| Pulmonary hypertension is due to increase in | | | | enhance and prolong the actions of both iloprost |
| pressure of pulmonary artries. Some diseases can | | | | and nitric oxide.Viagra's Active Ingredient Treats |
| narrow the blood vessels in the lungs, which leads | | | | Pulmonary Hypertension |
| to high blood pressure in the lungs even when | | | | New drug Revatio, which contains sildenafil |
| blood pressure in the rest of the body is normal. | | | | citrate, the same active ingredient found in the |
| It may be due to lung diseases or heart diseases. | | | | erectile-dysfunction drug Viagra, has been |
| Pulmonary hypertension is a highly fatal disorder | | | | approved by the Food and Drug Administration |
| since the strain of pumping blood through | | | | (FDA) for treating pulmonary hypertension. |
| narrowed vessels often leads to failure of the | | | | Revatio is white and round; Viagra is a blue |
| heart muscle. When the heart muscle fails, the | | | | diamond.Will the drug work long-term? "Only time |
| lungs cannot supply enough oxygen to meet the | | | | will tell," says Norman Edelman, medical director of |
| body's needs.There are various treaments | | | | the American Lung Association. "Anything that |
| available for pulmonary hypertension. Goals of | | | | lowers blood pressure in the lungs and can do it |
| treament are:Dilate pulmonary vessels | | | | over time will probably prolong life."Good thing |
| Decrease thickening of blood | | | | about this drug "it can be given orally, rather than |
| Decrease preload on heart | | | | intravenously or in an injection." The only other |
| Increase oxygen supply to lungs | | | | drug that can be given orally, Bosentan, can |
| Prevention and treatment of respiratory infection | | | | damage the liver. Studies are underway to see |
| | | | whether Revatio can be given with Bosentan and |
| Increase cardiac output | | | | other drugs to yield an even bigger |
| Treat cause of secondary Pulmonary | | | | benefit.Revatio's known side effects are typical of |
| hypertension.Any treatment which dilates | | | | those for Viagra: blue-tinged vision, muscle aches, |
| pulmonary vessels can decease pulmonary | | | | flushing. Unwanted erections have been noted but |
| hypertension. Treatments for this disorder widen | | | | very rare cases.Although survival rates over 18 |
| the damaged blood vessels in the lung and make | | | | months increased from 65% to 95% with the |
| it easier for the heart to pump blood through the | | | | use of Revatio, it is unknown if the drug will work |
| lungs. How can we dilate these pulmonary | | | | long-term. When combined with standard |
| vessels?One such drug (epoprostenol) is effective | | | | treatments for pulmonary hypertension, sildenafil |
| only if given intravenously through a small plastic | | | | may significantly improve control of this fatal |
| tube that must remain in the vein permanently. | | | | disease. Because experience with this treatment is |
| Another treatment involves continuous inhalation | | | | limited, it is too early to make firm |
| of a gas (nitric oxide) that also widens blood | | | | recommendations for treatment.This article for |
| vessels in the lungs. A newer approach has been | | | | Patients of pulmonary hypertension is presented |
| an inhaled mist form of epoprostenol called | | | | for informational purposes only. This article is not |
| iloprost. Because each mist treatment lasts only | | | | a substitute for advice from your own medical |
| about 60 minutes, up to 12 treatments each day | | | | provider. If you have questions about this |
| are required. Each of these treatments has its | | | | material, or need medical advice about your own |
| drawbacks and side effects. You cant take these | | | | health or situation, please contact your physicianIf |
| orally, and have shorter duration of action. | | | | you want to know more about Viagra and |
| Recently, researchers learned that a drug Viagra | | | | pulmonary hypertension, visit our site |
| (sildenafil citrate) the erectile-dysfunction drug | | | | highbloodpressuremed.comDr. |
| used by more than 26 million men worldwide,can | | | | |