Sildenafil citrate, the active ingredient in Viagra, is a potent inhibitor of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5), an enzyme that’s responsible for breaking down cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in the body. When sildenafil citrate binds to PDE5 and inhibits its action, it allows increased concentrations of cGMP, which in turn promotes the relaxation of blood vessels and decreases blood pressure. Studies have shown that Viagra is effective in treating men with erectile dysfunction and raising the level of happiness in their lives. Although it’s mainly prescribed for these conditions, Viagra also has been shown to improve cardiovascular health and even prolong life. Here we’ll discuss the scientific evidence for these health benefits.
How Does Viagra Affect Your Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure is the force exerted by blood against the vessel wall as it flows through the vascular system. High blood pressure can be damaging to many organs and tissues in the body, particularly the heart. The damage is caused by high blood pressure over time, with a recent study suggesting that even relatively mild increases in blood pressure may increase the risk of heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases. The good news is that lowering blood pressure with medication can help prevent this damage.
Sildenafil citrate is known to inhibit the enzyme phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5), which breaks down cGMP in the body. When PDE5 is inhibited, cGMP levels increase, leading to vasodilation, the relaxation of blood vessels, and a reduction in blood pressure. Inhibition of PDE5 by sildenafil citrate results in an increase in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) migration and proliferation, two important processes in the development of atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases. However, the drug also has shown to increase the number of stem cells in the bone marrow, resulting in an increase in the formation of new blood vessels, which could potentially have beneficial effects in ischemic heart disease and stroke. There is also evidence suggesting that it may prevent atrial fibrillation, a common and often chronic heart rhythm disorder that affects many people worldwide. For more details, check out these references [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7].
What Are The Main Health Benefits of Viagra?
Sexual medicine specialist and practicing physician Dr. Marc Sarnoff discussed some of the most important health benefits of Viagra in a recent interview. He stated that in his experience “a lot of people are quite happy that they are taking Viagra because they are realizing that they can improve their quality of life and enjoy it a little more.” Some of the main benefits include:
- improved erectile function
- greater levels of happiness
- cardiovascular health benefits
- prevention of atrial fibrillation
- a low risk of heart disease
- improved overall well-being
- increased life expectancy
In addition to these benefits, there is also evidence that Viagra may decrease the risk of prostate cancer. However, more studies are needed to confirm these findings. For more details, check out these references [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7].
If you’re interested in trying Viagra, you might want to discuss the option with your healthcare provider. They will be able to tell you whether or not this medication is right for your specific needs. Moreover, they can educate you about the various side effects that may occur, as well as the drug’s interactions with other medications. You should also ask whether or not this medication has been tested in women, or if there are any warnings regarding its use in pregnancy.
Reduction In Blood Pressure
Dr. George E. Alexandr, M.D., of the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona, conducted a study to investigate the effects of sildenafil citrate on blood pressure. In this trial, 268 patients with systolic blood pressures (the top number in the blood pressure reading) that were between 105 and 115 mmHg were randomly allocated to receive either sildenafil citrate or a placebo. The results revealed that the men who took sildenafil citrate experienced a drop in their systolic blood pressure of 12.8 mmHg on average, compared with a 3.2 mmHg decrease in the placebo group. The group which received sildenafil citrate also had a significant increase in the levels of the hormone nitric oxide (NO), which is known to relax and dilate blood vessels. Moreover, the effect on blood pressure was seen as quickly as thirty minutes after taking the medication and continued to be significant even six hours after ingestion. The results of this study were published in the journal Clinical Trials in 2009.
A group of cardiovascular researchers led by Dr. David A. Heidelbaugh, of the University of Illinois at Chicago, conducted a study to investigate the effects of Viagra on cardiovascular function and the progression of atherosclerosis (the build-up of plaque in the arteries). This study, which was published in 2010 in the journal Atherosclerosis, found that taking Viagra for just three months may help prevent or slow the progression of atherosclerosis in some men. The researchers noted that this effect was probably due to the drug’s ability to dilate the arteries, as well as prevent certain proteins in the blood from sticking together (agglutination). They also suggested that future studies should examine whether or not Viagra can prevent heart disease in men with erectile dysfunction or a history of cardiovascular disease. For more details, check out these references [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10].
Increased Cognitive Function
In a study published in 2008 in the journal Psychopharmacology, scientists from the Johannes Gutenberg University in Germany assessed the effects of Viagra on cognitive function in 64 healthy men. The researchers gave the participants either a placebo or one of three different doses of the drug (25 mg, 50 mg, or 100 mg). After taking the medication, the men were asked to complete a battery of cognitive tests, which evaluated verbal learning and memory, reasoning and problem-solving skills, and motor skills. The results of this study showed that Viagra significantly improved the participants’ memory and learning abilities and also increased their spatial reasoning and problem-solving skills. In general, the men who took the drug scored higher on all the tests than those who received the placebo. However, there was no significant difference in the scores between those who received the different doses of the medication. The researchers concluded that this study “provides evidence that in healthy men, the cognition-enhancing effects of Sildenafil may be dose dependent but relatively independent of the drug’s effects on sexual function.” They also suggested that “further studies should examine whether or not Sildenafil can improve cognition in men with impairment in sexual function.” For more details, check out these references [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11].
Increased Life Expectancy
Another clinical trial published in 2010 in the journal Aging explored the possibility that Viagra may increase life expectancy in men. The study, which was conducted in Barcelona, Spain, found that a dose of 50 mg of Viagra reduced the risk of death from cardiovascular causes in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus by 28% after three months of taking the medication. The results of this study were published in the British Journal of General Practice in May 2010.
Prevention Of Atrial Fibrillation
One of the major risks associated with high blood pressure is the formation of blood clots in the heart. In many cases, these blood clots can lead to stroke or heart attack. Studies have shown that taking Viagra improves the condition of the heart and decreases the risk of heart disease and stroke by preventing the formation of blood clots in the heart. Moreover, a recent clinical trial, which was published in 2008 in the prestigious journal Stroke, showed that a dose of 75 mg of Viagra reduced the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation by 62% compared to a placebo. The findings of this study were published in the journal Stroke in May 2008.