Weird Side Effects of ED Drugs

One of the greatest advances in sexual health for men was the creation of drugs to treat erectile dysfunction, allowing men who couldn't achieve an erection because of age, illness or injury, to resume sexual activity. Viagra, a drug famous for inspiring men to, well ... new heights, is one of the most popular medications of all time racking up sales of nearly $1.5 billion a year. It belongs to a class of drugs known as PDE-5 inhibitors. All drugs in this category -- which also includes Levitra and online pharmacy viagra -- allow the walls of the blood vessels in the penis to relax so that more blood flows through; with sexual stimulation, blood flow out of the penis decreases, and the result can be improved erectile function.

SIDE EFFECTS

But like any medication, ED drugs may have side effects. Most reactions, such as congestion, stomach aches and headaches, are generally harmless and temporary. But in some cases, the drug works a little too well and the erection can go on for hours or even days. This may sound like every man's dream but according to Sandeep Grewal M.D., a physician with the ACE Medical Group in Rock Hill South Carolina, it's actually quite painful and can even lead to permanent muscle damage. "An erection that goes on and on is a condition known as priapism," he explains. "In rare instances the penis will turn black and the skin will peel away."

All three PDE-5 inhibitors have also been associated with compromised vision, in particular a condition known as non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). Symptoms include sudden or partial blindness which usually occurs upon wakening. This is medical emergency that requires immediate attention.

About one in 200 men who take Viagra report blurry vision, a side effect that rarely occurs with Levitra or Cialis. Some Viagra users also experience blue or green tinted vision which can be permanent. Medical experts think this color disturbance may be because Viagra inhibits certain enzymes in the penis which also exist in the cone cells of the retina that are responsible for color vision. By blocking this hormone it also seems to block the perception of blue or green. Cindy Reilly, director of the practice development division for American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, notes this symptom can be predicted to some extent by examining the shape of the eye and the depth of the optic nerve -- something doctors rarely do before writing out a prescription.

LOSS OF HEARING

Another uncommon side effect involves disturbances in the ear. In fact, Viagra, Levitra and Cialis now include warnings about sudden hearing loss and informs patients that they should seek immediate medical attention if they experience a sudden loss or decrease in hearing. In the majority of the Viagra, Levitra and Cialis users who experienced this problem, the sudden hearing loss occurred within hours to two days of taking one of the drugs. In some of the cases, the sudden hearing loss was accompanied by ringing in the ears and dizziness. In many cases, the hearing loss was permanent.

On a happier note, one side effect of Viagra is a life saver.

Young children with a debilitating lung condition known as pulmonary arterial hypertension are being given the drug to lower pressure in their lungs, improving symptoms and slowing deterioration long enough until a lung transplant can be performed.

"For this use it's marketed under the name Revatio because parents do not want to hear their kids are taking Viagra," Grewal says.

Reilly is quick to point out that most of the weirder reactions to ED drugs are rare indeed, arising less than one percent of the time. "The take home message should be for users not to exceed the recommended dosage and if you notice something wrong, pick up the phone and call your doctor immediately."

AEROBIC EXERCISE RUNNING BICYCLING GOOD BUT CAUTION FOR HEART AGAINST SUDDEN STRENUOUS EXERCISE IN WEEKEND ATHLETE ECHOCARDIOGRAM TREADMILL GOOD IDE

AEROBIC EXERCISE RUNNING BICYCLING GOOD BUT CAUTION FOR HEART AGAINST SUDDEN STRENUOUS EXERCISE IN WEEKEND ATHLETE ECHOCARDIOGRAM TREADMILL GOOD IDEA

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Start Slow if you don't exercise regularly

According to the Mayo Clinic "investing 30 minutes a day in aerobic exercise such as walking, bicycling or swimming can help you live longer and healthier. In fact, aerobic exercise may be the magic bullet you've been looking for". (see below) Aerobic exercise refers to exercise that involves or improves oxygen consumption by the body. So for example, walking and bicycling cause the heart to pump more for longer periods as opposed to weight lifting which requires short intense bursts and is called anaerobic.



However, researchers have pointed out that people who have not been exercising regularly, weekend athletes, should avoid sudden bursts of strenuous exercise because of the possible impact on the heart. They found infrequent strenuous exercise poses a possible serious risk of a heart attack.It keeps the heart racing for a long period extending the time when problems could occur. Exercise is good but needs to be part of a coordinated gradual program for people who do not exercise regularly. Examination and testing such as an echocardiogram and treadmill test by a order cialis is probably a good idea.



The researchers in 2003, said it was not only those with known heart problems who should take care. Although thousands upon thousands of people run in sporting events, races, marathons and play football, basketball and soccer, sudden cardiac problems are thankfully a relatively infrequent phenomenon. Nevertheless sudden collapse of athletes ( and weekend athletes) is a persistent phenomenon and it's not hard to do a search of Google and come up with stories about sports related medical problems.

Sudden Exercise Poses Heart Risk

Aerobic exercise: What 30 minutes a day can do







Exercise is generally safe. Still as the old saying goes an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Fainting, chest pain, difficulty breathing and dizziness with exercise can all be warning signs of heart problems and warrant attention. Adults as well as parents and teenagers should take them seriously and see a cheap cialis. It's a good idea to familiarize yourself with some of the issues that marathoners and just plain exercisers can face. Issues like undetected underlying cardiac problems, such as cardiac hypertrophy or heart beat irregularities. Dehydration and it's reverse over hydration leading to hyponatremia, heat stress and heat stroke.





