Pros and Cons of Viagra in treating Impotence

When life hits us down with ailments, it is not just the person with the ailment who suffers from it- but it is also his near and dear ones who are affected in some way or another. One perfect example of such an ailment is erectile dysfunction. Also known as male impotence, this health condition does not just cause the man to suffer from stress but it also has the potential to affect his relationship with his partner.

The erectile capacity in men tends to come down with increasing age. But sometimes, this health problem is also seen in younger men who have just crossed the age of 30 years too! Such a health condition, whereby there is a reduced capability to obtain an erection, mainly occurs due to a decrease of blood flow to the penile nerve. It can be due to a number of possible causes ranging from diabetic ailments, blood pressure problems, stress, chronic fatigue to even alcohol abuse, smoking regularly, and so on.

It basically calls for a solution that can help a man to overcome such erectile dysfunction. And a widely accepted name that comes to our mind is Viagra- a potential solution to all your ED problems. The Food and Drug Administration approved the use of this ED pill for impotence treatment in 1998. This erectile dysfunction medicine came to be known as the world’s first oral ED pill as there was no treatment for impotence back then, apart from surgeries.

About this little blue pill: Viagra

Viagra is a classic example of an ED pill which has got proven efficiency in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. It is one of the most preferred oral treatments for male impotence. The ED pill currently occupies 45% of the total market share of ED pills across the world.

Viagra basically works by increasing the blood flow to the penile nerve. The active ingredient in Viagra is Sildenafil. It is a PDE5 inhibitor and as the name suggests, it can inhibit the erroneous PDE5 (phosphodiesterase type 5) from functioning. This enzyme is mainly accountable for decreasing the blood flow to the erectile tissue as it affects cGMP (cyclic guanosine monophosphate)- an important molecule.

Sildenafil can simply block the PDE5 enzyme, allowing more of cGMP to be produced. As a result, CGMP can relax the blood vessels, causing the blood to flow freely to the erectile tissue called corpus cavernosum. The tissue fills in with blood and becomes firm. This is how the man can obtain an erection easily amid his impotence.

Pros and cons of Viagra:

Like any other medication, there are also certain pros and cons of Viagra. These are as follows-

Pros:

1.       The ED pill is safe and convenient for use. Unlike surgeries and use of external devices, this oral medicine does not involve any invasive procedures to treat erectile dysfunction.

2.       Viagra can allow you to maintain an erection for 4 long hours, without having to worry about any inefficiency.

3.       The active drug Sildenafil is also seen to improve athletic performance in many men. This is mostly because of the drug’s ability to send oxygen-rich blood to the pulmonary system.

Cons:

1.       Viagra is not suitable in cardiac health ailments like high blood pressure problems, fast heart rate, chest pain and the like.

2.       Also, Viagra dosage does not go well with high fat meals. The high fat content can reduce the effectiveness of the erectile dysfunction pill. Interestingly, in some men, taking Viagra on an empty stomach can lead to indigestion problems too.

3.       This ED pill is not free from side-effects. Common side-effects of the medication include skin rash, stiffness of the muscles, nausea, vomiting, dizziness or lightheadedness, indigestion, and the like.

Irrespective of the Viagra pros and cons, this ED pill still continues to be a major game-changer in treating male impotence. Side-effects may or may not occur and the pros of this ED pill always seem to outweigh its cons. It is advisable to use the medication under a doctor’s prescription and supervision, so as to get the best possible result.