Understanding How Viagra works
Viagra, Cialis and Levitra all Work Simply by Improving Blood Flow!
Dec 6, 2008
Medications like Viagra, Cialis and Levitra - all belonging to the family of drugs termed PDE-5 inhibitors -have been in general use for over a decade. They have proved highly effective for men suffering from the embarrassing condition referred to as Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence )- which in simple English means difficulty in getting an erection hard enough to permit satisfying sexual intercourse.
These three drugs, known pharmacologically as Sildenafil, Tadalafil and Vardenafil respectively, all have essentially the same action within the body. Despite the reputation they have in some quarters of enhancing a man's maleness, they have nothing to do with virility or male hormones like testosterone.
Moreover, they are not able to treat problems like Premature Ejaculation or Male Hormone Deficiency - which are conditions that have a different aetiology and need different treatments.
By understanding what exactly erectile dysfunction is and how these medications work, it will be realised that in the vast majority of men, erection difficulty arises due to defective blood flow in the arteries supplying the penis.
Sexual Stimulation and Increased Blood Flow
When a man is sexually stimulated, a sequence of chemicals is released into his blood stream, the culmination of which is the release of a hormone called Cyclic GMP that acts to dilate the blood vessels going to his penis. When blood flow into the spongy tissues of the penis increases, the organ becomes turgid and erect.
Cyclic GMP does not last long at its site of action, being destroyed by an enzyme termed PhosphoDiEsterase or PDE. If the action of this enzyme could be inhibited, then the naturally produced Cyclic GMP would last longer, blood flow into the penis would be enhanced, and the man would have a more turgid penis - which in effect means a harder erection.
PDE5 Inhibitors
All that Viagra, Cialis and Levitra do is suppress, or inhibit, the action of PDE - which is why they are called 'PDE5 Inhibitors'. The value of these drugs, therefore, is that they enhance the action of a man's natural Cyclic GMP and give him a harder erection. They do not GIVE a man a spontaneous erection - all that they do is make him more Erectable, or more responsive to natural sexual stimulation.
The three PDE5 Inhibitors are claimed by their manufacturers to have slightly different actions. Viagra' s action comes on within half an hour of taking the tablet, its period of action (the time during which the man is highly erectable if he is sexually stimulated) lasting for between 4 to 6 hours. Levitra is similar to Viagra in both its onset of action and period of efficacy. Cialis takes longer to become active - the tablet needs to be taken an hour or two before its action is needed. The period of 'erectability' however is longer than for the other two drugs - in most men lasting for 24 to 36 hours.
Men who feel they would benefit from using one of these drugs should consult their physician, in order to make sure that their Erectile Dysfunction is not an early sign of impending heart disease - since narrowing of the blood vessels to the penis may be associated with similar narrowing of blood vessels in the heart (which could put a man at risk of a heart attack).
Once more serious conditions such as coronary artery disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol have been excluded, having his physician prescribe him one of the PDE5 Inhibitors could well help a man to enhance his erections.
And, presumably, improve his love life.
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