The "little blue pill" Viagra (sildenafil citrate) can prevent heart attacks among diabetic male patients, a new study found.
In particular, diabetic patients who take the male impotence drug have lower risks of suffering a heart attack or dying from heart failure when compared to patients not taking Viagra.
Researchers from the University of Manchester's Centre for Cardiac Research analyzed 6,000 diabetic patients who were prescribed with Viagra. The drug treats erectile dysfunction by increasing blood flow.
While diabetic patients have high risks of developing heart conditions, the participants who took Viagra had lower incidents compared to patients not taking the drug.
Led by Professor Andrew Trafford, the research team aimed to show that the drug is also capable of preventing arrhythmia or abnormal heart rhythm.
"Our studies have shown that drugs normally used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, such as Viagra, actually have a very pronounced effect in slowing the progression of heart failure as well as reducing the likelihood of fatal arrhythmias," said Trafford.
Experts point to PDE5i, a key ingredient in Viagra that relaxes the blood vessels, to explain the added benefits. PDE5i also helps in preventing damage to the cells of the heart. Heart failure occurs when the heart fails to pump sufficient blood around the body at the right pressure as it used to.
This heart condition has huge impacts on the patient's quality of life. Unfortunately, about a third of patients hospitalized for heart failure die within a year, Trafford added.
The British Heart Foundation funded the research and the findings are scheduled to be published in the BMJ Heart journal.
According to the National Health Service, approximately 900,000 people in the United Kingdom are diagnosed with heart failure. While the condition can affect people in all age groups, the condition is prevalent among older adults. Over half of all heart failure patients are more than 75 years old.
Heart condition is linked to several other severe health conditions such as hypertension, coronary heart disease and heart attack.
Viagra Prescription Surges
The Health & Social Care Information Centre in the UK found that in 2014 alone, the total number of sildenafil prescriptions were 1.7 million. In comparison, there were only 1.4 million sildenafil prescriptions in 2013.
However, it seemed that the dramatic increase in prescriptions was linked to "solid marketing thinking," said Dr. Abraham Morgentaler, who authored the books The Viagra Myth: The Surprising Impact on Love and Relationships and The Truth About Sex: Intimate Secrets from the Doctor's Office.
"Viagra has been a boon to men with sexual problems, and a talisman to those without. It should be no surprise that prescription rates would increase as costs comes down," said Morgentaler.
