Viagra for Treating Cardiac Disorders

When Viagra first stepped onto the scene more than a decade ago in 1998, it was originally intended as a drug to help with heart-related problems. The drug worked by allowing blood vessels to dilate which subsequently led to better blood flow around the body. When Viagra’s other useful effects in the bedroom were noticed, researchers changed tactics and began approaching the pill with an emphasis on curing erectile dysfunction.

Today the question of whether this drug can go back to its original status as a heart pill is under consideration. It has been suggested by several studies that Viagra may, in fact, help fight heart failure. In this article, we are going to analyze that scientific data.

Why Viagra never made it as a cardiovascular treatment option

At the start when this medication first came onto the market, it was meant as a treatment for heart problems. However, a significant number of men suffered from heart attacks or subsequently died while using the drug. This was enough to put further testing on hold. Scientists and researchers were disturbed by the results and the effects the drug was having on men with heart conditions.

The root cause of the problem of why those men at the start suffered complications was later attributed to them taking this ED medication at the same time as other drugs containing nitro compounds. The active ingredient of Viagra didn’t interact well with the nitro-containing medications and as a result, led to the complications.

What experts later explained was that, when the ED drug and these nitro-containing compounds were used concurrently, a man with an existing heart problem stood a higher chance of developing problems during energy expending activities such as intercourse. During such activities, the man could experience a sudden drop in his blood pressure which could be disastrous.

Today experts are saying that when taken correctly, Viagra is safe to use even for men with heart conditions and in fact might even prove beneficial for them.

How does Viagra help fight heart failure?

Viagra works by allowing blood vessels to expand or dilate, thus allowing blood to flow freely, uninterrupted. In trials carried out by doctors in the USA, sildenafil was proved to be an effective agent at opening up blocked arteries. This was a significant discovery because blocked arteries are in fact one of the leading causes of heart failure. =

In a second trial, patients suffering from blood pressure within the pulmonary area (lungs) were exposed to Viagra and then instructed to inhale nitric oxide. Pulmonary hypertension often leads to people with the condition experiencing difficulties to breathe. Such patients often have to inhale nitric oxide in order for their blood vessels to be dilated so that their high blood pressure can go down. In these trials, the ED plls played a crucial role in helping to increase the effectiveness of inhaling nitric oxide.

The scientific backing of this theory

The two studies in question were carried out at different institutions in America. One study was carried out at the University of Columbia in New York City and the other study at the Massachusetts General Hospital located in Boston.

Results of the first study

In the first study, a group of heart patients was subdivided into three groups.

• Group 1: Given 12.5mg;
• Group 2: Given 25mg or 50mg;
• Group 3: Given a placebo

In the first group that received the 12.5mg of Viagra, it was noted that there were significant improvements in the dilation of the arteries when compared to those who were placed on the placebo. However, the second group that received sildenafil in quantities of either 25mg or 50mg showed even more significant results.

Viagra in itself is a bit lacking when it comes to trying to deal with the long-term consequences of heart failure stated lead researcher Dr. Katz. He emphasized that there needed to be a more solid answer to treating heart failure. The drug had shown potential but it just wasn’t a viable model to carry on for long periods of time, nor to prescribe the drug for long-term use. The kind of drug Dr. Katz imagines would have Viagra’s properties but would be sustainable for long-term use. To date, no such drug is available on the market today.

Results of the second study

Results of the second study showed that:

1. When nitric oxide was taken in combination with Viagra, the results were an improved blood flow towards the lungs.
2. The blood vessels linking to the lungs dilated sufficiently.
3. The results of using the drug were better than those recorded when trying to use oxygen to better blood flow.

The major difference between the two studies lay in the conclusions given by the doctors in charge of the research projects. Co-director of this Massachusetts program, Dr. Semigran believes that it is possible to use Viagra for long periods of time to help with heart failure. He said the drug, at least when it came to working well with nitric oxide proved to be an invaluable resource.

Doctors in Italy have gone even further with more studies and research claiming that the drug should, in fact, be routinely administered to men with significant heart problems in a bid to curb and reduce the chances of heart attacks as well as strokes.

The key ingredient found in the blue pill called PDE5i has been linked to the prevention of damage to heart cells as well as dilation of blood vessels. Viagra has shown to be a pill that seems to help with several heart conditions including left ventricular hypertrophy, the medical condition where your heart keeps growing without stopping.

Conclusion

Viagra has continued to be a controversial drug, but whose other beneficial uses cannot be overlooked. It still remains to be seen which way the drug will lean towards after researchers are finished with their studies. We believe that there is hope that this drug just may be the missing link that can help those with heart failure issues and those suffering from erectile dysfunction find a happier a life.