Move over bedroom bother, Viagra could be the latest treatment for heart disease, according to a new study.
In the latest batch of trials from Sapienza University in Rome, the pill which is primarily used to tackle male impotency was found to improve the heart performance of patients with a range of conditions without affecting the subject’s blood pressure.
The pill also helped prevent thickening of the heart’s main pumping chamber, caused by the organ having to exert too much pressure to keep working.
The condition, known as left ventricular hypertrophy, can lead to heart failure as the organ is unable to pump blood around the body.
Italian lead researcher on the project, Dr Andrea Isidori said:
“We found that the main ingredient in Viagra can be used as an effective, safe treatment for several patients with heart disease. Large clinical trials are now urgently needed to build on these encouraging findings.”
Viagra contains an enzyme inhibitor that allows smooth muscle tissue to be more relaxed and sees an increase in blood flow.
The trial of 1,622 patients examined the heart protection implications of Viagra on ventricular hypertrophy, finding that the chemical PDE5i effectively prevented the heart increasing in size and changing shape.
Writing in the journal BMC Medicine, the authors conclude that PDE5i could safely be administered to men who suffer from heart muscle thickening and early stage heart failure.
The study has not yet examined the effects of Viagra on women who suffered a similar heart condition.
