Can Viagra Increase the Risk of a Heart Attack?

When the sweet hums of intimacy fill the air, but the bird of the night can’t take flight, it’s not uncommon for men to resort to external aid to get hard.

This assistance, more often than not, comes in the form of a blue capsule known as Viagra.

Also known as Sildenafil, Viagra is often touted as a quick and easy way to restore erectile function.

In fact, we bet that you’ve heard about this infamous blue pill from various forms of media as a cure-all for any sexual problems.

However, such claims are far from reality.

In fact, for a large subset of individuals, this unassuming erectile dysfunction medication can be the underlying cause of side effects. In some cases, these side effects can be so severe to the point that you would need urgent medical care.

If you have Viagra on hand and are wondering whether it’s safe to take, we’ve got you.

Let’s look into the potential consequences of taking Viagra, the demographic most vulnerable to Viagra misuse, the typical side effects of the medication, and alternative approaches for treating erectile dysfunction.

Can Viagra Cause a Heart Attack?

To set the record straight, Viagra only rarely causes acute myocardial infarction, or more colloquially known as a heart attack, in healthy people. However, for people at risk, it’s a different story.

A heart attack occurs when the heart muscles don’t receive enough blood flow. Restricted blood flow is associated with nerve vessel damage and artery narrowing, or atherosclerosis. This occurs when too much plaque, fat, and cholesterol build up in the nerves.

Viagra doesn’t contribute to that as it’s a vasodilator. This means its primary role is to expand and widen the blood vessels by stimulating the release of nitric oxide. This phenomenon happens in both the corpus cavernosum in the penis and the rest of the body.

This function does affect the flow of blood and the heart, but it’s not going to induce heart attacks out of the blue.

This description may make it seem as if Viagra helps reduce the risk of adverse cardiovascular events rather than contributes to it, but that’s not the case at all.

Viagra and Nitrate Medications: The Devastating Duo

Some people who take medications for low blood volume, also known as nitrates, face a higher risk of developing myocardial ischemia than healthy people.

In the aforementioned study, around 70% of men who died following sildenafil use had been previously diagnosed with cerebrovascular or cardiovascular disease. This is traced to the critical reduction of blood pressure caused by the interaction of sildenafil and nitrate medication.

For people who took sildenafil, systolic blood pressure typically decreases by about 6 mmHg whereas diastolic pressure decreases by about 4.5 mmHg. Nitrates are also vasodilators that are meant for patients with coronary artery disease and unstable angina, or chest pain.

When there’s a nitrate sildenafil hypotensive interaction, this can be life-threatening to patients with congestive heart failure as it causes severe low blood pressure. Emergency care is necessary during this time to avoid severe heart failure.

Other Side Effects of Viagra

The side effects of Viagra are numerous, and while a heart attack is terrifying in its own right, it’s not the only serious condition that one may develop from Viagra misuse.

Here are other side effects of sildenafil citrate:

• Flushing
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Congestion
• Vision problems
• Heartburn
• Loss of hearing

Who Is At Risk Taking Viagra?

Patients with heart failure are advised against using Viagra.

That said, there are other types of people who should steer clear of this pill as well, namely:

1. People with severe renal impairment
2. People with bleeding problems
3. Men with heart disease
4. Men with Peyronie’s disease
5. People who had strokes
6. Those who are allergic to sildenafil
7. People with uncontrolled high blood pressure

If you are diagnosed with any of the above problems, or suspect that you do, refrain from using Viagra and other ED pills.

Moreover, people taking alpha-blockers, medications used to treat high blood pressure, and liver medications like ritonavir and ketoconazole are also urged to avoid taking Viagra.

Stick with clinical treatments conducted in hospital settings instead.

No Viagra? No Problem: 4 Alternative Treatments To Treating ED

If you are among the many high-risk cardiac patients suffering from erectile dysfunction, know that your situation isn’t hopeless. There are many clinical and natural treatments that you can choose from to improve your sexual state.

Here are a couple of these treatments.

1. Lifestyle modifications: Eating a nutrition-rich diet, exercising regularly, and achieving regular sleep every night can help keep your erections healthy.
2. RestoreWave therapy: This new and non-invasive form of therapy utilizes a probe that emits sound waves that break plaque build-up in the erectile tissue, causing increased blood volume to the penis.
3. ED treatment: Your doctor may prescribe a combination of gels, creams, and injections to improve your erections.
4. Sex therapy: Some cases of erectile dysfunction are purely psychological. In cases like these, it’s best to meet with a sex therapist to address the root cause of your dilemma.

Before diving into any treatment plan, consult with a medical professional to ensure that your specific needs are met.

Regain Your Sexual Vitality at Ft. Lauderdale, Florida’s Top Male Clinic

Taking Viagra can be a quick fix for a healthy man’s erection woes, but it’s not a cookie-cutter solution for all men. Treating it as such can potentially be hazardous to your health and can exacerbate any ongoing health complications.

If you have erectile dysfunction, medical professionals will often urge you to undergo special ED treatment in a clinical setting. Going this route gives you peace of mind knowing that you’re in the hands of capable doctors and reliable and proven resources.

Presently facing other sexual dysfunction conditions? Don’t worry.

Our roster of friendly and professional doctors at Preferred Men’s Medical Center can help you access the best treatment for your specific case, whether it’s for erectile dysfunction, low testosterone, premature ejaculation, medical weight loss, or other sexual health treatment. Contact our men’s clinic today for a free consultation.