It’s been 120 years since the discovery of the S-shaped blood clot; a medical device that revolutionized the medical field. While most people know what a blood clot is and how it works, fewer know about the similar but more potent medication called Viagra. Does this tablet become a common household item in your lifetime?
What is a Blood Clot?
The body’s first line of defense against pathogens is the blood. Blood clots are fibrin strands that form inside blood vessels when blood coagulates. This is triggered by a clotting cascade, which is the sequential activation of blood protein zymogens by a series of enzymatic reactions. The end result of this cascade is the formation of fibrin strands that help platelets adhere to the walls of the blood vessel. After about 30 minutes, the platelets stick together to form a plug that further prevents pathogen migration. This process can be accelerated by inflammation, injury, and hormonal changes (such as those caused by stress, injury, and oral contraception).
A blood clot is typically a few millimeters in diameter, and can range from being completely dissolved to being partially resorbed by the body. This depends on various factors such as body temperature and the age of the clot; younger clots are more prone to being dissolved while older clots are more likely to be resorbed. In addition to preventing microbial colonization, blood clots also play a role in hemostasis (the stopping of bleeding) and thrombosis (the formation of an occlusive blood clot within a blood vessel).
How Does Viagra Work?
Like a blood clot, the penile erection caused by Viagra is a result of hemostasis. The hormone relaxin, which is secreted in abundance during the female reproductive phase, also plays a role in the relaxing of the blood vessels in the penis. This in turn causes the veins to engorge with blood, resulting in an erection. The primary difference between the two medications is that Viagra is a quick-acting substance that produces a stronger and more sustained erection than a blood clot. Specifically, Viagra can be effective in as little as 30 minutes and lasts for about an hour. In clinical trials, Viagra was shown to increase the size of the penis by as much as 4.7 percent in adult men. This is a significant increase that would be noticeable to the average person and has been proven to enhance sexual satisfaction in men and women alike.
Like the blood clot, the primary use of Viagra is the prevention and treatment of bacterial infections in the urinary tract. The most common infections that it helps to prevent include cystitis, prostatitis, and urinary tract infections. In addition, it can also be used to treat infections that have already formed, such as those in the spine or bones. It has been shown in clinical trials to be more effective than antibiotics in the treatment of prostatic hypertrophy (a condition in which the prostate gland grows abnormally large), and even in some cases when used in combination with antibiotics.
What’s the Difference?
Aside from the obvious differences in appearance and action, there are a few other key differences between blood clots and Viagra. The first is that blood clots are fibrin strands and are not true crystals as Viagra is. Another significant difference is in the speed with which each substance works. While a blood clot typically takes several hours or even days to form, the effects of a single dose of Viagra are almost immediate. This makes the drug a popular choice for men with acute coronary syndromes or heart attacks who need immediate relief. One more important difference is that blood clots do not have any oral or intravenous forms like Viagra does, which makes it more difficult for doctors to prescribe the drug for certain patients (such as infants or the elderly).
Overall, these two medications are similar in that they both result in a beneficial effect for the human body. However, because of their differences in appearance, formulation, and intended use, doctors should clearly distinguish between them.