Viagra is an effective cure against erectile dysfunction. After all, it isn’t the one number erectile dysfunction drug in the market for nothing. Claiming half of the market is a major feat especially since the two other drugs that work like Viagra are also developed by big pharmaceutical companies. This lead in the market means the people have already accepted Viagra as the brand of choice against the other available brands in the market. Considering that Cialis, one of its two competitions, is said to have a longer effect than Viagra, this lead in the market for erectile dysfunction drugs says a lot.
But Viagra is not just for penile erection. Many people are using Viagra for other purpose as well. This is not surprising — Viagra was created first as a medicine for hypertension (commonly known as high blood pressure and angina pectoris (chest pains because of lack of blood supply due to poor circulation). However, further on in Pfizer’s research, it was found out that the drug has no effect on the said conditions but affects the penile erections. At this time, there were no other medicines that worked against male impotence, so it was developed later on as a remedy for erectile dysfunction. Viagra works by relaxing the arterial wall which affect the penile erection since erection happens when blood circulates and remains in the penis. This is why Viagra has other effects on the body other than just a remedy for male sexual dysfunction.
Because of its nature, Viagra is currently being used as a medicine for pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary hypertension is a condition where the blood pressure in the lung vasculature (which is composed of the pulmonary capillaries, the pulmonary vein, and the pulmonary arteries). This condition causes shortness of breath and affects ones exercise tolerance. It can also lead to heart failure. Because Viagra relaxes the arterial wall, it decreases the pressure in the lung vasculature. In 2005, sildenafil was approved as a cure for this area and is marketed as Revatio, so it won’t be confused with the Viagra (which has a higher dosage). In various reports, it has been said that Viagra can also improve the performance of the heart, which consequently leads to saving lives of its users. This can perhaps to be attributed to the same effect it has on the lungs.
Viagra also cutes the frequency of the condition called the Raynaud’s phenomenon. Raynaud’s phenomenon, named after Maurice Raynaud (a French physician), is a disorder that causes discoloration in certain parts of the body like the fingers and the toes, as well as other extremities. Because the Raynaud’s phenomenon is a vasopastic disorder, Viagra’s effects can help the duration of Raynaud’s phenomenon attacks become shorter by half. Viagra can also reduce mountain/altitude sickness, and prevent certain heart ailments and Becker Muscular Dystrophy.
Of course, this does not mean that one should no longer practice caution when using Viagra. Viagra still has side effects and, if one is not careful, its effects could be more pronounced. Still, all these proves that Viagra is not just a phenomenal pill for curing erectile dysfunction but for curing and preventing certain diseases as well.