Debunking the myths about Sildenafil
Erectile dysfunction is one of the most common sexual dysfunctions in men, where an individual loses the ability to sustain or even achieve an erection. There are many underlying causes of erectile dysfunction; physical and psychological conditions can influence the onset of this condition, even in young men.
The stigma attached to this condition is so much that men are not comfortable talking about this condition out in the open. While some men make it a part of life, it should be encouraged that men seek help when dealing with this situation.
The first step is communicating with their partners. If the causes are psychological, behavioral, or, sex therapy may help.
However, if the causes of the condition are physical, medications can be prescribed by your doctor. One of the most popular drugs used to cure erectile dysfunction is Sildenafil, commonly known as Viagra. Though it has been around for two decades, the drug still has certain myths and misconceptions surrounding it.
This is primarily due to a lack of awareness and irresponsible dosing. Here, we aim to explain and also debunk common myths attached to Viagra.
Myth 1: It is terrible for the heart
Itself, the drug does not harm the heart, but its affiliated use with drugs that cause dilation of blood vessels, called nitrates, is prohibited. These drugs are used in patients with heart diseases, such as angina pectoris. They can cause a severe drop in blood pressure if taken along with Viagra, causing insufficient blood to reach the organs, including the heart.
Sildenafil was initially designed to treat angina, but later better drugs were developed. It is currently being used for erectile dysfunction, pulmonary hypertension, and a disorder called Raynaud's Phenomenon, a discoloration of toes and fingers due to psychological or environmental factors.
Myth 2: Viagra damages your eyes
Taking Viagra will not prevent you from seeing your partner well during sex. Still, visual disturbances can occur in 2-11% of people who consume it, such as changes in the colors they see, blurred vision, or discomfort with light (photophobia).
These alterations are associated with the dose consumed, generally, when high doses are taken, 100 mg or more in 24 hours.
With high doses, redness of the skin (mainly the face), headache, abdominal discomfort (dyspepsia), and bleeding from the nose (epistaxis) may also occur. Therefore always consult a professional on dosing. One good website to refer to is https://viagra.edu.pl.
Myth 3: Viagra gives painful erections that last hours
This condition is known as priapism, and it is scarce to occur only with the use of Viagra. Still, the risk increases if the patient receives injection therapy (directly) into the penis, also used for erectile dysfunction.
These drugs relax the tissue in the penis and open the blood vessels in the penis, causing an erection. Also, other diseases are predisposed to priapism, such as sickle cell anemia, multiple myeloma, or leukemia.
If you have any of the above, the idea is that you do not consume the medicine or that you do it only under a medical prescription (urologist). If you develop an erection that persists for 4 hours or more, you should consult the emergency department.