Overcoming Heart Problems Due to Viagra

The effect that Viagra (and Cialis and Livitra) has is that which causes relaxation of the smooth muscles in the penis to accept more blood and enlarge it. Also there's an increase in sympathetic nerve activity which causes small blood vessels to constrict. There have been several reports of heart attack, heart arrhythmia and even deaths that have been related to victims who were using Viagra. That is because the heart muscles are fed blood via small blood vessels and thus can be affected.

The sympathetic nervous system is involved with quick “fight or flight” responses whereas the parasympathetic system is involved with slower relaxing responses. Sympathetic activity reduces digestive secretions, speeds the heart, and contracts the small blood vessels so that more blood is available to muscles and lungs (for fight or flight).

It seems contradictory that sympathetic nerve system dominance can cause heart problems because it is supposed to increase blood flow to muscles, including heart muscles. But it seems that with sympathetic nerve dominance, when not exercising, the "at rest" state of the small blood vessels, including those that feed the heart muscles, is constricted. When exercising (or doing anything that increases heart rate) the small vessel constriction in the muscles is overcome due to the increased blood pressure of a fast beating heart.

I know someone who got this problem after taking Livitra about 12 times. He has a constant dull ache in his heart but is fine when exercising. He has constant shortness of breath also, probably due to constriction of the small blood vessels going to the lungs. And he demonstrates other symptoms of sympathetic nerve dominance; overexcitability (easily startled), nervousness, anxiety, fear.

There are two ways to reverse overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system; exercise and use of cranial electrotherapy.

Please read these reports:

How exercise reduces sympathetic nerve activity
http://www.med.wayne.edu/physiology/facultyprofile/mueller/cepp.pdf

CRANIAL ELECTROTHERAPY STIMULATION stimulates the vagus nerve, producing a state of parasympathetic nervous system dominance. (thus reducing sympathetic nerve dominance)
http://www.drdebe.com/safe-effective-alternative-to-drugs-in-the-treatment-of-anxiety-depression-and-insomnia.html

A really good CES unit is made by Sota Instruments in Canada. It is called the Brain Tuner. I have one that has been collecting dust ever since I used it years ago to overcome a problem with depression. 

Herbs to calm the sympathetic nervous system:
http://www.rosebearmedicinals.com/blog/nervines-herbs-nervous-system

Study Confirms Viagra Risky To Those With Heart Disease
http://seniorhealth.about.com/library/weekly/aa010701a.htm

The drug sildenafil citrate, better known as Viagra, has been one of the most successful drugs introduced within the last few years. The FDA approved Viagra, the first oral drug available to treat impotence or erectile dysfunction, in March 1998. It is estimated that erectile dysfunction affects as many as 100 million men around the world. Viagra has been a consistent high performer for drug company Pfizer since it was introduced. But the drug is not without risk. Since its launch, recommendations have cautioned prescribing this drug to men with severe cardiovascular disease, especially to those men using nitrates (such as nitroglycerin) to treat heart failure.

Viagra helps men with erectile dysfunction achieve and sustain an erection by targeting nerves acting on the smooth muscles that regulate blood flow to the penis. By relaxing the smooth muscle, blood flow is increased to these blood vessels and an erection is achieved. The drug is taken in pill form about an hour before sexual activity. Studies have shown that the drug has little or no effect in causing an erection in the absence of sexual stimulation.

Unfortunately, the action that Viagra has on nerve activity that causes relaxation of the smooth muscles in the penis, also seems to increase sympathetic nerve activity (the nerve activity that causes blood vessels to constrict). There have been several reports of heart attack, heart arrhythmia and even deaths that have been related to victims who were using Viagra.

A study published in the Dec. 19 issue of the professional journal Circulation looked at this nerve activity, focusing on its effect on heart function especially during physical and mental stress - exactly the kind of stress a man could encounter during sexual activity.

This study comes from the University of Iowa Cardiovascular Research Center. The researchers looked at the effect of Viagra both at rest and during stressful situations. The study participants were 14 healthy men, with no documented heart disease, between the ages of 25 and 39. Baseline measurements of blood pressure, heart rate, noradrenaline levels and sympathetic nerve activity were measured. During the study, the research subjects were given 100 mg tablets of Viagra or a placebo and then have a 60-minute rest period. The measurements were repeated at 30 and 60 min. After the rest period, each participant's cardiovascular response was measured during stressful situations which included exercise, mental stress and cold exposure.

The researchers found that study participants who took Viagra had more than double the sympathetic nerve activity and a 30 percent increase in blood levels of noradrenaline. Sympathetic nerve activity increased even more dramatically during stressful conditions.

Patients who have cardiovascular diseases like heart failure already have increased sympathetic nerve activity. The high and sustained sympathetic activity caused by Viagra during rest and stress is damaging to the heart and heart function over a long period.

Conclusions

Men with unstable cardiovascular disease should not use Viagra. These include history of heart attack or diagnosis of heart failure. Men taking Viagra should notify their physicians if they have any problems while taking Viagra, such as dizziness, loss of consciousness or palpitations. Men seeking a treatment for erectile dysfunction with Viagra need to obtain a prescription from a physician who has a complete knowledge of their health history and any medications that they may be taking. Viagra is a very powerful medication that has improved life for a great many men, but it is also dangerous for many. If your medical condition prevents you from taking Viagra for erectile dysfunction, talk to your doctor about alternative treatments.

What I recommend is the supplement Prelox by LifeExtension. It is the best natural way to "get it up".