[이데일리 이순용 기자] Even before we had time to enjoy the warm spring weather, a red light was turned on for health care as fine dust became rampant. Fine dust is composed of very small particles that are invisible to the naked eye and cause problems when they come into contact with the skin. In addition, it affects the respiratory system, brain, etc. In addition, it penetrates the body and causes blood circulation imbalance and erectile dysfunction symptoms.
Fine dust usually enters the body through the nose and mouth. When small particles such as fine dust enter the body, they are not filtered out by the nasal mucosa and penetrate into the alveoli. Then, when oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged in the alveoli, the fine dust is mixed into the blood through the capillaries. At this time, fine dust substances spread through the blood vessels throughout the body, causing various health problems.
When fine dust enters the blood through the alveolar capillaries, white blood cells produce immune-reactive substances. In the process of the immune response substance removing fine dust, the blood tends to become sticky. This can cause arteriosclerosis, myocardial infarction, etc., in which blood vessels become hard due to clogged blood vessels and poor blood circulation.
The problem is that it also adversely affects sexual function. A typical example is erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction is a condition in which sexual desire is present but the erection is difficult or cannot be maintained for a long time. If these symptoms persist for about 3 months, it can be defined as erectile dysfunction.
Then, what is the correlation between fine dust and erectile dysfunction? Erection is a phenomenon that occurs when blood flow increases to the corpus cavernosum and corpus cavernosum located in the penis. Erection is initiated by sexual impulses generated in the brain and stimulates the erection center located below the spinal cord.
As such, an erection is a physiological phenomenon that occurs due to increased blood flow. If the blood circulation is imbalanced due to fine dust, the blood supply in the corpus cavernosum may also be impaired. Prolonged exposure to fine dust can cause erectile dysfunction as other factors accumulate.
On days when fine dust is severe, it is best to avoid going out as much as possible. If you must go out, wear a mask to block fine dust from entering your body. Clothes worn after going out should be washed. Avoid eating high-calorie foods, drinking alcohol, and smoking, which can cause erectile dysfunction.
Lee Moo-yeon, director of Adams Urology Clinic, said, “Workers working outside are prone to suffer from erectile dysfunction symptoms caused by fine dust. If the symptoms persist for a long time, it is desirable to find a urologist and select an appropriate treatment method after a detailed examination.”