How Viagra Works

Viagra is often the first line of treatment to manage the symptoms of a common condition in men known as erectile dysfunction, also known as impotency. As the name suggests, it is a condition that refers to the inability of the sufferer to maintain an erection required for performing sexual intercourse. Now the severity of this ailment may vary from person to person. Some patients suffer from what can be referred to as complete disability to achieve an erection. While there are people who may manage to get an erection, but not hard enough to make a penetration. And then there are some men who come up with this complaint that although, they are able to get an erection and penetration as well, they cannot sustain it for long thus, eventually losing it. Having any of these problems from time to time, is not a cause of concern. However, if it is a chronic problem, then medical intervention becomes a necessity.

Coming to the main part of our discussion, Viagra was formalized as one of the licensed treatment methods to treat the condition of impotency. The rest of the article will take you through the working mechanism of Viagra.

How Does Viagra Help Manage Erectile Dysfunction?
In order to understand how Viagra works, it is beneficial to understand the basic facts about erections. As a response to an act of sexual arousal, the brain communicates nerve signals, which are also sent from the penis. These signals cause the secretion of a chemical (nitric oxide) in the body that works to induce a relaxing effect in the muscles of the penis. These muscles, otherwise, stay in a constricted state. This is to stop blood from flowing into the penis. But when the muscles get relaxed, a large amount of blood gushes in the nerves of the penis resulting in an erection. Now this erection is lost when another chemical (phosphodiesterase type 5) is produced by the body to cease the effect of the nitric oxide. When this chemical is released, blood flow is stopped, and the penis loses its erection, and becomes flaccid.

Now what Viagra does is, it hampers the function of phosphodiesterase type 5 thus, enhancing the function of nitric oxide. When the later chemical remains in a larger quantity, the blood flow to the organ increases thus, preventing the muscles from constricting. And in this way, depending on the strength of the drug, the erection can be maintained for a longer period.

How Fast Does Viagra Work?
The rate at which the drug works may not be the same with every man. Some may be able to achieve a quick erection, which of course has to be stimulated first. While some may have to wait for a little while. However, the drug, as it has been studied under clinical trials, starts showing its effectiveness in about 14 minutes. Also, some achieved erection after as long as 30 minutes of using the drug.

How Long Does Viagra Take to Last?
On an average, the effect of the medicine remains for about a couple of hours. Four hours is the time for which the drug is supposed to work though.

Common Side Effects of the Drugs You Must be Aware of
As it is with any type of medicines, you must be aware of the probable side effects of Viagra too. The common ones may include:

• Flushing
• Digestion problem
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Runny nose
• Heartburn
• Pain in the back and muscles in other parts of the body
• Nosebleeds
• Abnormal but temporary changes in vision

Who Must Not Take Viagra?
Medical experts have laid down a few precautions to be followed by people before using the drug. It is not safe to use the medication if:

• You have a history of or recently have had a stroke or any heart problems
• You have eye problems
• You have a history of liver or kidney disease
• You have had severe dehydration recently
• You have been diagnosed with conditions such as sickle cell anemia, and leukemia to name a few
• You are suffering from low blood pressure or high blood pressure

To conclude, it is important to understand that merely taking Viagra does not cause erection. For the medicine to work, the chemical nitric oxide needs to be released first, and the blood flow has to be initiated. The drug only helps in maintaining the chemical for a longer period of time thus, keeping the erection prolonged.