[ad_1]
A recent study found that Viagra has an additional advantage over its common function, after discovering that it could one day be used to protect the heart and save lives.
It may come as a shock to those who know the little blue pill as a reliable remedy for impotence.
Read more
But the drug has been shown to severely suppress abnormal heart rhythms called arrhythmias, according to scientists at the University of Manchester.
Arrhythmia is a common problem and is often caused by a heart attack or non-fatal heart disease, as well as viral infections, recreational drugs, and alcohol. Certain types are a common cause of stroke or heart attack.
The study was carried out on sheep. But Dr. David Hutchings, lead author of the study, said: “We believe this finding is likely to be relevant to humans. The human heart is the same size as the heart of a sheep, as is the case with anatomy and associated electrical circuits. “
So, this discovery could one day unlock the potential for an effective cure for what could be a devastating problem.
“It is clear that anyone with arrhythmia should not self-medicate and should consult their GP for advice on current treatment options,” he added.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation and recently published in the journal Circulation Research, could change the way heart disease is treated.
Read more
The drug was able to suppress an arrhythmia called Torsades de Pointes in a sheep within 90 seconds by decreasing the frequency of irregular heartbeats caused by the abnormal handling of calcium. It also reduced the risk of developing torsades de pointes, which can lead to sudden cardiac death.
“Toursade de Pointes” describes a polymorphic ventricular tachycardia with characteristic ECG features.
Professor Metin Avkiran, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation, noted that sheep heart cells are “similar to human heart cells.”
He continued, “A better understanding of how arrhythmias occur could pave the way for better prevention and treatment. However, more research is needed before Viagra and similar drugs can be reused to treat abnormal heart rhythms. in patients. “
Previous research in humans has shown great promise, with a 2016 BHF study finding that diabetics who used Viagra had a lower risk of heart attack and an increased likelihood of surviving a heart attack. This was supported by a Swedish study, the results of which were published in 2021.
Principal investigator Professor Andrew Trafford, University of Manchester, said: “There is still a lot of work to be done, but we believe we are approaching an effective and robust alternative to current treatments.
Read more
Viagra is believed to stop arrhythmias by reducing the amount of calcium in the cells of the heart, since calcium is the primary driver of the heart’s pumping action.
When it enters heart muscle cells called myocytes, it releases a calcium store called the sarcoplasmic reticulum to release more calcium.
When the heart is sick, the heart becomes overloaded with calcium, which in turn leads to an abnormal heartbeat, arrhythmia.
And the active ingredient in Viagra, called sildenafil, was able to block that in 90 seconds in sheep.
Dr Hutchings said: “Not only did this study prove that Viagra has a potent anti-arrhythmic effect on living heart tissue, our cellular studies also revealed the mechanism by which this occurs.
While the results are interesting, there are general warnings about taking Viagra for people with heart disease.
National guidelines state that drugs like Viagra can only be prescribed for at least six months after a heart attack.
People with low blood pressure should not take this group of medicines (PDE5 inhibitors) because they dilate the arteries and lower blood pressure even more.
Most of the time, it is safe to take it with other heart medicines, other than some medicines used to treat angina.
Source: The Sun
[ad_2]
Source link
