is central to male-female attraction.  Does size matter?  The answer isn’t simple and can vary during different periods of a woman’s life.  Most women have preferences about penis size based on experience (limited or extensive), size of the vagina and lovemaking style of their partner.  Most men also believe that women are obsessed about penis size and use it as an important measure of sexual prowess.  In fact, most women rate genital size way down on the list of things they look for in a man.  Although some women prefer to have sex with a man who has a large penis, penile length and circumference aren’t good predictors of how satisfying a sexual experience will be.  Women need more than the stimulation of a large, fleshy shaft for arousal.  Maximum sexual stimulation also depends on social, environmental and internal stimulation.  To many women, the joy of sex comes from closeness, caressing and kissing rather than from orgasms induced by a large penis.  These factors are often more important to women than intercourse or orgasms, which is usually not the case for men.   (Playboy, Feb. 2007)