Viagra News (2005)

Nightly Viagra may restore normal erections

When men with erectile dysfunction take Viagra every night, rather than just when the mood strikes them, they may experience a return to normal erections, say researchers at a meeting of men's health specialists. "Nightly treatment may help promote erectile function as the result of this drugs' beneficial effect on endothelial cells," Frank Sommer, MD, said in a news conference. Endothelial cells line the walls of the blood vessels. Erections occur when the blood vessels in the penis dilate and fill with blood. Sommer, chief of andrology in the department of urology at the University of Cologne in Cologne , Germany , presented his findings at a meeting of the American Urological Association.

Viagra protects from pulmonary problems

Viagra, commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction, may also protect men against altitude-induced pulmonary problems, according to a French study in the February issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine .

It concluded that the drug protected against development of high altitude-induced pulmonary hypertension, improved pulmonary gas exchange and limited altitude-induced hypoxemia (deficient oxygenation of the blood).

No adverse effects from sildenafil citrate(Viagra) such as systemic hypotension or alteration in color vision were noticed. Only minor adverse effects, including muscle pain and breathlessness, were recorded. Lastly, sildenafil citrate(Viagra) reduced the hypoxia-induced decrease in exercise performance and did not interfere with acclimatization.