Summary
- Side effects of viagra: when the blue pill is bad for the heart!
- Gender and cardiovascular risk in patients
- Cardiac safety and tolerance in the treatment of ED
- Patient Guide: How to Avoid Viagra Side Effects
Side effects of viagra: when the blue pill is bad for the heart!
More
and more men are experiencing erection problems
during sexual activity ,
which often prompt them to use the blue pill, or viagra .
However, an abuse of this drug, in particular
clinical conditions, can cause serious problems
to the male body ,
especially the heart .
In fact, recent studies have highlighted the relationship
between erectile dysfunction (ED)
and cardiovascular disease .
In particular, the role of dysfunction has been clarified
endothelial and nitric oxide in erectile dysfunction and
atherosclerotic disease.
Given
the large number of men receiving medical treatment for erectile
dysfunction, concerns regarding the side effects of viagra need to be addressed . Gender and Cardiovascular Risk in Patients
To
understand the side
effects of viagra , the
First Princeton Consensus Panel
developed a
stratification algorithm for cardiovascular risk
associated with sexual activity
for men with varying degrees of cardiovascular disease. To the
patients were assigned 3
categories : low,
intermediate (including those
requiring further evaluation) and high
risk .
- Patients at
low risk
for heart complications are generally good candidates for
both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for
erectile
dysfunction. For example , patients
with a history of heart attack
, mild mitral
valve disease, pericarditis,
mitral valve prolapse or atrial fibrillation
with controlled ventricular response are not at high risk and
must be managed individually. Most
low-risk patients can
safely engage in sexual activity
or receive
treatment for erectile dysfunction
if necessary.
- Intermediate
or undetermined risk patients
are those
whose heart conditions are uncertain ,
as well as those with multiple risk factors, require
further testing or evaluation
before resuming sexual activity. Based on the results
of this evaluation, these patients can
subsequently be classified as high or low risk
from sexual activity.
-
High
-risk patients
should be stabilized with
cardiology treatment
before considering resuming
sexual activity or recommending treatment for
sexual dysfunction.
Cardiac safety and tolerance in the treatment of ED
Today there are several solutions to combat the problems related to erectile dysfunction, which vary according to the extent of the problem, the needs of the patient and the couple: from drug therapy, from psychological to sexual therapy. .
- PDE –
5 therapy . Phosphodiesterase
5 (PDE-5) inhibitors
are drugs capable of improving
erectile function by enhancing the effect of nitric oxide
(NO); the main mediator of penile erection.
PDE-5 inhibitors are currently approved
by the Food and Drug
Administration for the
treatment of erectile dysfunction although this class of
drugs may have potential benefits
for endothelial or heart function .
It has also been shown that Sildenafil
reduces pulmonary arterial pressure, improves
cardiac output and reduces symptoms of pulmonary hypertension .
- Hypogonadism
and testosterone therapy The use of testosterone, as
an add-on therapy to PDE-5 inhibitors for the treatment
of erectile dysfunction and hypogonadism, has led to
positive outcomes in patients in whom PDE-inhibitor therapy
alone 5 didn’t work. Testosterone
can exert its effect on the vascular wall, either directly or
through estrogen aromatization .
Patient Guide: Avoiding Viagra Side Effects For
both
GPs and specialists, managing patients
with erectile dysfunction , and
concomitant cardiovascular disease or risk factors, presents
unique challenges and opportunities. To understand the side
effects of viagra ,
current guidelines emphasize the need for:
- Do a sexual function assessment , which should be included in the initial cardiovascular assessment for all men.
- Making an andrologic examination and full clinical evaluation, based on a thorough medical history , physical examination, and relevant laboratory tests allows for stratification of patients into high, low and intermediate levels of cardiac risk.
- Have a healthy lifestyle . Marked improvements in erectile function with educational control in obese men have been shown on exercise and weight loss.
For more information on erectile dysfunction and the effects of viagra, contact Dr. De Luca’s office!