Treating heart failure with Viagra

Saturday 1st August 2009 HCFI New Delhi: Sildenafil (Viagra group of drugs) improves exercise capacity and quality of life in patients with systolic (pumping impairment) heart failure, especially in those who develop secondary pulmonary hypertension, said Dr KK Aggarwal President Heart Care Foundation of India, BSNL Dil Ka darbar , MTNL Perfect Health Mela and Director IMAAKN Sinha Institute.

It is a selective inhibitor of type 5 phosphodiesterase, the main phosphodiesterase isoform responsible for hydrolysis of intracellular cyclic guanosine monophosphate in the lung vasculature.

It improves peak oxygen consumption, reduces minute ventilation/carbon dioxide output slope, and acts as a selective pulmonary vasodilator during rest and exercise in patients with heart failure and pulmonary hypertension.

It improves flow-mediated maximal dilatation, ergoreflex on ventilation, and breathlessness both after 3 and 6 months of treatment.

Sildenafil, by improving endothelial activity and muscle perfusion, improves signaling and ventilatory efficiencies, potentially indicating a novel approach in the therapeutic management of heart failure.
In the forthcoming BSNL Dil Ka darbar on 6th September at MAMC and MTNL Perfect Health Mela from October 3-12 at Laxmi Bai Nagar there will be special awareness and check ups on the subject.