LITTLE BLUE THRILL
From silent killers to beating jet lag and Alzheimer’s – all the ways Viagra could boost your health
Including why Viagra can make you better at scaling mountains
VIAGRA holds a special place in the hearts of millions of British men who suffer from erectile dysfunction.
But as it turns out, the little blue pill has another benefit - it could reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
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Scientists from University College London found men who pop sex boosting drugs like Viagra and Cialis were 18 per cent less likely to develop the brain-eating disease compared with those who went without the drugs.
The pills work by widening blood vessels to improve blood flow to the penis – and could also boost circulation to the brain.
But slashing the risk of Alzheimer's isn't the only incredible health benefit of this small but mighty drug.
Other research has discovered it could treat lung and heart conditions, speed up recovery from jet lag and even reduce altitude sickness - what a trooper.
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Make it easier to pee
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As well as helping men maintain an erection, the little blue pill can also make it easier for men to pee.
Around a third of men aged over 50 suffer from urinary problems, with an enlarged prostate usually the nagging cause.
These can include a weak flow of pee, urine dribbling and the frustrating sensation that the bladder isn't fully emptied after peeing.
Viagra works by increasing blood flow to the penis, which temporarily relaxes the muscles in the penis.
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Dr Irwin Goldstein, from San Diego Sexual Medicine, who has studied Viagra, said this has a side effect of "lessening the grip of the prostate on the urethra".
"The higher grip causes difficulty in urinating," he told .
Official trailer for Keeping It Up: The Story of Viagra
Treats pulmonary hypertension
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The NHS is already prescribing Viagra to treat pulmonary hypertension, a rare lung condition.
The disease, which affects around one in every 20,000 Brits, happens when blood vessels that supply the lungs (the pulmonary arteries) thicken.
When this happens, it makes it harder for blood to move through them, which causes a rise in blood pressure.
The reduced blood flow makes it harder for the right side of the heart to pump blood through the arteries.
Over time, this can damage the heart and can be fatal if left untreated.
The active drug in brands like Viagra, sildenafil, can come to the rescue by relaxing blood vessels in the chest and lowering blood pressure in the lungs, making it easier for the heart to pump blood.
Improves stroke recovery
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As well as treating men with erectile dysfunction, Viagra could also work as a treatment for stroke victims, a US study suggests.
More than 100,000 people suffer a stroke every year in the UK and they're responsible for over 38,000 deaths, according to .
Meanwhile, there are 1.3million people in the UK who have survived a stroke - many living with disabilities.
These include speech problems, memory issues and hallucinations.
Results published in in 2003, found the pill could improve memory and movement in rats by helping injured brains develop new cells and blood vessels.
The study's authors, from Henry Ford Health Sciences Center, thought the drugs could have the same effects on stroke survivors.
Reduces altitude sickness
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As well as being kept on people's bedside tables, the little blue pill could be taken on climbing exhibitions.
German scientists found that sex meds help mountain climbers breathe easier and prevent them from becoming unwell.
German scientists logged the pulmonary artery pressure and oxygen levels of 14 people while in a lab.
The same checks were repeated at the Mount Everest base camp, which is around 17,000ft.
Half had been given sildenafil, while the other half acted as the control group.
Results, published in the journal in 2004, show that the drug reduced pressure in the lungs' blood vessels.
Because of this, climbers could better tolerate hypoxia - low oxygen levels, which causes altitude sickness - while climbing.
Shrinks cancerous tumours
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Popping Viagra could also shrink tumours found in the oesophagus, according to new research.
The blue pills shut down enzymes that form protective shields around cancer cells, making it easier for the chemo drugs to blast tumours.
When scientists from the University of Southampton tested the drugs on oesophageal cancer cells in the lab and on mice, they found that chemo was effective in 75 per cent of cases.
For comparison, chemo usually only works in 20 per cent of oesophageal cancer patients.
There are around 7,900 oesophageal cancer deaths in the UK each year - that's 22 deaths every day.
Those who develop the cancer only have around a 20 per cent chance of survival beyond five years.
Help overcome jet lag faster
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The multi-use pills could also be useful for jetsetters who want to overcome jet lag faster, according to another study.
Scientists from Quilmes National University in Argentina, found hamsters that received small doses of sildenafil adjusted more quickly to a six-hour time-zone change than animals who didn't get the drug.
The study, published in the in 2007, said a single dose helped the animals adapt up to 50 per cent faster than usual.
An equivalent human dose would be a small fraction of one single pill.
“It’s true that some people will be worried about the – let’s call them side effects,” study author Diego Golombek said.
“But if we eliminate the erectile effects [by using low doses], I don’t see why people wouldn’t consider taking it.”
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Current treatments for jet lag involve taking multiple doses of the hormone melatonin over several days, which does not work for all travellers.
Taking a Viagra-like medication would be much simpler, according to Diego, because it would probably involve only a single pill.
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