Viagra may lower your risk of heart attack (myocardial infarction). Findings from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and Oxford University suggest that taking the drug (sildenafil) could cut the rate of cardiac events, such as heart attack and stroke, in men by up to 35%. The results of this study were published in the journal European Heart Journal.
To learn more, check out our blog post on the most interesting research findings.
The Benefits Of Viagra For Men With Heart Disease
If you have heart disease, taking Viagra may help protect your heart. Studies suggest that the drug could potentially reduce the damage done to the heart by harmful substances in the blood. Although Viagra does not cure heart disease, it may help prevent it from getting worse.
In addition to lowering your risk of heart attack, Viagra may also help protect your penis. As mentioned above, the drug was originally designed to treat erectile dysfunction. Studies have shown that it not only helps with getting and maintaining an erection, but it also helps prevent penile bruising and the discomfort that comes with repeated erections. If you’re taking or have taken Viagra, you should discuss with your doctor the potential benefits that it could have on your life. Some of the possible side effects could be headaches, diarrhea, and skin rashes.
How Does Viagra Work?
Viagra works by helping the blood vessels in your penis to relax and widen. This allows more blood to flow into the penis and maintain an erection. Many men have found that taking the drug often leads to improved sexual functioning and an increased sensitivity to sexual stimulation. Although it is not yet known how long these benefits may last, many people are happy to report that they experience them as often as daily use of the drug.
If you’re interested in trying Viagra, be sure to read the package instructions carefully and follow them exactly. You should not take the drug if you’re already taking a nitrate drug (such as nitroglycerin, isosorbide mononitrate, or isosorbide dinitrate) or a drug that causes vasodilation (such as hydralazine, methyldopa, or Ace Inhibitor). You should not take the drug if you’ve previously had a heart attack or stroke, or if you take medicines that relax the blood vessels (such as beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors).
Your doctor may recommend a dose adjustment if you’re already taking medication for heart disease or diabetes. Do not take the drug if you’ve recently had an eye surgery or if you’re going to be near or operating machinery because of the risk of vision problems (such as blurred vision, or temporary loss of vision).
When Should You Not Take Viagra?
Although Viagra may lower your risk of heart attack, it does not offer total protection. The drug may still cause some side effects, such as headaches, nausea, stomach ache, and diarrhea. If you experience any of these side effects, you should discontinue use of the medication and speak to your doctor about alternative treatments.
If you take Viagra regularly, you may become more sensitive to the effects of nitrates. This is why it’s important to discuss the possible side effects with your doctor before you start taking the medication. Nitrates are commonly found in prescribed medications for heart disease. If you experience any side effects, it may be a good idea to consult your doctor so that he can adjust your medication.
The Research
Not all research is created equal, and this one doesn’t miss the mark. First off, it’s important to understand that this is a randomised controlled trial (RCT). This means that the researchers assigned participants to receive either Viagra or a placebo (an inactive substance) in a random order and did not reveal which drug was which to the participants. This helps reduce the risk of bias, because the participants wouldn’t know which drug they were taking until the end of the trial.
The RCT featured a total of 2,415 participants, 1,247 of whom were assigned to the placebo group. The remaining 1,267 participants were assigned to the Viagra group. The participants were between the ages of 40 and 79 and had a history of heart disease. In some cases, the participants had suffered a recent heart attack. The majority of the participants were taking one or more medications for heart disease, such as nitrates, calcium channel blockers, beta-blockers, or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.
Over a period of 27 months, the researchers followed up with the participants and recorded the rate of cardiac events, such as myocardial infarction (heart attack) and stroke. During that time, there were 172 (7.2%) cardiac events in the placebo group, compared to 125 (5.2%) in the Viagra group. The results of this study were published in the journal European Heart Journal.
Keep Reading
This is only one study, and it has some limitations. First off, it’s a retrospective study (looking back at the past). This means that the researchers analysed the results of a trial and looked for trends in the data, such as a lower rate of heart attack in the Viagra group compared to the placebo group. However, this does not necessarily mean that the drug caused the observed difference. Second off, the participants were on average about 62 years old. This means that there were a lot of men in the study that were past the age of heart disease. Perhaps, these participants were protected by other health factors, such as good nutrition or active lifestyles. We cannot say for sure that the participants were truly at risk of heart disease.
The Takeaway
Although more research is needed, these findings strongly suggest that Viagra could potentially lower your risk of heart attack. If you have heart disease and are already taking or plan to take the drug, you should discuss the findings with your doctor. Your doctor may suggest an alternative treatment plan, as the goal is to lower your risk of heart attack as much as possible. These results should be interpreted within the context of the study’s limitations, as mentioned above.
Some of these limitations could be associated with the fact that it’s difficult to prove a drug’s direct cause in relation to heart disease. Regardless, this is some very interesting preliminary research that could potentially lead to further studies and possibly new drug therapies for heart disease.
Whether you have heart disease or not, it’s never good to take medicine without your doctor’s advice. As stated above, there are some limitations to this particular research study, but it still provides some very useful information. Do not hesitate to speak with your doctor about potentially incorporating Viagra into your treatment plan.