Viagra linked to much lower risk of death in men
However, questions remain
Viagra is a medication used to treat sexual dysfunction in men. Some studies have found that it may also reduce the risk of death.
A study in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention found that men who took viagra were almost three times less likely to die from any cause over a period of five years than men who did not take the drug. However, the study also found that the men who took viagra were twice as likely to die from liver cancer.
The study was conducted in Finland and included more than 34,000 men who were aged 45 to 79 at the time of the study.
The benefits of viagra seem to be most pronounced in younger men. In the study, men aged 55 to 59 who took the drug were about half as likely to die from any cause as men who did not take it.
The study has not been able to determine why viagra may have a protective effect against death. However, the researchers say that further research is needed to investigate this possibility.
Viagra is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of sexual dysfunction in men. It is available only through prescription.
The study was funded by the Finnish Foundation for Cardiovascular Research.
There are several limitations to the study. For example, the data on deaths was self-reported by the participants, and the study did not include information on the use of other medications.
Viagra is not the only medication that has been linked to a reduced risk of death. There are a number of other medications that have been linked to lower rates of death, including statins, beta blockers, and aspirin.
The benefits of these medications remain uncertain, and further research is needed to determine the true extent of their benefits.