Doctor shares 'embarrassing' side effect of using cocaine you probably didn't know about
Class A drug, cocaine, can eliminate a bloke's powers in the bedroom.
That shocking eye-opener is according to Dr. Philippa Kaye, who in discussion with The Daily Mail weighed in on the various 'embarrassing' side effects of snorting Charlie.
Before we get to the sexual repercussions; most users don't recognise the physical decay of oneself until it's too late.
Due to it being a local anaesthetic - so to speak - bodily tissues are completely numb to any damage that's done in the midst of this chemically-induced adrenaline.
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Chronic nose-bleeding can occur, as can a loss of smell or even structural collapses of the nose.
Despite this, some hormonally charged dudes would still prioritise their sexual efficiency, right?
Dr. Kaye has some troubling news for them, though.
In her own words, the GP explained of cocaine's major down side: "Then there are the sexual side effects – and for men in particular, they can be deeply embarrassing. While cocaine may initially lower inhibitions, regular use commonly causes erectile dysfunction.
"The same mechanism that constricts blood vessels throughout the body restricts blood flow to the genitals, making it physically difficult to achieve or maintain an erection.
"Some men find themselves dependent on cocaine to feel confident socially or sexually, only to discover the drug is actively undermining their performance. It is a cruel paradox, and one that many men are too embarrassed to discuss with their doctor."
In other coke-related news, Dr. Kaye has also revealed the sobering reason why patients contending with chest pains are usually asked about their recreational habits.
"The consultant [during her junior doctorate] drove the lesson home in no uncertain terms: see a young person with chest pain, always ask about cocaine. I have never forgotten it," she said.
Per the Cleveland Clinic, sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a condition in which the life-sustaining muscle unexpectedly ceases operations, often within an hour of symptoms appearing.
Following an initial cardiac arrest, the heart stops pumping oxygenated blood through the body, leaving the organs starved of oxygen. Without immediate medical intervention, SCD happens.
At one time considered to be a 'middle-class' drug, cocaine's popularity has risen across the UK in recent years.
According to 2024 data from the Office for National Statistics, it was the second-most used illegal drug after cannabis in England and Wales.
A stimulant which causes intense energy, alertness and euphoria, regular sniffing of the substance comes with multitudinous side effects. These include: mental health problems, frequent nosebleeds and the so-called 'cocaine nose'.
Dan Seddon