Viagra Is Good for the Heart

Viagra (Sildenafil citrate), which millions of men take for erectile dysfunction (ED), reduces the effects of hormonal stress on the heart by half, according to a study published online in the journal Circulation.

Viagra causes genital blood vessels to expand, which helps in maintaining an erection. Recent research also has pointed to its potential usefulness in treating pulmonary hypertension. Prior to the latest findings by a team of Johns Hopkins researchers, it was thought to have little effect on the heart.

Viagra, or sildenafil, blunts the strengthened heart beat caused by chemically induced stress, according to study senior author and cardiologist David Kass, MD, a professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and its Heart Institute. It thereby lessens both the excess amount of blood and the force used to pump it to the body.

"Sildenafil effectively puts a 'brake' on chemical stimulation of the heart," says Kass.

Prevents and Reverses Effects of High BP

These findings are believed to be the first confirmation in humans that Viagra has a direct effect on the heart. In earlier research, Kass and his team observed a similar effect in mice; Sildenafil blocked the short-term effects of hormonal stress in the heart.

Related studies by the group show that sildenafil also prevents and reverses the long-term effects of chronic high blood pressure on the heart.

Sildenafil reversed the negative effects on heart muscle weakened by heart failure and enlargement -- a condition called hypertrophy -- in mouse experiments Kass and his team carried out earlier this year. They reported their results in the journal Nature Medicine.

"But we had no firm evidence as to whether or how this therapy might work in the human heart," says Kass. "Our latest research provides firm evidence this drug does indeed have an important impact on the heart."

Increased Heartbeat Was Slowed

Thirty-five healthy men and women, with an average age of 30 and no previous signs of coronary artery disease, participated in the six-month Johns Hopkins study. Within a three-hour timeframe, each participant received two separate injections of dobutamine (5 micrograms per kilogram for five minutes), a synthetic, adrenaline-like chemical that increases heart rate and pumping strength.

Between injections, study participants were assigned randomly to a group that was treated with sildenafil (100 milligrams taken orally) or to a group given a sugar pill placebo. All participants then were given the second dobutamine injection to see what effects sildenafil or placebo had on the heart.

Measurements of heart function were made before and after each injection. These included blood pressure readings, electrocardiograms and echocardiograms. Blood samples confirmed relatively equal levels of sildenafil and other enzymes.

Each dobutamine injection stimulated heart function, increasing heart rate and the force of each heartbeat used to pump blood throughout the body, results showed.

"This stimulation is similar to the way the nervous system normally increases heart function when triggered by emotional or exercise stress, or in diseases such as heart failure," notes Kass.

After the first injection of dobutamine, the force of heart contraction increased by 150 percent in both groups. In the placebo group, this increase repeated itself after the second injection. However, in the group treated with sildenafil, the increased heartbeat was slowed by 50 percent, resulting in a smaller increase in blood flow and blood pressure generated by the heart in response to chemical stimulation.

Between injections, heart function was not altered in the sildenafil group, demonstrating the absence of adverse side effects on the resting human heart.

Stops PDE5A Action

"Knowing more about the effects of sildenafil on heart function will allow for safer evaluation of its use as a treatment for heart problems," says Kass.

"Our results set the stage for further studies of sildenafil's immediate and long-term effects on the heart and its ability to modify other neurohormonal and stress stimuli, including adrenaline and hypertension," he adds.

While the precise biological actions of sildenafil in the heart are not fully understood, the drug is known to work by stopping the action of an enzyme, called phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5A), Kass explains. This enzyme is involved in the breakdown of a key molecule, cyclic GMP, which helps control stresses and limit overgrowth in the heart.

PDE5A is also the biological pathway that sildenafil blocks in the penis to prevent the relaxation of blood vessels and thus maintain erections.

Arginine, Is This Natural Viagra?

Recent studies have indicated that the dietary supplement L-Arginine works in your body to produce a compound, Nitric Oxide which is used by the male reproductive system to stimulate an erection. The compound, L-Arginine, is a naturally occurring amino acid that is found in our muscle and cell tissue. Although our diets provide a fair amount of this amino acid, dietary supplementation has been shown to be effective in treating low levels of erectile dysfunction. Subsequently, Arginine seems to be the body’s Natural Viagra.

The supplement itself seems to be effective, and vitamin companies are fighting to develop products to exploit its effectiveness. Many nutritional products that now boast treatment of erectile dysfunction contain high levels of Arginine with a myriad of other compounds.

