A recent medical study has revealed a "surprise" related to the drug "Viagra," which is used to treat erectile dysfunction. Researchers from the University of Manchester in the UK found that taking "Viagra" may contribute to heart protection, as reported by the British newspaper "The Times."
The researchers discovered that the drug, used for treating erectile dysfunction, significantly inhibits abnormal heart rhythms known as arrhythmias, which can lead to sudden death. The medication was able to regulate arrhythmias within 90 seconds by reducing the frequency of irregular beats caused by abnormal calcium handling.
Arrhythmias are often followed by a heart attack or can indicate heart disease. The scientists reached their findings through a study funded by the British Heart Foundation, conducted on a group of sheep. By working with the heart muscle cells of the sheep, the team was able to measure calcium stores, which are the primary driver of heart pumping function, and an overload can cause rhythm disturbances.
The experiment demonstrated that "Viagra" was capable of regulating the mechanism in the cell that causes increased calcium, according to the study published in the journal "Circulation Research." Commenting on the study, Dr. David Hatchings, the lead author, stated, "This study not only proved that Viagra has a strong anti-arrhythmic effect on living heart tissues, but it also revealed the mechanism by which this occurs. Although we studied the effect on sheep, we believe this finding is likely relevant to humans, as the size of the human heart is anatomically similar to that of a sheep."
For his part, Professor Mattin Afkiran, the deputy medical director at the British Heart Foundation, said, "The study has given us a better understanding of how arrhythmias occur, which could pave the way for improved prevention and treatment methods."
