Who would have thought 8 years back that sildenafil citrate, a drug used for the treatment of angina pectoris (a cardiovascular disease), could work wonders for treating male erectile dysfunction (ED)? The results were astounding. The drug was less effective for angina but provided astonishing results in treating ED. It was patented in 1996 by the drug company Pfizer and approved for use in ED by the FDA on March 27, 1998. No other drug was approved before in the US to treat ED.

Pfizer used brand name 'Viagra' for its hitherto new product. The name rhymes with the famous "Niagra” falls (ostensibly evokes a sense of incredible erectile and ejaculatory strength). Another theory has it that 'Viagra' originates from the Sanskrit word "vya-ghra", which means tiger. Viagra is also informally known as "Vitamin V", "the Blue Pill", "the Wonder Pill” and various other nicknames. It is a prescription drug and must be taken after thorough consultation with the doctor.

The reasons for the popularity of Viagra are obvious. According to a study, there are estimated 30 million clinically impotent men in the US. The causes for such impotence may be psychological, resulting from stress, fatigue, anxiety, or depression. But over 90% of the time, there are identifiable biological problems. The ED or impotence is prominent amongst men over 50 due to various hormonal changes in the body. This could result in partial or total loss of sexual function. It is here that Viagra scores over the traditional treatment options like penile implants, injectable drugs (into the penis), and vacuum constriction devices.

Viagra Mechanism?

Simply, Viagra keeps the smooth muscle of penis relaxed. A relaxed penis allows good blood flow in and generation of an erection.

Viagra works in sync with the natural processes of the body. It blocks th

e action of type 5 phosphodiesterase enzyme (PDE5). This enzyme, in turn, promotes the accumulation of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), a compound that causes a reduction in the amount of calcium within a muscle cell. This, in turn, results in relaxation of that muscle cell and promotes penile erection. The more cGMP inside the cell, the better the erection will be. However, cGMP is broken down by the PDE5 enzyme, which is available in large supply in the penis. This is why Viagra's ability to block the action of PDE5 is so essential. The drug allows the accumulation of cGMP, which permits an erection to develop and be maintained.

Side Effects

The likelihood of side effects increase as the dosage gets stronger. Some of the known side effects of Viagra are -

Severe headache Dizziness or loss of balance Nasal problems Abnormal vision Indigestion Complete blackouts Severe hypotension (low blood pressure) Sudden death in extreme causes

Overall, despite the obvious risks, Viagra is an incredible positive development for men suffering from erectile dysfunction.

Other Benefits

Recent research has found that Viagra can reduce the effects of stress on the heart. Scotland on Sunday has recently reported that consultants at York hill Children's Hospital in Glasgow are using Viagra as a life-saving treatment for children suffering from pulmonary hypertension, a cause of so-called "blue baby" syndrome that affects the blood flow to the lungs.

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