Is Viagra Beneficial to the heart?

A Number of men have been taking Viagra for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, and it was explained that Viagra doesn’t only affect a man’s sexual function, but it affects the heart. Effects on the hormonal stress human hearts withstand were notably decreasing in men that are taking Viagra. This study, when experimented on mice, was even more noticeable as it had the tendency to avert and undo the harmful long-term side-effects of chronic hypertension suffered by their hearts.

Since we know that Viagra has an effect to dilate genital blood vessels to maintain an erection, studies were done to determine if it has an effect on the human heart. And the studies showed that it has potential benefits for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension. All these studies were headed by the Johns Hopkins researchers. But before them, no one ever thought that Viagra has an effect on the heart.

Viagra works by dulling the increased heart beat, which is the product of chemically-induced stress. It works by decreasing the force needed to pump an excessive amount of blood from the heart through out the body.

David Kass, M.D., a cardiologist and study senior author of Johns Hopkins study, and his researchers performed experiments on mice and found out that Viagra is effective in preventing short-term consequences caused by hormonal stress in the heart. The study also shows that long-term damages of chronic hypertension on the heart can also be prevented and reversed by Viagra. Negative effects of heart failure and cardiac hypertrophy on a deteriorating heart muscles in a mouse experiments performed by David Kass, M.D. and his researchers are also reversed (not fully cured) by Viagra, but no human heart testing were done yet, so no solid evidence has been gathered to prove such claims.

And hence to prove this, they conducted the Johns Hopkins study, and it showed that Viagra also has an effect in slowing heart rate after a dosage of dobutamine was injected. 35 men and women had volunteered to undergo the Johns Hopkins study for a period of six months. Necessary measurements of heart function like echocardiogram, electrocardiogram, and blood pressure readings were taken prior and after the injection of dobutamine (dobutamine is a synthetic derivative of dopamine that increases the heart rate or heart contraction). The study showed an increased heart rate and heart contraction of 150%. Then they were separated into two groups; those who took Sildenafil (Viagra) and those who took placebo pills. Dobutamine was again given to the individuals to see what Sildenafil and sugar placebo has effects to the heart. The results show that the first group’s heart rate decreased by 50% while those from the second group increased to about 150%.

The major success of the Johns Hopkins study got other researchers started on how Sildenafil works when it comes to the immediate and long-term effects on the heart and other potential benefits they could get from Viagra.

As good as it sounds; these studies are all unfinished projects. But as for now, it is good to know that it inhibits the action of phosphodiesterase 5 or PDE5A from breaking down cyclic GMP, in short it means it is a key molecule that aids in the controlling of stress and hypertrophy of the heart.

Viagra Prices