Have you ever wondered why some men can lift heavy weights and others can’t? Or, more broadly, why some people can bulk up while others remain lean?
It’s often assumed that there must be something wrong with the individuals who can’t manage to put on significant amounts of weight, but, in fact, there’s a relatively simple explanation…
Put yourself in your correspondent’s shoes for a moment. Imagine that you are reading an article about weight lifting with Viagra, a drug that temporarily enhances your erections. As you read, you begin to form an opinion about the merits of the drug based on the evidence provided by the article. As you begin to do this, you discover that there’s a lot more to the story. You learn that while Viagra certainly has its perks, it also comes with some significant side effects. One of which, surprisingly, is weight gain.
Let’s unpack this a bit. First off, Viagra doesn’t just improve erections. Indeed, it was originally developed to treat angina. And, sure enough, it does appear to help with this. However, there’s also evidence that it can raise blood pressure and cause heart problems. Now, it would be one thing if all of this was discovered after the fact. However, Viagra has been approved by the FDA for over a decade. In that time, scientists have been closely studying its effects on the human body. So, while there’s no denying that it’s a powerful drug, it’s also quite possibly one of the most dangerous medications ever developed.
Why Does Viagra Cause Weight Gain?
To answer this question, let’s return to our imaginary scenario. As you read the article, you begin to learn that Viagra can cause the body to retain more water. And, indeed, that’s exactly what’s happened. While the drug certainly doesn’t cause permanent weight gain, it does appear to make you hold onto more fluid. So, if you’re already drinking plenty of water, you might not see much of a difference. However, if you’re not, then it could be a cause for concern.
Why does Viagra cause weight gain? It turns out that there are a couple of different theories. One proposes that it’s a side effect of the drug’s action on the body. Specifically, when Viagra is introduced into the body, it appears to cause the kidneys to retain more fluid. So, while you’re not necessarily putting on weight, you’re certainly retaining more fluid than normal. And that makes you seem a little bit pudgier.
Another theory proposes that it has something to do with the hormone vasopressin. Just like Viagra, the hormone vasopressin can help with erections. However, it’s also been shown to cause weight gain in experimental animals. For some reason, the body doesn’t seem to absorb vasopressin as quickly as it does other hormones. So, while you might not necessarily put on weight, it’s also possible that you’re simply retaining more fluid than normal.
How Dangerous Is Viagra?
Based on the evidence above, it’s fair to say that Viagra is quite possibly one of the most dangerous drugs ever developed. Indeed, it’s been known to cause heart problems in some people. As mentioned, it can also increase your blood pressure and contribute to the development of diabetes. And, while any drug can cause side effects, these are all extremely dangerous issues. Especially since it’s still quite possibly under-recognized as to the long-term effects that it might have.
So, if you’re concerned about your drug’s safety, then there are certainly better options out there. However, if you want to improve your erections, then Viagra is still the gold standard. Just be sure to speak with your physician before you start taking the drug to ensure that it’s safe for you.