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According to recent study, for 1% of men who take Viagra, sex comes with nasty side effects that can sometimes lead to an untimely death. However, scientists have never linked the deaths directly to the drug, leaving open the possibility that the physical stress of an amorous routine could be the main cause of the whole issue.
Platelets and Viagra interaction
Scientists studying the blood component known as platelets have stumbled upon evidence that might implicate the drug instead of the sex. Platelets are tiny cell-like disks that collect and form blood clots at the site of an injury. Overactive platelets can clog blood vessels, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
Viagra enhances blood concentrations of a compound that enhances the blood flow to the penis and stimulates production of an enzyme known as cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG). Researchers are aware of the fact that PKG keeps platelets from sticking together because they initially developed sildenafil (the main ingredient of Viagra) to treat heart disease.
The dangers of Viagra are becoming increasingly evident: in 2006 alone, the FDA received 16 reports of death among men who took the drug and, though there is no direct evidence that proves the direct linkage with the pill, at least seven of these men (the majority of them elderly) died during or after intercourse.
Street Drug Poke or Viagra
Some individuals are purchasing Viagra as a street drug (given the street name ‘Poke’). Often, this solves the immediate symptoms, but does not address the root cause and can lead to problems later. There are reports in the media that men are crushing the tablets and snorting them.
This sort of routine may get some of the drug into the blood stream quickly, but it has the risk of all of the other chemicals being left in the lungs, resulting in long term health related risks. Most importantly, unprescribed users are not aware of the possible side effects of using Viagra with other unprescribed drugs.
Talking to the Doctor about Viagra
Viagra is quite a powerful drug and has a significant bearing on blood pressure. Because of this, doctors need to be able to discuss dos and don’ts with a man before he takes Viagra. It is worth mentioning that ‘poppers’ (amyl nitrate) also affect blood pressure and that taking the drugs concurrently can lead to heart failure, which can lead to death.
Viagra does not leave the body instantly so you have to wait at least six hours before risking using amyl nitrate. Your doctor should be aware of this precaution and make sure you are not on medications that can lead to problems when using Viagra.
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