Even Viagra Can't Fix This

Okay, so I caught your eye with the "V" word in the title, but it actually applies to what's in the blog. Read on.

It's the week of the Great American Smokeout -- a great time to just say no to killing your heart, lungs, and genitals.

Every year when this day comes around, I always wind up talking about the benefits of quitting because much of the good stuff that takes place are quick and obvious ... and I'll do that again in a second.

But for some men, those good, quick, and obvious things aren't good enough. So today, a different tact. Specifically, your penis not working.

Why? Because smoking not only clogs up the arteries that supply the heart, but also the penis. So if you smoke, you're going to wind up not getting enough blood flow to that important body part. And not enough blood flow means an important body part that doesn't work. As in worthless.

So the next time you light up, look past the cigarette in your mouth and stare at your crotch. You will, one day, be an unhappy man (or the partner of an unhappy man) if the habit doesn't go away.

Okay, enough of that. Let's look at the other real-time benefits of quitting.

After your last cigarette:

- Within 20 minutes your blood pressure and pulse drop.

12 hours: the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal. Yes, there is carbon monoxide in tobacco smoke.

2 weeks: circulation to the body improves. Warmer fingers, toes, and a better brain

4 weeks: lung function increases. You get more energy since you have more Vitamin "O" (Oxygen)

3 months: less prone to chest colds, bronchitis, and pneumonia

1 year: risk of heart attack drops to half that of a smoker

So you see, all good stuff. Every body part begins to work better, even the ones you can't see.

Good luck. I know it's hard to quit, but think of the alternative ... (and be thankful I didn't end this with the obvious play on words).