What’s the latest on whether Viagra causes heart attacks?

At the recent American College of Cardiology meetings, doctors from Italy reported that Viagra may help prevent heart attacks in diabetics. After one week of taking Viagra daily, diabetics had significantly increased blood flow to their hearts and a marked reduction in C-reactive protein, a marker for inflammation, a leading cause of heart attacks. No data show that Viagra causes heart attacks and much data show that Viagra may prevent them.

Why, then, are there so many lawsuits from people who claim that they suffered heart attacks when they took Viagra? Because the heart attack victims claim that the doctor should not have prescribed Viagra to people who have weak hearts that cannot withstand the stress of making love. Actually, the rapid heart rate associated with excitement is due to stress hormones, not the markedly increased circulation of blood associated with exercise.

Does marriage affect a man’s testosterone?

Apparently it does; married men with and without children have significantly lower testosterone levels than unmarried ones and the more time a man spends with his wife and children, the lower his testosterone level. A man’s testosterone levels drop significantly when he holds an infant. Testosterone begins to decline shortly after marriage, but surges upward when unions end in divorce. High levels of testosterone cause men to fight and mate. Lower levels of testosterone may keep men home to care for wives and kids and decrease chances of going out to drink and chase other women. Testosterone levels can be measured in saliva.

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Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 years and practicing physician for more than 40 years; he is board certified in four specialties, including sports medicine. Read or listen to hundreds of his fitness and health reports at http://www.DrMirkin.com

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