A new study from the Mayo Clinic has reported that men with coronary artery disease and erectile dysfunction can take Viagra safely as long as they are not also taking nitrates. They tested more than 100 men by exercise echocardiography to simulate sexual activity one hour after they took the medication or a placebo.

The researchers concluded that the resting heart rate, diastolic blood pressure and a measure of heart stress did not change significantly in either group. A similar number in both groups experienced shortness of breath, chest pain or exercise-induced ischemia.

An editorial accompanying the research report in the Journal of the American Medical Association noted that reports of major adverse effects, including heart attack and death, following use of Viagra are probably related more to performing sexual activity than to the drug. The workload on the heart during sexual activity is similar to that caused by walking a mile in 20 minutes or climbing two flights of stairs (20 steps) in ten seconds.

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Sources:

• Arruda-Olson AM, Mahoney DW, Nehra A, et al. Cardiovascular effects of sildenafil during exercise in men with known or probable coronary artery disease. Journal of the American Medical Association, Feb. 13, 2002;287(6):719-725. (Abs.)
• Marwick TH. Safe sex for men with coronary artery disease – exercise, sildenafil and risk of cardiac events. Journal of the American Medical Association, Feb. 13, 2002;287(6).