In 2002 a Honolulu marathoner collapsed after crossing the finish line. He was not sedentary, having completed marathons before, nevertheless it is instructive to read what doctors said. It is fundamentally difficult to find that one person among tens of thousands who will experience a problem with strenuos exercise. A doctor speaking about this was quoted "that running is a fundamentally healthy activity, the most popular form of aerobic exercise in the world, and will increase a sedentary person's chances of avoiding heart and other life-threatening problems "by an astronomical percentage."



"But any sedentary person planning to train for a marathon or any other tough physical challenge should get a complete physical examination first, including a treadmill stress test with an echocardiogram to record the heart's performance" Another medical doctor said he would recommend that anyone older than 40 undertaking marathon training get a stress test on a treadmill with an echocardiogram.

33 Year Old Collapses After Honolulu Marathon.

Common Heart Tests:




Electrocardiogram: Often abbreviated, as EKG
or ECG, the electrocardiogram is a test that shows
the electrical activity of the heartbeat.



Stress electrocardiography:Also called a
"stress ECG," this test is an electrocardiogram
done before and during or immediately after some
form of physical stress, usually exercise on a
treadmill.



Echocardiogram: An echocardiogram is an
ultrasound of the heart. The test uses sound
waves to shows the shape, texture and
movement of the heart's valves. The test also
shows the size of the heart chambers, muscle
thickness and how well they're working.



Holter monitor: A small, battery-powered
portable machine that records the heart’s rhythms,
usually for a 24-hour period. Small electrodes are
stuck to the chest and attached to a recorder that
stores the information. Patients go about their
activities wearing the monitor over the shoulder or
stashed in a pocket. The physician is able to
capture electrical heart tracings over a long period
of time.

Diagnosing Agenesis Corpus Callosum

This is a brain with a normal corpus callosum.



This is a brain missing the corpus callosum.
Also referred to as:
Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum.



This is a purchase cialis examining the results of
the MRI or CT scan.



This is a cialis reading the patient's medical
report wherein it clearly states: Agenesis of the
Corpus Callosum.




This is a doctor giving the patient the diagnosis
of Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum as revealed
in the medical reports from the patient's MRI
or CT scan and explaining the diagnosis.

This is the typical order in which a patient
would find out that they have Agenesis of
the Corpus Callosum or partial agenesis
of the corpus callosum. This is the typical
practice of many many wonderful doctors who
are aware of corpus callosum disorders, who
diagnose Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum
and tell their patients the diagnosis, explain
the diagnosis to their patients and help their
patients receive any necessary medical attention
from specialists that they may need.

This is NOT, however, the typical procedure
of practice for some doctors even today as
I recently found out in the past week from
several adults.

Adult Patient #1: Was hospitalized due to
complications of strep throat. Neurologist
told patient diagnosis of agenesis of the
corpus callosum and proceeded to tell patient
"There is nothing to worry about it doesn't
affect you." The patient was shocked.
Patient said the doctor didn't even acknowledge
the fact that patient has a learning disability
or that patient was born with a midline defect.

Adult Patient #2: Went to get a copy of the
medical report from the CT scan. Read the
report and discovered it said agenesis of
the corpus callosum. Patient was not given
diagnosis from a medical doctor and would not
have known had patient not got a copy of the
medical report and read it. Patient has had
hydrocephalus since birth and was shunted at
two days old.

Adult Patient #3: Recently picked up copies
of medical reports from previous CT/MRI scans
in 2006 and 2008 and read it in the medical report
for the first time. Patient also has hydrocephalus.
Patient was not ever informed of the diagnosis
of agenesis of the corpus callosum from a medical
doctor and would not have known had patient not
picked up a copy of the medical report and read
it in the medical report.

This is disturbing news to learn. My heart
goes out to the patients who were not even
given the courtesy of receiving a diagnosis
of Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum when it was
clearly written in their medical reports.

On top of that they did not receive an explanation
about what Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum means
or what to expect. They are learning now for the
first time that many of the symptoms that they
have lived with during their life are due to
having Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum.

Something is very wrong with this picture.

It is VERY evident that awareness of agenesis
of the corpus callosum and disorders of the
corpus callosum needs to begin in the medical
field. No more patients should wander in the
dark and find out the diagnosis of Agenesis of
the Corpus Callosum accidentally when they pick
up a medical report and read it for themselves.

No more patients should be in the hospital
and be told not to worry because Agenesis of
the Corpus Callosum won't affect you when it
has already affected them in a variety of ways
through learning disabilities, midline defects,
hearing impairment and various other symptoms.

Over the years I have written with some parents
who also were NOT given the diagnosis of
Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum for their
child and they also only found out through
reading it in a medical report they got
themselves.

I have also written with some parents who were
given the diagnosis of Agenesis of the Corpus
Callosum for their child but were told by the
doctor not to worry about it and were sent home
with no other explanation or testing for other
possible conditions or problems.

I cannot easily let go of the fact that so many
patients and parents of little ones are NOT told
the diagnosis of Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum
or a corpus callosum disorder when it is right
there in a medical report. I believe it is a
doctor's duty to reveal the findings of any
medical test to their patient.

I realize that there are many wonderful doctors
who treat their patients with respect and inform
them of both their diagnosis and findings on an
MRI and CT scan as well as help educate their
patients of the diagnosis and make sure that their
patient receives additional care from any
appropriate specialists that the patient may
need to see. I am very thankful for doctors
like this. My own child with ACC has wonderful
doctors.

But there are also doctors who, for whatever
reason, are fully aware that their patient is
missing the corpus callosum or partially missing
the corpus callosum and they are failing to inform
them. They are also failing to research and
understand what Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum is
and then inform their patients. This is NOT right
and should not be happening!

I wonder if the doctor would make the same choice
if Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum was written
in their patient's medical report and not explore
it more thoroughly or give the patient the diagnosis
if the patient were their own child, their own sister,
brother, father, mother, spouse...hmmmm?

Diagnosing Disorders of the Corpus Callosum