Viagra is a blockbuster drug for men who suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED), a condition characterized by the ability to attain or sustain an erection hard enough for sex.
Developed by Pfizer, Viagra contains sildenafil a drug that was approved by the FDA in 1998 for the treatment of ED. Available in the little blue pills, Viagra has been found extremely effective at boosting erections in men.
Men with diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol are often the victims of ED. But, men who are chronic smokers are also vulnerable to this sexual condition.
Smoking is one of the potential causes of ED because it damages the blood vessels and ED is often caused by the poor blood supply to the penile organ.
Smokers are nearly 40 percent more likely to develop ED when compared to non-smokers. In fact, a study has found that smoking less than 20 cigarettes a day can affect your sex life.
So, what happens if you are a chronic smoker and want to take Viagra for ED?
Smoking hampers erections by narrowing the blood vessels that supply blood to the penile organ. On the other hand, Viagra works by dilating or expanding the blood vessels in the penile organ to cause an erection. So, a combination of Viagra and smoking may nullify each other’s actions.
Viagra has been to be ineffective if you are a chronic smoker. However, in some men who smoke, Viagra may work. In some men, the combination of Viagra and smoking could increase the risk of adverse effects.
In 2016, the topic of taking Viagra and smoking was discussed at Divabetic’s event called “Meet You At the Barbershop” at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. The bottom line is Viagra and smoking is a bad mix.
