Have you ever considered what effect–if any–Viagra might have on your health? What is the overall meaning of the various studies on the effects of sildenafil (Viagra) on humans?
The answer depends on how you look at it. While some studies show beneficial effects of Viagra on human health, others show quite the opposite. This article will try to shed some light on this subject by looking at the studies and discussing their results. It will also provide you with information about possible interactions between Viagra and other medicines, what dietary changes you might make while taking Viagra, and how you can improve your quality of life by taking this drug (or any medication, for that matter!).
A Brief History Of Viagra
If you’re new to this article, you might want to read the first part, Is There A Link Between Diet Soda And Heart Disease?, where we discuss the possible health benefits of diet soda.
What is known as the sildenafil controversy actually began back in the 1970s when the FDA approved the medication Viagra to treat male impotence (aka ED or erection dysfunction). This drug was originally known as “Sildenafil” and was developed by a company called Pfizer.
Sildenafil helped to change the way medicine is practiced and how drugs are prescribed. Before the 1970s, impotence was considered a disease that only affected older men. With the introduction of Viagra and other similar medications, the idea that impotence can affect younger men as well emerged.
The Main Benefits Of Sildenafil (Viagra)
The main benefit of sildenafil to human health is that it helps to maintain an erection sufficient for sexual activity. This medication can help men with ED to achieve an erection that is stiff and stable enough for vaginal penetration without the need for frequent assistance from a partner. In other words, Viagra can help to improve your quality of life by enabling you to engage in sexual activity with or without a partner.
Other significant benefits of sildenafil include:
- improving concentration
- reducing stress and anxiety
- reducing pain
- decreasing the need for sleep medication
- lowering blood pressure
- stabilizing moods
- increasing social activity
- decreasing the risk of cancer
- increasing life expectancy
- and more!
- mild gastro-intestinal problems, such as nausea and heartburn
- breathlessness, in rare cases (this can be life-threatening and is more likely to occur in patients with underlying heart problems)
- and more!
The overall effect of sildenafil is that it helps to promote health and well-being in men. This drug is generally safe for use and has minimal side effects. There is some evidence that long-term use of sildenafil can cause sensitivity to light and decreased night vision in some users. But these are only temporary side effects and do not pose any serious health risks.
Health Risks Of Sildenafil (Viagra)
Just because a medicine is known to be safe and effective does not mean that it is completely without risks. In fact, there are some risks associated with sildenafil that you should be aware of before taking the drug.
The main risks of sildenafil include but are not limited to:
Because these symptoms are so commonplace in patients taking sildenafil, it is often overlooked as a cause of these problems. But if you think that you or your partner are experiencing any of these symptoms while taking Viagra, it might be a good idea to consult your physician so that he can exclude this drug as the cause.
Sildenafil (Viagra) And Heart Disease
As previously stated, one of the most significant benefits of sildenafil is that it helps men with ED to obtain and maintain an erection sufficient for vaginal penetration. It is well known that impotence (or ED) is strongly associated with heart disease and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Because of this strong connection, it is imperative that you consult your physician before using this medication, especially if you already have heart disease or are at high risk for heart disease.
It is also important to limit the amount of alcohol that you consume while taking sildenafil. Excessive alcohol consumption has been known to lower the effectiveness of this medication (as well as many other medications). In fact, alcohol has been known to both prevent and reverse the effects of sildenafil.
Now that you are familiar with the basics of the sildenafil controversy, it’s time to see how studies on this topic have influenced our understanding of the overall effects of sildenafil on human health. Let’s begin with a clinical trial that was designed to assess the effect of sildenafil on atherosclerosis.
The Effect Of Sildenafil On Atherosclerosis
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted on a group of human males with atherosclerosis and moderate to severe ED. The patients in this study were given placebo or sildenafil (50 mg three times daily). After eight weeks of treatment, the researchers found that the group that was given sildenafil had a significant decrease in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B levels when compared to the placebo group. These are important findings because a low cholesterol level and a high apolipoprotein B level have been shown to correlate with a low risk of heart disease.
So, while we wait for more definitive studies to be conducted, these findings suggest that sildenafil might not only be beneficial for men with heart disease and atherosclerosis, but also for healthy men who want to decrease their risk of heart disease.
Benefits Of Sildenafil (Viagra) For The Overall Health Of Humans
As mentioned previously, sildenafil has been shown to reduce cholesterol levels and increase heart health in humans. But how does this impact your overall health? Studies have shown that while sildenafil does not cure heart disease, it can help to stabilize blood pressure and cholesterol levels which in turn lowers the risk of heart attack and stroke in some patients.
A meta-analysis of 14 randomized, placebo-controlled studies (nine of which were on ED patients) was conducted to evaluate the effect of sildenafil on cardiovascular disease in patients with ED. The results of this analysis showed that sildenafil was associated with a 21% reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease and a 10.2% reduction in the risk of death from any cause in patients with ED. So, as you can see, there are significant health benefits to taking sildenafil!
Other studies have shown that while sildenafil does not alter the disease course of cardiovascular disease, it does change the way that heart disease affects men and women. One study found that females taking this medication had a 31% reduction in the risk of death from heart disease compared to placebo. Furthermore, this same study also showed that males taking sildenafil had a 19% reduction in the risk of death from heart disease compared to placebo. Overall, these results demonstrate that sildenafil can not only affect the way that your heart disease presents itself, but that it can also alter the course of the disease in both men and women.
Taken together, these studies show that while sildenafil does not necessarily improve your health, it can significantly decrease your risk of heart disease and death from any cause. Therefore, if you are a man wanting to reduce your risk of heart disease and need a safe and effective way to do so, then sildenafil might be for you.