Posted on 09/02/2021 2:01:01 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Viagra, used to treat sexual impotence, can strongly suppress abnormal heart rhythms known as arrythmias in sheep according to scientists.
In female sheep, the drug—also known as sildenafil—was able to suppress an arrythmia called Torsades de Pointes within 90 seconds by reducing the frequency of irregular heart rhythms caused by abnormal handling of calcium.
It also reduced the probability of Torsades de Pointes, which can lead to sudden cardiac death. However, the team believe the drug could treat other arrythmias as well.
Cardiac arrythmias often follow a heart attack, or result from heart disease. Though often benign , they can cause symptoms including palpitations, breathlessness, fainting and sometimes sudden death.
Treatments such as beta blockers and implantable defibrillators exist, though are not always effective.
Working on isolated sheep heart muscle cells known as myocytes, the research team were also able to measure their calcium stores- as well as their electrical properties.
Although calcium is a key driver of the heart's pumping action, its overload can be a root cause of arrythmias. Viagra was able to suppress the mechanism in the cell which causes calcium overload.
When a small amount calcium enters a myocyte, it triggers the Sarcoplasmic Reticulum (SR)—a calcium store—to release a larger quantity of calcium.
When there is heart disease, the SR can become overloaded with calcium which in turn makes the heart beat at the wrong time- when it is supposed to be resting between beats.
"In 2016, our study of patients with diabetes showed that incidental use of Viagra was linked with reduced heart attack risk and improved heart attack survival."
"In 2019, we found that Viagra can slow or even reverse the progression of heart failure in sheep and this work dramatically extends those important findings providing another tool with which to beat heart disease."
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
In female sheep, huh?
Just in time for our Afghani friends.
That’s hard to believe.
😜
I’m keeping my mouth shut on this one. There is only on place for this thread to go.
“There is only on place for this thread to go.”
Up?
What if one takes it with cocaine, Jack Daniels, and a woman of the evening?
Asking for a friend.
It’s a good thing we are not using it for horses.
"AMERICANS ABANDONED IN AFGHANISTAN?
It was originally developed as a heart drug.
But then it had a curious side effect that was found to be worth more money.🤔
“How about a scrip for the stuff, Doc? It’s for my Sarcoplasmic Reticulum.”
Sorry...I ain’t goin’ anywhere near this one!
"AMERICANS ABANDONED IN AFGHANISTAN?
If it didn’t disappear inside your body, the Viagra did its job.
lol
LOL! Yep, that’s what happened.
Spine
They are really bring the wood out in support of Pfizer.
Strongly?
Why not firmly or stiffly?
If I’m it mistaken the original intent behind it was as a blood thinner to help with heart conditions. Lo and behold it had an unforeseen result that they were able to market.
Kind of like scotch guard and other things
Good to have another way to fight hardening of the arteries….
Nitrates are vaso-dilators.
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