There is little evidence to suggest that using Viagra can cause cardiovascular problems. However, Viagra could cause very low blood pressure in people who take nitrates, a medication that treats cardiovascular conditions.
Erectile dysfunction is a condition that affects around
This article looks at how taking Viagra could affect the heart. After providing an overview of the data, it looks at the potential heart risks and benefits of taking Viagra.
It also details who should not take Viagra and its alternatives.
Cardiovascular disease is a significant cause of death in the United States: Around
According to a 2021 review of previous studies, there have been concerns following some reports that Viagra may increase the risk of heart-related events in people with heart disease, such as fatal arrhythmias.
However, the authors note this may not be true for heart-healthy individuals. Researchers have not found using Viagra to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Viagra might even have some heart-related benefits.
As the 2021 review explains, using Viagra does not seem to increase the risk of heart attack.
However, using Viagra may be harmful for people with high blood pressure, mainly if those individuals take medications that lower blood pressure. This is because Viagra can also lower blood pressure.
Doctors do not recommend people who take nitrates to use Viagra, as doing so can cause dangerously low blood pressure.
Viagra may have positive effects on a person’s heart health. Doctors call these effects cardioprotective.
As the same 2021 review notes, some animal studies suggest that Viagra could reduce the risk of heart disease. However, not all studies agree with this finding. More research, and research in humans, is necessary.
Because of its potential to lower blood pressure, there is some
Researchers recommend that people who take nitrates should not use Viagra. Nitrates are a treatment for high blood pressure. Doctors also use nitrates to treat angina. Angina is a form of chest pain that results from reduced blood in the heart muscles.
People
- Pulmonary veno-occlusion: a blockage in the blood vessels carrying blood from the lungs to the heart
- Left ventricular outflow obstruction: low blood flow from the heart’s left ventricles
- Sickle cell anemia: a condition that causes problems with the red blood cells
- Multiple system atrophy: a condition that causes damage to the brain’s nerve cells
Scientists have developed several medications to treat erectile dysfunction. According to the
- vardenafil (Levitra or Staxyn)
- tadalafil (Cialis)
- avanafil (Stendra)
Some lifestyle strategies could also help with erectile dysfunction. These include quitting smoking, exercising regularly, and reducing alcohol consumption.
Such measures
Viagra is a popular medication for erectile dysfunction, a common health problem in males.
Viagra does not appear to affect heart health significantly. Many people with cardiovascular conditions can take Viagra safely. However, one heart-related risk of taking Viagra is dangerously low blood pressure.
If someone has low blood pressure, they should not use Viagra. This includes people whose low blood pressure arises from taking nitrates, a treatment for several cardiovascular conditions.
Some evidence from animal studies suggests that Viagra could have protective properties against cardiovascular conditions. However, scientists have not confirmed such effects in humans.