Table of contents:
- Is Viagra safe for heart disease patients?
- The side effects of Viagra that people with heart disease need to watch out for
- Tips to safely improve sex life for people with heart disease
One drug that is a mainstay of many people who expect a stronger and longer lasting performance during intercourse is Viagra. Medically, this drug is known as a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor drug (PDE5). With this drug, erections can last longer. However, is it safe for heart disease patients to take Viagra to increase their sex drive? Come on, look at the following expert answers.
Is Viagra safe for heart disease patients?
Heart disease (cardiovascular) is known to increase the risk of sexual disorders, such as erectile dysfunction by 50 to 60 percent. This condition causes a decrease in sex drive, because the penis is unable to achieve or survive for an erection longer.
Ironically, the use of drugs for heart disease also exacerbates this condition. Coupled with stress and depression, it is not uncommon to reduce the quality of the sex life of people with heart disease. That is the reason some people with heart disease have had the desire to use Viagra.
However, many have questioned whether Viagra is safe for people with heart problems?
Basically, strong drugs such as Viagra, Levitra, or Cialis are drugs that are not intended for pleasure and can only be obtained by prescription. Without a doctor's prescription, you shouldn't be able to get this type of medicine from anywhere.
The American College of Cardiology addresses the concerns of cardiovascular disease patients regarding the use of Viagra through a study conducted by researchers from the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm.
The results showed that men who took strong drugs after having a heart attack had a lower risk of dying from heart failure than men who did not take the drug.
"If you have an active sex life after a heart attack, it may be safe to take phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) blocking drugs," says Daniel Peter Andersson, MD, PhD, a member of the study.
So, what are the reasons that make Viagra safe for heart disease patients? Researchers explain that the decrease in the risk of death is motivated by the increase in the quality of sex in patients with cardiovascular disease.
The reason is, a healthy sex life describes high intimacy and satisfaction between partners in a relationship. Moreover, sex also provides benefits for the heart, such as reducing stress, lowering blood pressure, and strengthening heart muscles.
In addition, phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors may have the potential to lower blood pressure in the left ventricle, so as not to overload the heart's pumping function.
Although it is safe, patients with heart disease should not use Viagra carelessly. You can use this powerful drug if your doctor gives you the green light.
The side effects of Viagra that people with heart disease need to watch out for
Although the question of whether Viagra is safe for heart disease patients has been answered, not all patients can use this drug.
Just like drugs in general, Viagra also causes side effects, including:
- Headache
- Stomach pain to heartburn
- Body that feels warm
- Nasal congestion
- Visual disturbances
- Back pain
- Hearing loss
- Indigestion
Therefore, this drug must be used carefully, aka according to doctor's recommendations. In some people, the side effects of Viagra may be more prone to occur. This is because the body responds to drugs differently.
If a patient with heart disease is at risk of experiencing side effects after taking Viagra, drug use should be avoided. Doctors will recommend safer ways to improve sex life in patients with cardiovascular disease.
Then, is this the only condition that makes it unsafe for heart disease patients to use Viagra? It turns out that patients who are prescribed drugs containing nitrates should also avoid using this powerful drug.
Some heart disease drugs, some contain nitrates such as nitroglycerin. In order to reduce symptoms of heart disease, nitroglycerin has the effect of widening blood vessels. Dilation of blood vessels will have an impact on lowering blood pressure.
Controlling or lowering blood pressure is very important to prevent hypertension (high blood pressure), which is one of the triggers and causes of heart disease to get worse. Therefore, heart disease drugs with nitroglycerin are responsible for lowering blood pressure.
On the other hand, the powerful drug sildenafil, brand name Viagra, has the effect of widening blood vessels. Its main target is the capillaries around the penis.
By widening the capillaries in the penis area, an erection can occur perfectly and make it last longer. However, blood vessel dilation also occurs in other areas besides the penis.
This is what causes the side effects of Viagra in people with heart disease to be quite dangerous. The two effects of this drug will react with each other, so that it will lower blood pressure to an extreme. A sudden significant drop in blood pressure can be dangerous, and can even lead to death.
Therefore, avoid using the two drugs simultaneously for a period of 48 hours. Be sure to tell your doctor about any erectile dysfunction you have and any medications you take when treating heart disease.
Tips to safely improve sex life for people with heart disease
Those of you who have heart disease cannot determine for yourself whether Viagra is safe or not to drink. So, you are obliged to consult a doctor further.
If it's not safe, then you don't have to worry because there are many healthy ways to revive your sex drive. Health experts suggest the following ways.
- Improve your diet by choosing foods that are healthy for your heart.
- Avoid habits that exacerbate symptoms of heart disease such as shortness of breath or chest pain, from quitting smoking and limiting alcohol.
- Improve sleep patterns, exercise diligently, and be more active.
- Consider using sex toys or foreplay.
- Do consultations with your partner on sex experts and doctors who treat your condition.
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