FDA-approved Drugs like Viagra are used for treating erectile dysfunction (ED). They work by increasing the blood flow through the penile blood vessels by causing vasodilation, which relaxes and expands their passages to allow more blood to enter inside. This relaxation of the blood vessels does not happen in the penile only, it happens in the whole body. Since the vasodilating effects of Viagra are experienced in the entire body and not just the penile.
There might be some speculations concerning Viagra potentiating the risk of heart attack. There is no consolidated evidence that can confirm these claims. But mostly, Viagra is not directly linked to a heart attack, but it may increase the risk of it among individuals who are either already diagnosed with it or have it as an underlying condition.
According to some researchers, medications like Viagra that belong under the group of PDE5 inhibitor drugs can be helpful in reducing the strain on the heart. Studies revealed that PDE5 inhibitors trigger the release of nitric oxide, which is a chemical that relaxes the vascular muscles and expands them. This eases the blood flow, thereby making it easy for the heart to get the blood pumped throughout the body without too much strength.
Moreover, those who are using blood pressure medicines and other medicines for treating heart conditions or chest pain (angina) must be very careful, they should avoid using Viagra, which can potentiate their risk of adverse health effects. Their interaction might lead to dizziness, fainting, and even heart attack or stroke in rare cases.
When you combine the use of Viagra and blood pressure medicines, your risk of experiencing a sudden drop in blood pressure will increase. This may happen as blood pressure medications are vasodilators and so is Viagra. Their interaction can lead to a decrease in blood pressure levels, which can have life-threatening consequences.
The function of blood pressure medicines is to relax the blood vessels by causing vasodilation and reducing blood pressure. Given below is a list of blood pressure medicines, that do not go well with Viagra, they include:
How is erectile dysfunction linked to heart disease?
Minor difficulties with erection function once in a while are normal, however, if you frequently experience such difficulty in getting or maintaining erections, then it is a sure sign of erectile dysfunction. The symptoms of erectile dysfunction can serve as an early indication of heart disease.
ED can be linked to heart disease. ED is usually considered a warning sign of an underlying heart disease. Heart diseases are a result of vascular disorders, wherein the blood vessels get damaged due to their hardening or narrowing. This hinders the blood flow and the heart will have to pump the blood with tremendous force to supply the blood to the whole body.
Exertion of greater force injures the delicate walls of the heart, which contributes to its impairment, potentiating the risk of myocardial infarction or heart attack. Vascular disorder such as atherosclerosis is the main culprit, which increases the risk of heart damage, angina, stroke, and erectile dysfunction.
An enzyme known as phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) is responsible for causing plaque accumulation in the passages of the penile arteries, which blocks blood flow and gives rise to erectile dysfunction. It is released by the endothelial walls of the penile arteries, and when it becomes overactive, it clogs the arteries and affects the blood flow.
However, Viagra drugs contain Sildenafil Citrate as the active ingredient, which is a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor that counters the PDE5 action. Further, a potent chemical known as Nitric oxide (NO) gets released in the endothelial walls, which dilates the arteries and overcomes blockages to allow more blood to flow inside the Penile arteries.
Moreover, the release of nitric oxide and vasodilation also happens in the whole body, because of which, the blood pressure levels may drop and remain slightly lower than usual till the effectiveness of medicine remains in the bloodstream. Once the medicine residue is eliminated from the body, the blood pressure becomes normal. This may or may not impact the heart function.
To conclude
Viagra may not cause a heart attack, as it is not directly linked to triggering such an extreme response. Some people might need to be careful because the use of such drugs can increase the risk of heart attack among those having heart-related health conditions. However, there is still a lack of evidence to back these claims. More research is yet to be conducted to draw a clear conclusion.
