It can pose serious health risks.
In 1998, troubled men in bed received a gift that almost saved their lives (at least their sex lives). It was then that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Viagra as the first oral medication to treat erectile dysfunction.
However, they should not be used if they have cardiovascular disease (or if they are at high risk for a heart attack), who have had kidney or liver failure, or who are taking other medications that may interact with viagra.
This is because, like any medication, viagra has side effects and in some men, it can be extremely serious.
First, think about how viagra works to get started. The medication relaxes the blood vessels, helping blood flow to your penis to cause an erection when you become aroused. But, viagra also relaxes blood vessels throughout the body, said physician Philio Werthman, director of the Center for Male Reproductive Medicine and Vasectomy Reversal in Los Angeles.
This can lead to a dangerous drop in blood pressure, he said. As a result, you could lose consciousness, and if your blood pressure drops enough to deprive your brain of oxygen for just four to five minutes, you could die.
Men who are older and those who take other medications, such as nitrates for chest pain, are at increased risk for the serious side effects of Viagra. This is why doctors generally do not prescribe it to men with these risks, and if they do, they monitor their doses carefully and look for possible side effects throughout treatment.
Also, there is another important factor that could be overlooked: erectile dysfunction is often a symptom of other serious health conditions.
In fact, erectile dysfunction could be a symptom of some silent cardiovascular disease, and according to 2013 research from the U.S. Emergency Service, it could emerge three to five years before a heart attack or stroke occurs. According to research, this is because the arteries in the penis are smaller than those in the heart: 1 to 2 millimeters compared to 3 to 4 millimeters in diameter. Therefore, the arteries below the waist can become clogged with plaque earlier, which will have consequences in that area, before problems with the heart appear.
This is one of the benefits of talking about any erection problem with your doctor: it can be a red alert that something else could be brewing in your body that also needs to be checked. Your doctor can perform tests to make sure your heart is healthy and, if something is wrong, can provide you with appropriate treatment.