The Dr.
Have you ever heard of the small blue pills that can help with erectile dysfunction?
Most of you definitely have, as the medicine is quite popular and has remained the undisputed king to date when talking about the care of erection problems. Some of you may have even used these pills at least once in your life.
Yes, we are talking about Viagra (Sildenafil). The chemical inside the pill is a Phosphodiesteras-5 (PDE5) inhibitor that inhibits an enzyme and relaxes the blood vessels in the penis. As more blood flows to the penis, it helps with erection. It is a highly effective medicine for people having erectile dysfunction.
The problem is that Viagra has become one of the overly prescribed and abused medicines over the years. A large proportion of the population using Viagra is young adults who use it more for recreational purposes rather than for therapeutic use. Research conducted from 2006 to 2007 in the United States found that 4% of otherwise healthy young individuals have used Viagra for recreational purposes. However, now, particularly in countries like Ethiopia, where no strong regulations are, and people can easily get the pills from pharmacies without any prescription, it has been found that more than 66% of men are using Viagra for recreational purposes.
Why such a vast number?
It is a common perception that medicine can enhance sexual performance, including coital frequency, duration, and the quality of erection. However, it does not do any of it, especially in people with no erectile dysfunction. Most of the young lads who use Viagra for recreational purposes got information about the drug primarily from their friends or the internet. So, most individuals haven’t consulted a healthcare professional before using Viagra and are unaware of the actual benefits or side effects.
By the way, have you ever pondered whether Viagra can impact your health too? After all, it’s medicine. Don’t worry if you don’t know about it. In the following section, we shall discuss how the use of Viagra affects men’s health.
Viagra can exert specific harmful impacts on the health of men. This mainly happens when the pills are taken in the wrong dosages without a prescription. The most common negative consequences are the side effects themselves.
Sildenafil not only relaxes the blood vessels in the penis but also within other parts of the body. For instance, blood vessels supplying the skin also get dilated, resulting in the skin’s flushing or rosy, red appearance. Similarly, when it happens in the brain, more blood flows to the organ and causes headaches. In fact, headache is the most common side effect of Viagra. Roughly 25% of men taking the pill develop varying degrees of headache. Other side effects may include nasal congestion, nose bleeds, rash, etc.
On the other hand, Viagra also causes hypotension. When the blood vessels dilate, they get more room for the same blood volume. As a result, the blood pressure decreases. This drop in blood pressure can compromise the perfusion to the brain, which in turn can produce symptoms like nausea, dizziness, and lightheadedness. If severe, it can cause fainting too.
Moreover, men using Viagra in high doses without prescription can also develop vision problems, like blurring, light sensitivity, color blindness, blue-colored vision, or vision loss. The exact mechanism is not well-known; however, it is believed that either it happens due to a decrease in blood supply to the optic nerve or the medicine interferes with a similar kind of enzyme present in the cells of the retina.
Although rare, Viagra can also cause hours-long painful erections, also known as priapism. However, it does not occur with Viagra alone unless a very high dose has been taken or when it is used along with other drugs having a similar action. Besides, it can interact with recreational drugs, like cocaine, ecstasy, cannabis, etc., that young individuals use for fun. Priapism is a medical emergency. If not relieved timely, it can lead to irreversible erectile dysfunction.
Other side effects may include indigestion, rash, hearing problems, muscle, backaches, etc. All these ill effects discussed so far are temporary and resolved on their own once the effects of Viagra wear off.
In people with comorbid heart conditions, Viagra can cause irregular heart rhythms, stroke, or even heart attacks. However, the incidence is quite rare and does not usually happen.
Apart from that, Viagra also imparts some psychological and sexual impacts in the long run. Although the pill temporarily boosts your confidence by giving you a good erection, research has found that people using such medications for the long term reported lower erectile confidence and sexual satisfaction. It is because they start to rely overly on the pill, even if they necessarily need it.
Well, the most significant benefit of Viagra is a better sex life. It helps you with erection problems. As sexual sturdiness is usually considered a sign of manliness, the pill also indirectly increases your self-esteem, confidence, and self-worth.
Moreover, a new study has shown that Viagra is not only good for your sexual life but also for your heart. It prevents your heart muscle from thickening and decreases the risks of early-stage heart failure,
Besides, like the penis, Sildenafil also relaxes the smooth muscles of the prostate, which in turn eases urination in older people with prostate problems.
Viagra is being overly used nowadays, and most men use it for recreational purposes without any prescription. If not used correctly, it can cause some harmful impacts on men’s health, including side effects like flushing, headaches, dizziness, hypotension, visual and hearing problems, etc. So, always consult a medical expert before using such medications.
References
Atsbeha, B. W., Kebede, B. T., Birhanu, B. S., Yimenu, D. K., Belay, W. S., & Demeke, C. A. (2021). The weekend drug; recreational use of sildenafil citrate and concomitant factors: A cross-sectional study. Frontiers in medicine, 1330.
Giannetta, E., Feola, T., Gianfrilli, D., Pofi, R., Dall’Armi, V., Badagliacca, R., … & Isidori, A. M. (2014). Is chronic inhibition of phosphodiesterase type 5 cardioprotective and safe? A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. BMC medicine, 12(1), 1-18.
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Hello and Welcome! I’m the founder and editor of GEEMS Everyday Women’s Lifestyle Magazine - a trendy, refreshing, and feel good read made with the everyday woman in mind. Think real life, real style and real conversations. And if you love the magazine, you’ll love the website too. We bring that same vibe digitally, with articles that are stimulating, informative, and easy to enjoy - covering the things that matter to you, in a way that feels relatable and right on time.
