Not only to restore an erection

Viagra can be good for the heart

Anna Stavina, XX2 century

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a known risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. It is believed that people suffering from this disease are almost 50% more likely to develop a myocardial infarction. But men with type 2 diabetes, according to a new study, may benefit from Viagra, a drug for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Viagra reduces the risk of myocardial infarction and increases the chances of survival if a heart attack does happen.

Co-author of the study, Professor Andrew Trafford from the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences at the University of Manchester and his colleagues published the results of their work in the journal Heart (Anderson et al., Phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitor use in type 2 diabetes is associated with a reduction in all-cause mortality).

Diabetes affects 29.1 million people in the United States. Approximately 1.4 million more Americans receive this diagnosis annually. The most common form of the disease is type 2 diabetes mellitus – it occurs in 90-95% of patients.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, a hormone that regulates blood glucose levels. Or the body does not absorb the insulin produced. In any case, the glucose level rises, which is accompanied by damage to nerves and blood vessels.

High blood pressure, high cholesterol, overweight and low physical activity are common in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. And all these factors further increase the risk of heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.

According to the American Heart Association, adults with diabetes are 2-4 times more likely to die from heart disease than those without diabetes. 68% of people over 65 years old with diabetes die from cardiovascular diseases.

Viagra reduces the risk of death after a heart attack by 40%

According to Professor Trafford, in earlier studies it was assumed that phosphodiesterase inhibitors type 5 (PDE-5), which includes Viagra (sildenafil), can positively affect the state of the heart in diabetes mellitus. Currently, these drugs are used to treat erectile dysfunction.

In their work, Professor Trafford and his colleagues focused on studying the risks of heart attack and related death in patients suffering from both erectile dysfunction and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The researchers analyzed medical histories dated 2007-2015. The study included data from 5,956 men aged 40 to 89 years with diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus. 1359 participants were prescribed PDE-5 inhibitors for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

It turned out that in general, for 6.9 years of follow-up among those who took PDE-5 inhibitors, the risk of death from various causes was 31% lower.

Among 1,031 men who had a myocardial infarction, the risk of death due to the use of PDE-5 inhibitors was 40% lower compared to those who did not take drugs of this group.

The risk of death among patients with congestive heart failure, transient ischemic attack ("microinfarction") and peripheral vascular disease while taking PDE-5 inhibitors decreased by 36, 40 and 34%, respectively.

In addition, the researchers found that men who took PDE-5 inhibitors had a reduced risk of heart attack. It was 5.2%, while those who did not use these drugs had an 8.9% chance of having a heart attack.

During the follow-up, 432 men died as a result of a heart attack. However, the mortality rate among those who took PDE-5 inhibitors was 25%, while among the rest of the study participants this figure was higher: 42.7%.

Viagra "is useful not only for restoring an erection"

Professor Trafford and his colleagues noted that the new observations confirm the results of previous studies, which claimed that Viagra can have a positive effect on the heart. Scientists are calling for an "immediate study" of exactly how PDE-5 inhibitors can help patients suffering from type 2 diabetes.

"It is possible that the benefits [of these drugs] are much broader [than the treatment of erectile dysfunction]," the researchers noted.

"Our work indicates that drugs for the treatment of erectile dysfunction may be beneficial for the heart. We should know that these medications can reduce the risk of a heart attack and increase the patient's chances of surviving a heart attack if it happens.

 The presence of diabetes mellitus is a serious risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, we have an urgent need for drugs that can reduce this risk. Remedies for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, for example, Viagra, have already passed the registration procedure. So, if these drugs demonstrate their ability to prolong life in clinical trials, they can be used for treatment in the near future," said Professor Trafford.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru  23.11.2016