‘This initial observation on Viagra’s beneficial role in reducing the risk for Alzheimer’s Disease will require multiple large independent worldwide evidence-based randomized clinical studies for confirmation…’
SILDENAFIL Citrate, popularly known as Viagra, was originally developed to treat angina because it dilates arteries. However, the beneficial effect for angina was not impressive and researchers discovered that the side-effect of Viagra (penile erection) instead was more effective for male erectile dysfunction.
My very first article on Viagra on June 18, 1998, after the US-FDA approved Sildenafil Citrate on March 27, 1998, was about the “giant blue” miracle pill from Pfizer.
On top of this wonderful discovery, which has saved a lot of relationships, Sildenafil was also found effective in controlling pulmonary arterial hypertension, even in infants, and good therapy for altitude sickness in humans and jetlag in hamsters. Recent studies with a 6-year show Sildenafil reduces the risk for Alzheimer’s by an impressive 69 percent.
For the treatment of erectile dysfunction, Sildenafil stimulates the production of nitric oxide, which activates an enzyme that relaxes the muscles, arteries, and veins of the penis, allowing the flow of more blood to engorge the penis and keep it erect for successful penetration.
Warning: Viagra should not be taken when one is on any nitrate (coronary dilator) medications for angina, like nitroglycerine, Peritrate, Imdur, Isordil, Nitrobid, etc. The combination causes sudden drop in blood pressure and shock. Sildenafil is a prescription drug and should be used only under a physician’s direction.
This initial observation on Viagra’s beneficial role in reducing the risk for Alzheimer’s Disease will require multiple large independent worldwide evidence-based randomized clinical studies for confirmation before the therapy could be accepted as a standard of care.
Stroke prevention
Around three million people in the United States have atrial fibrillation, the most common heart rhythm ailment, causing irregular heartbeat. This condition increases the chance of blood clots forming in the left atrium of the heart, pieces of which could travel upwards to block an artery in the brain and cause stroke. Afib is responsible for 15-20 and percent of all strokes and elevates the risk for heart failure. To minimize blood clot formation, patients take warfarin blood thinners. Unfortunately, a significant number of them develop severe bleeding as a side-effect. Today, there is a non-drug alternative, the Watchman device.
On March 13, 2015, the US-FDA approved the Watchman device (Boston Scientific Corporation) for Non-Valvular atrial fibrillation, and on March 24, 2015, the first 4 patients with NV-AFib received the first implants of the Watchman at two heart centers in Los Angeles.
The Watchman is a device the size of a quarter, shaped like a parachute. It is introduced through a catheter inserted in a vein in the groin and directed to the left atrium, guided by a video monitor, and deployed (open the parachute) to close the left atrial appendage to prevent blood clots from leaving that chamber and traveling to the brain.
Over 150,000 patients with NV-aFib have received the Watchman implant and no longer take blood thinners. It is a one-time minimally invasive stroke-preventing procedure that is life-changing.
Stealth Omicron
Omicron variant is now practically in the entire United States. It appears to be more rapidly transmissible but “not more” deadly than Delta. But it is too early to tell for sure. Omicron is reported to have a stealth version, which is much harder to detect. The unvaccinated are evidently the target of all strains of the virus, especially the Delta variant, which is more than 99.9 percent the cause of current surges in COVID-19 infections. There were almost 835,000 cases in the USA last week alone, 40 percent increase the past two weeks, and 1,100 deaths a day! Those vaccinated, especially those who had the booster shot, are dozen times better protected, even from Omicron, compared to those who are not vaccinated.
After the booster, breakthrough infection is still possible, albeit the chances are very low.
Those 16 and over are now eligible to get the booster. After six months of the booster, I predict that a fourth shot might be needed, amidst (mostly the unvaccinated) carriers/transmitters of newer variants, and an annual shot might be the norm, like the yearly flu shots.
As of December 9th, 200,717,389 people in the United States have been fully vaccinated, representing only 60.5 percent of the population. This is still far from the 90 percent needed before the country could develop herd immunity, especially with newer strains coming out.
It is a shame that the United States, a world leader with state-of-the-art education, science, and epidemiology and all the vaccines at its disposal, is lagging by default behind 50 other countries, many of which have more than 80 percent of their population vaccinated.
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Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, a Health Public Advocate, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian and anti-graft foundation in the United States. Visit our websites: philipSchua.com and FUN8888.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com
