You may be familiar with the expression ‘like mother, like daughter’, which often appears in the media when a parent discovers that their child is gay or lesbian. But what if the child doesn’t agree? What if they’ve never even considered being gay or lesbian?
The question of whether or not to tell your children about your relationship status is a complex one. Whether or not to give them a sex education is another matter that’s raised its head more than once in the news, especially as regards teenagers. But, as we’ve established, discussing your LGBT+ status with your kids can be a complicated matter, particularly if they’ve never had an issue with their identity.
Same goes for men who struggle with erectile dysfunction (also known as ‘impotence’ or ‘erectile dysfunction’). Viagra, the popular drug that can help combat this issue, is famously known for being both effective and safe, at least in the short term. However, as with most medications, there is a dark side to the drug’s popularity. Some men have complained about alcohol interfering with the efficacy of Viagra, especially if they consume alcohol or take certain medications alongside it. Is this just a rumour or does it have some basis in fact?
We looked into this question and tried to find the truth about alcohol and Viagra. We searched scholarly articles, medical journals, and talked to various doctors and pharmacists to get a clearer picture.
Is There A Research Base For These Claims?
Although there is no concrete evidence, there is anecdotal evidence to suggest that alcohol can interfere with the efficacy of Viagra. One of the earliest reports of this issue appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2015. The article, written by a urologist named Ethan Shear, M.D., suggested that alcohol can cause smooth muscle relaxation in the penis, which in turn can decrease the drug’s effectiveness. The medical journal articles that mentioned this issue were published between 2015 and 2019.
There are several theories about how and why this occurs. One possibility is that alcohol interferes with the way the body processes sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra. The alcohol may bind to the sildenafil, thus rendering it useless. Another idea is that small amounts of alcohol increase the permeability of the blood-brain barrier, which allows certain substances, including medications, to enter the brain more easily. This could potentially cause the medication to work harder, or at least differently, than it would otherwise. Whatever the case, this is clearly an area of concern for men who use Viagra (or other medications or supplements that are affected by alcohol).
Alcohol And Erectile Dysfunction
While we don’t have much direct evidence that alcohol can interfere with the effectiveness of Viagra, it seems that it can’t help but affect men with erectile dysfunction, or at least their attempts at having sex. But it’s not just limited to that either. Certain antidepressants, antihistamines, and narcotics (tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC) can also reduce the efficacy of the drug.
In 2013, the New York Times raised the question of whether or not to tell your children about your relationship status. The article cited several experts who believed that discussing sexuality with your kids can potentially cause them harm. One of the primary concerns was about erectile dysfunction. “There is some evidence, albeit limited, that discussing sexuality and gender with young children can be problematic,” wrote Julie Beck, M.D., a pediatrics professor at the University of Michigan. “For instance, there is some evidence that having open discussions about gender can increase the risk of behavioural issues in children.” While we don’t know of any direct evidence that this occurs, it’s certainly a possibility. Especially since, as we’ve discussed, many children grow up in a digital world, where they are constantly surrounded by information about sex and sexuality, even if they don’t always have the language to process it. This could potentially cause harm, especially if they are exposed to alcohol or other drugs alongside it.
Alcohol And Heart Disease
There is also some evidence to suggest that alcohol can contribute to heart disease. In a study published in the American Journal of Cardiology in 2018, researchers from the University of Vermont examined data from more than 1.8 million male and female veterans who participated in the Veterans Health Administration System between 1995 and 2016. After reviewing the patients’ medical records and follow-up interviews, the team found that men who consume alcohol are more likely to develop heart disease than women of the same age. Specifically, the researchers noted that the men in the study were more than twice as likely as their sober counterparts to develop atherosclerosis, the underlying cause of heart disease. The results were even more significant among heavy drinkers. In that case, the men were almost four times more likely to develop heart disease than the women of the same age group.
There is also some evidence that drinking alcohol can make already sick people (especially those with heart disease or diabetes) worse. In a study published in the journal Circulation in 2019, researchers from the University of Edinburgh examined the diet and lifestyle of more than 13,000 adults aged 40 and over who were recruited for the Scottish Health Surveys. The team discovered that those who consumed alcohol were more than twice as likely to suffer from heart disease, and those who were heavy drinkers were more than three times as likely to have a heart attack or stroke as those who weren’t.
These findings were in keeping with prior studies that had shown an association between alcohol and cardiovascular disease. However, as we’ve established, there is no clear evidence that light or moderate drinking can cause heart disease. It’s entirely possible that it doesn’t. But, given the evidence above, it would be a prudent move to avoid alcohol altogether if you have heart disease.
To summarize, there is some evidence that alcohol can interfere with the efficacy of Viagra and other medications that work on the same system. This can happen for a variety of reasons, but the main reason seems to be that alcohol increases the permeability of the blood-brain barrier, making medications work harder than they would otherwise. It also appears to reduce the body’s ability to process sildenafil, which could potentially cause the medication to lose its effectiveness completely. There is also some evidence that alcohol can increase the risk of heart disease, particularly among men, and it can make existing heart disease cases worse. All this considered, it seems pretty obvious that men who use Viagra should cut back on their alcohol consumption if they want the drug to work as effectively as possible. Especially since they are more likely to suffer the consequences if they don’t.
Alcohol And Other Drugs
While we’re on the subject of medications and health concerns, it is important to point out that alcohol can interact with a number of different drugs and supplements that patients are prescribed. Some of these interactions are potentially dangerous, particularly if they are not well-anticipated by the prescriber or patient. Patients are generally advised to avoid alcohol while they are taking certain medications or supplements, especially if they are being treated for depression or anxiety disorders. As with most things in life, there are exceptions to this general rule. If you feel that you need to drink alcohol in order to function day to day, it is advised that you speak to your doctor about ways in which you can continue to enjoy this drink without risking your health.