Viagra

Many men worldwide take Viagra to combat a common problem called erectile dysfunction. The effects on a man’s sexual function are now widely known. However, you may not be aware that Viagra also has a positive effect on the heart. Men who took the drug revealed lower effects of hormonal stress to the heart. The results of studies conducted with mice were even more surprising; Viagra often avoided or reversed the harmful effects of chronic hypertension on the heart.
John Hopkins researchers studied the effects of Viagra on the human heart since the drug was already known to dilate genital blood vessels in order to maintain an erection. The results revealed that Viagra may be successful in treating pulmonary hypertension. Until that study, Viagra’s positive effects on the heart were unknown.
Viagra effectively dulls an increased heart beat which is caused by chemically-induced stress. The drug decreases the amount of force required to pump excessive blood from the heart to other parts of the body.
A cardiologist and author of the John Hopkins study, Dr. David Kass, and his researchers performed additional experiments on mice. These individuals discovered that Viagra can block short-term effects of hormonal stress to the heart. Viagra is also successful in preventing and even reversing long-term damage caused by chronic hypertension on the heart. The test results revealed that Viagra could reverse the negative effects of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure on the weakened heart muscles of the mice. However, no solid evidence exists because the tests have not been conducted on human hearts.
The John Hopkins study also revealed that Viagra slows the heart rate after receiving an injection of Dobutamine. Test subjects included 35 men and women who volunteered to undergo tests for six months. Electrocardiograms, blood pressure readings and echocardiograms were taken to measure the results before and after the Dobutamine injections. Dobutamine, a synthetic version of dopamine, increases heart contraction and heart rate. Results revealed a 150% increase in heart contractions and heart rate.
The test subjects were then divided into two groups: one took sildenafil or Viagra, whereas the others were given a sugar pill placebo. All of the participants were once again given Dobutamine to measure the effects of sildenafil and the sugar placebo on the heart. The heart rate and contractions of the first group decreased by 50%, but the second group experienced an approximate 150% increase.
After the success of the John Hopkins study, other researchers studies the short and long-term effects of sildenafil on the heart, as well as any other potential positive benefits of the drug. The studies are still in progress, but sildenafil has been proven to inhibit the action of phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5A) from breaking down cyclic GMP. This is a very important molecule that helps to control hypertrophy and stress of the heart.