Viagra – Beating the dead horse
Every week I see at least 10 men in my office with a new onset of impotence. After going though a thorough history and physical examination, I will usually suggest the use of Viagra or one of its brothers and the usual response is “No doc, I donât want a heart attack,â or some form of fear about a heart attack. The problem is not just fear, but misinformation.{{more}}
To summarize, Viagra is safe; it can be used in 99 per cent of men without problems. The one per cent of men who cannot use it know themselves, as they know they already have bad heart disease and should not be exerting themselves. They know they will get a heart attack from almost any extreme physical activity, including sex, which in heart terms is an extreme form of cardiac activity.
Actually, Viagra was first investigated for treating people with chest pain from heart disease (called angina) and hypertension. It was during the trials for this problem that the old men with heart disease reported that they were getting erections they had not had in a long time. The study for the chest pain and high blood pressure was cut short, because the investigators were not getting the results they expected and the erection study was started. This study was an overwhelming success and in 1996, Viagra was approved for use in the UK (where the studies were first done) and subsequently in the US in 1998. Since then, over 1.25 billion prescriptions have been written.
Viagra is still used to treat people with heart disease, but a special type. It is used to treat people whose right side of the heart is stressed or enlarged from pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs). It is also used to treat people who work and train at high altitudes and who suffer from altitude sickness, as it helps to reduce the high pressure in the lungs caused by the high altitude. The US is presently using it with their soldiers in Afghanistan. Viagra is also used to enhance performance in athletes, as it improves the blood flow to the lungs. The IOC is considering placing it on its list of banned substances because of this. Viagra is also being studied in people who have just had heart attacks, but who are not on nitrates. It is supposed to improve the blood supply to the heart, by allowing new blood vessels to reform after a heart attack.
The conclusion is Viagra is safe. It will actually strengthen, not weaken, the heart. It actually increases sexual and physical performance. The rumours surrounding Viagra in this country are as it is said, just rumours.
For comments or question contact:
Dr Rohan Deshong
Tel: (784) 456-2785
email: deshong@vincysurf.com
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