Viagra, a brand name for the drug sildenafil citrate, is a drug that has become very popular. The drug works by enhancing the effect of nitrous oxide, which is a chemical in the body that promotes the dilation of blood vessels. Viagra, by causing blood vessel dilation, can be used to treat different diseases and conditions. Side effects of Viagra use include headache, flushing, stomach discomfort and nasal congestion.
Erectile Dysfunction
Viagra was initially created to treat erectile dysfunction, according to Drugs.com. Erectile dysfunction is a disorder that occurs when a man is unable to obtain or sustain an erection. Erectile dysfunction can be caused by stress, emotional problems or physiologic abnormalities. Viagra can be used to treat many of the cases of erectile dysfunction. Erections depend upon blood entering into a specific part of the penis called the corpus cavernosum. Nitrous oxide helps facilitate this event, and Viagra further enhances the blood flow. Patients suffering from erectile dysfunction should notice immediate and drastic improvement once they take the drug.
Raynaud's Disease
Raynaud's disease is a condition that causes areas of the body to feel numb and cool when they are exposed to cold temperatures, states MayoClinic.com. Patients may also notice these symptoms when they are under a great deal of stress. The toes, fingers and tips of the ears or nose are the areas most commonly affected. Women are more likely to develop this disease, but the disease is not serious. An abnormal narrowing of the small arteries in the skin causes the disease. The narrow vessels decrease blood flow to the affected areas and cause carbon dioxide to build up. This carbon dioxide accumulation gives the skin a blue tinge. Viagra is able to treat Raynaud's disease by causing these vessels to widen and thus increases blood flow and reduces levels of carbon dioxide.
Pulmonary Hypertension
Pulmonary hypertension is a rare but lethal disorder characterized by extremely high blood pressure levels within the blood vessels of the lung, states Harvard Health Publications. The disease prevents the patient from properly oxygenating blood and can lead to low oxygen levels throughout the body. Furthermore, high blood pressure levels in the lungs can lead to damage to blood vessels and tissues within the organ. Viagra, re-marketed as Revatio, has been listed as a possible treatment for this condition. Viagra forces the blood vessels in the lungs to widen, and this reduces the blood pressure.
