Viagra has embedded itself into popular culture over the past two decades, becoming one of the most notable pharmaceutical drugs on the market and the punchline of countless jokes. It counteracts erectile dysfunction by helping the body retain more of a chemical produced by the body called cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), which tells the smooth muscles lining an artery to relax, allowing blood to flow through it. The artery that carries blood into the penis to create an erection is usually constricted in those with erectile dysfunction. Viagra therefore increases blood flow through this artery into the penis to create an erection when the user is sexually aroused.
Viagra is clinically effective, but is it safe to use? A limited study from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in 2000 found that of 1,473 major adverse events from Viagra intake, 522 people died, mostly from cardiovascular causes. Most of the deaths were from standard dosages with no reported cardiac risk factors. This needs further study to confirm, but it’s a fair warning to those without ED about potential cardiovascular issues.
Disturbingly, Viagra has been linked to a possible increased risk in the development of melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer. Again, not enough information just from this study, but the authors did conclude this warranted a need for further study.
And then there’s this recent study, revealing that older men who had used drugs like Viagra to combat their ED still expressed concern about their sex life.
Erectile dysfunction can be an incredibly frustrating and potentially emasculating thing to deal with. It’s understandable that men would want to seek out a solution and accept potential side effects. However, there are some natural options that may be worth trying.
Your Brain on Porn has tons of resources that explain why Internet pornography may lead to erectile dysfunction. Consider giving it up for 90 days and seeing if symptoms improve.
The amino acid L-arginine enhances blood flow by converting into nitric oxide, which dilates your blood vessels. L-arginine supplements are available at most health food stores, and are often recommended to ED patients as long as they’re not taking any nitrates. Be careful not to combine L-arginine with nitrates, as this may cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure.
The herb Ginkgo biloba, also available at most health food stores, is also known to enhance blood flow in the body.
If you’re suffering from ED, it’s worth looking into natural alternatives before deciding to go the pharmaceutical route.
