Doctors at the Huntington Medical Center have found that taking Viagra and other erectile dysfunction drugs can reduce the risk of early death in men. The study is published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine .
Scientists analyzed data from about 70,000 men with erectile dysfunction. The study found that men who took erectile dysfunction medications (sildenafil or tadalafil) had a 13% lower risk of serious adverse cardiovascular events. In addition, the risk of death due to cardiovascular disease was reduced by 39%, and the risk of death from any cause by 25%.
Scientists do not yet know if there is a causal relationship between taking Viagra and a reduced risk of death. Men with erectile dysfunction who are able to take these medications and have sex may in principle be healthier than those who do not take Viagra.
Viagra was originally developed to treat angina, chest pain associated with coronary heart disease. When researchers noticed that the drug improved erections, they turned their attention to treating erectile dysfunction.
