The little blue pill known to give men that lasting power in bed has been found to be good for the heart too, according to a new study by Italian researchers.
Researchers from Sapienza University in Rome, Italy, disclosed that Viagra could provide treatment for heart diseases in addition to providing solutions to problems in the bedroom, reports the Huffington Post.
Metro adds that during the trials, Viagra's active ingredient improved the heart performance of patients with a range of conditions while showing no negative effects on blood pressure.
The Metro article titled: "Viagra good for your heart? It is 'as good for your ticker as it is for your pecker,'" also details how the pill helped prevent the thickening of the heart's main pumping chamber, which is the normal cause of heart failure.
Viagra's effectivity
Viagra is known to treat erectile dysfunction among men by increasing blood circulation to the male sex organ.
Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5i) inhibitor is the main chemical used in Viagra to prevent relaxation of muscle tissues, notes the Huffington Post.
The same chemical was discovered by the Italian researchers to help prevent changes in the shape and size of heart tissue while generally improving the heart condition overall, adds the report.
The research was primarily based on the analysis of 24 trials involving a total of 1,622 patients with varying heart conditions, but not necessarily suffering from impotence, the Huffington Post states.
The study reveals that long-term daily treatment of Viagra can provide protection for the heart at different stages of heart diseases, with few side effects. Findings of the study were published on October 20 in the journal BMC Medicine.
Conclusion
The researchers concluded in their findings that PDE5i could safely be administered to men who are suffering from heart muscle thickening and early stage heart failure, the Metro report points out.
Metro adds, however, that further research on Viagra is still necessary to evaluate the impact of the same chemical on women afflicted with heart conditions.
A number of researches have been done in the past, focusing on the link between erectile dysfunction and heart health. Studies have also shown that men suffering from impotence are also more likely to develop heart diseases, states the Huffington Post.
Viagra is now being sold under the name of Revatio for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension, according to the report.
If the research stayed true to form, men would have the perfect excuse to make over-the-counter purchase of Viagra from pharmacies and drug store outlets - it's for the heart and not for sex.