So what does this mean? Is Arginine an effective alternative to Viagra? Well, the answer is yes and no. Unlike Viagra, Arginine supplementation will not bypass the normal stimulation mechanism and cause an immediate erection. You will still need the mental, visual, and physical stimuli to incite and erection. It will however aid in the ease of erection and has been shown to be effective in patients with mile erectile dysfunction. In addition, for those currently using Viagra, the addition of Arginine supplementation in the diet has shown to be beneficial in making the Viagra more effective. Subsequently, Arginine can be helpful even if you still need to rely on Viagra.

In summary, Arginine is a naturally occurring amino acid that we can take as a dietary supplement. The interaction of the compound in our body helps to create Nitric Oxide which is necessary in the development of a male erection. Although not a complete substitute for Viagra, the compound can help mild dysfunction and increase the performance of Viagra for those that must rely on the pharmaceutical.

General Information about Viagra / Generic Viagra?

VIAGRA

What is Viagra?

Viagra is an anti-impotence drug manufactured by Pfizer with an active ingredient sildenafile citrate for treatment of male impotence. Sildenafile citrate relaxes the muscles and increases the blood flow to particular areas of the body. The intake of Viagra increases the ability to achieve and sustain erection on being sexually stimulated. Men taking Viagra have reported an amplified sex drive, increased stamina, and quicker recharge. Viagra works together with sexual stimulation to help achieve maximum sexual satisfaction. However, Viagra does not guarantee protection from getting sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV and Hepatitis.

How Viagra works?

Viagra enables many men with ED to respond to sexual stimulation. When a man is sexually aroused, the arteries in the penis relax and widen, allowing more blood to flow into the penis. As the arteries in the penis expand and harden, the veins that normally carry blood away from the penis become compressed, restricting the blood flow out of the penis. With more blood flowing in and less flowing out, the penis enlarges, resulting in an erection. It is to be noted that Viagra is not a hormone or aphrodisiac, it works only when a man is sexually stimulated.

Viagra Dosage

Viagra is available in the form of tablet and is meant to be taken orally. Ideally it is to be taken almost an hour before the sexual activity. However, Viagra can be taken anytime from 4 hours to 30 minutes before sexual activity. It takes 30 – 45 minutes for showing Viagra’s effect and this effect lasts for almost four hours. If you take Viagra after a high-fat meal (such as fish & chips, cheeseburger or French fries), it may take a little longer to start working. Viagra should not be taken more than once a day unless prescribed by your doctor.

Warnings/Precautions

It is always advisable to consult physician before starting the intake of Viagra. In case you have the history of an heart attack, stroke, or life-threatening irregular heartbeats within the last six months; or have heart failure in the past; coronary artery disease; angina; high or low blood pressure; liver problems; kidney problems; blood problems, including sickle cell anemia or leukemia; a bleeding disorder; stomach ulcer; retinitis pigmentosa (an inherited condition of the eye); physical deformity of the penis such as Peyronie's disease; or a condition that could lead to prolonged and painful erections, such as a tumor of the bone marrow, sickle cell anemia, or leukemia; or you are taking any other medicine containing nitrates your blood pressure could suddenly drop to an unsafe level and can risk your life. All these medical conditions and also allergy to sildenafile or any of its ingredients can lead to disastrous results. So it is always advisable to consult your doctor for adjusting the dosages after monitoring the treatments listed above.

Viagra is not approved or recommended for use in women. Therefore, women should not take Viagra under any circumstances. It also not recommended for men older than 65 years unless they tolerate it in small doses for those who are sensitive to the effects of Viagra.

Missed Dose

Viagra can be taken as and when needed and there is no concept of missed dosage.

Possible Side Effects of Viagra

Every medicine has some or the other side effect and so does Viagra. It depends on individual to individual and is usually mild to moderate and don't last longer than a few hours. Mostly these side effects are evident with high intakes of Viagra. The most common side effects of Viagra are headache, nausea, flushing of the face, and upset stomach. Also there can be some temporary changes in color vision (such as trouble telling the difference between blue and green objects or having a blue color tinge to them), eyes becoming sensitive to light, or blurred vision.

But if you become dizzy or nauseated, or have pain, numbness, or tingling in your chest, arms, neck, or jaw during sexual activity, stop and call your doctor right away. You could be having a serious side effect of Viagra, or if you have sudden vision loss or have any of these signs of allergic reactions like hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat seek emergency medical help immediately. It is also advisable to stop using Viagra and call your doctor immediately if you have any of these serious problems like - chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling; irregular heartbeat; swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet; shortness of breath and vision changes.

In rare instances, men have reported an erection that lasts many hours. But if this is the case then you should call a doctor immediately if an erection lasts more than 4 hours. If not treated right away, permanent damage to your penis could occur. Heart attack, stroke, irregular heartbeats, and death have been reported rarely in men taking Viagra. Most, but not all, of these men had heart problems before taking this medicine. It is not possible to determine whether these events were directly related to Viagra.