Viagra can help treat erectile dysfunction, reduce pulmonary hypertension, prevent flowers from wilting -- and according to a Montreal study -- the anti-impotence pill is also good for ailing hearts.
Viagra's active ingredient seems to prevent heart damage caused by Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
The drug improved the heart performance of mice that were engineered to develop this common form of muscular dystrophy.
The findings reveal a potential new treatment to ward off cardiac complications in patients suffering from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a genetic disease that affects roughly one in 3,600 males.
The muscle-wasting illness leads to muscle weakness, scoliosis, heart problems and obesity. Few patients survive beyond age 25. Heart failure is usually the cause of death.
Viagra is already prescribed to treat such problems as erectile dysfunction, pulmonary hypertension and altitude sickness.
The drug is shown to be safe, but it's too premature to give it to people to help treat muscular dystrophy.
Viagra's active ingredient seems to prevent heart damage caused by Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
The drug improved the heart performance of mice that were engineered to develop this common form of muscular dystrophy.
The findings reveal a potential new treatment to ward off cardiac complications in patients suffering from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a genetic disease that affects roughly one in 3,600 males.
The muscle-wasting illness leads to muscle weakness, scoliosis, heart problems and obesity. Few patients survive beyond age 25. Heart failure is usually the cause of death.
Viagra is already prescribed to treat such problems as erectile dysfunction, pulmonary hypertension and altitude sickness.
The drug is shown to be safe, but it's too premature to give it to people to help treat muscular dystrophy.