By: Catherine Yeh for Heart1Viagra (Sildenafil citrate) is commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). A general misconception is that this drug can also complicate heart problems; however, Sildenafil citrate was originally created for cardiovascular use. The usefulness for ED was only noted as a side effect in a test study.
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“There has always been this feeling that it benefits the heart,” said Dr. Ian Banks of the Men’s Health Forum. Viagra is not prescribed in this way because it is not licensed for treating heart conditions. In 2005, the British Heart Foundation reported that more studies were needed in order to understand the potential benefits of Viagra.
Multiple studies have suggested that Viagra causes no damage to the heart. Instead, Viagra may aide in treating heart disease. Today, doctors and researchers at Johns Hopkins believe that the popular Viagra drug may be useful for cardiovascular treatments. Viagra works as a heart drug because it expands blood vessels to improve blood flow. It works similarly to other angina drugs. It is important to note that using particular medications, such as nitrate drugs, may be unsafe for men with heart disease.
The team at Johns Hopkins tested the drug on mice with stressed and enlarged hearts. When given Viagra, their hearts remained a normal size. In addition, the results showed that Viagra can be helpful in reversing and quelling the cardiac effects of high blood pressure. Viagra reversed hypertrophy, or heart enlargement, in mice that already had heart failure. “This study shows that Sildenafil can make hypertrophy go away,” said Dr. David Kass, M.D., a lead researcher from Johns Hopkins.
In humans, heart enlargement occurs when the heart’s muscular walls thicken, which is caused by high blood pressure. In these circumstances, the heart can eventually come to a stop. Dr. Kass and his team conducted a study on 35 human participants with no past or present signs of heart disease. Over a three hour period, each patient received two injections of dobutamine, a drug that increases heart rate and the strength at which it pumps. Following the first phase of injection, the patients took a dose of Viagra or a placebo. The team observed that heart rate slowed down by 50 percent in those who took Viagra.
Researchers have discovered that “the enzyme that Viagra and drugs like Viagra block acts kind of like a brake for the heart,” said Dr. Kass. Additionally, he remarked that when Viagra is taken for cardiovascular purposes, sexual stimulation will not occur because the right environment is necessary for that type of side effect.
Dr. Kass is optimistic about the future of Viagra and heart health. If clinical trials go well, Viagra may be used for cardiovascular treatment in a few years, providing greater options for those who suffer from heart disease.
