It is been estimated that erectile dysfunction affects approximately 140 million men around the globe. Over 80% men with impotence are said to have it due to physical reasons and about 20-30% are believed to have it due to psychological reasons. Medical reasons for erectile dysfunction include cardio-vascular diseases, diabetes, neurological issue and prostate cancer etc.
What causes impotence?
Impotence is caused when there is a problem in blood flow towards the penile organ. It may be due to venous or mental problems. Under normal circumstances, stimulation causes the production and release of nitric oxide that activates the guanylate cyclase enzyme which in turn produces guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). This cGMP enzyme is the main reason that affects the blood flow of the erection.
Generic Viagra is a PDE5 inhibitor, an enzyme that destroys cGMP. This allows the cGMP to accumulate and last longer. While the longer it persists, the more prolonged erection. The FDA approved Viagra in March 1998. Here are some facts that you may not know about this blue pill.
- A blue pill in every cabinet
Since it was first introduced in 1998, this anti-impotence pill is now used widely and available all around the world. It is reported that approximately 40 million men use Generic Viagra or branded one.
Italy alone is the biggest consumer market of Viagra. According to a report, Italians have purchased a total of 86 million blue pills at the rate of 12 per minute. While almost one tablet was consumed out of every two men of over 40 years of age group; about 437 capsules, every 1,000 men. This data was released as a study by national urology society. The event was celebrated as Viagra’s coming of age which helped liberate the stigma of having a conversation about erectile dysfunction and opened the dialogue of its wrong usage.
- Not a recreational drug
Even if the information of anti-ED drug is readily available, there are still some incidences which indicate that not everyone is fully-informed of the drug’s effect. As you may know, Generic Viagra is not a recreational drug or an aphrodisiac but a pharmacological therapy that needs a doctor’s prescription.
Many men face priapism, (that is painful erection for many longer hours than needed) when they intake Generic Viagra even when they do not have erectile dysfunction issues.
- Viagra is now 18 years old
This march, the first patented anti-impotence pill celebrated its coming of age
- Pfizer’s marketing strategy
The pharmaceutical company marketed the drug directly to the customers rather than healthcare practitioners. As old men who are more likely suffering from ED shy away from the subject, the marketing message influenced them to take steps and ask their doctors about Viagra.
Back in the day erectile dysfunction was just considered a consequence of old age and not a health problem. Men, young and old just had to live with impotence for the rest of their lives. With the invention of Viagra, erectile dysfunction became a medical condition that could be solved though medication.
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