The scandal erupted when a bottle of Viagra disguised as vitamins were found at American superstar Roger Clemens and which he hid in his locker. In May last year, Italian rider Andrea Moletta was removed from racing competition “Giro d’Italia” after police found in his car hiding place with these pills and syringes.
It is not surprising that after these incidents tabloid press had the opportunity to have fun and to declare that legions of baseball players, football players, bodybuilders, as well as representatives of Olympic sports take sildenafil to increase endurance and physical performance.
World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was going to ban Viagra before Beijing Olympics but did not do that, because there was no clear evidence that this drug provides a competitive advantage.
How can a good erection be helpful in bodybuilding?
Viagra improves the blood flow. Muscles need a lot of blood to remove waste and energy, oxygen and various hormones delivery. Increased blood flow could accelerate essential amino acids to muscles delivery, which can help to strengthen muscle protein synthesis and muscle growth. It seems logical that this drug is able to enhance physical abilities, and that builders can take advantage of.
In 2006, at Stanford University, under the supervision of Anne Friedlander study was conducted, the results of which have caused an epidemic among athletes in the desire to take sildenafil pills. The researchers found that Viagra improves cardiovascular system performance during exercise on a stationary bike simulated for conditions 3900 m height above sea level.
It increases cardiac output power (the amount of blood pumped by the heart per minute), stroke volume (the amount of blood pumped by the heart per one palpitation) and oxygen saturation (percentage of red blood cells carrying oxygen). Work performance on an exercise bike has improved your capacity by 15 percent. This drug enhances training performance and reduces blood pressure in lungs, which usually increases at high altitude.
However, not all subjects reveal benefit of Viagra. This drug is helpful for someone, and for someone – useless. Several studies have confirmed experiment results conducted at Stanford University. It is also proved that Viagra improves exercise performance of people suffering from lung disease and heart failure.
Bodybuilding is an incredibly difficult sport which requires hard working over the years to achieve positive results. Most athletes will do their best to increase muscle mass and to win the competition. The drug is available at Canadian Health Care Mall and has few side effects. The fact that this medication is effective only for some people at a height of 4000 meters and doesn’t work at sea level, is simply neglected.
Why is Viagra effective in bodybuilding?
Viagra (sildenafil) is one of three drugs approved by FDA to improve erection. Preparations of this type are called PDE5 inhibitors (phosphodiesterase inhibitor) which also include tadalafil (Cialis) and vardenafil (Levitra).
They work by inhibiting PDE5 enzyme causing chemical agent concentration increase known as nitric oxide. This promotes blood flow to the penis, and to other tissues throughout the body. Blood vessels, smooth muscle, skeletal muscle, and blood platelets in lung tissue contain PDE enzyme or alike.
In addition to improving erection PDE5 inhibitors lower blood pressure, pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary resistance and improves coronary circulation. Duration of their application improves endothelial function, which is crucial for blood flow regulation.
The above-mentioned drugs relieve stress from the high pressure-overloaded heart, which is important for bodybuilders because a significant increase in muscle tension can restrict blood flow to working muscles. Increasing blood flow to muscles during exercise can enhance their strength, endurance, and volume while reducing the load on the heart. They also improve pulmonary blood flow, and quality of patients’ life suffering from pulmonary diseases. These drugs are perspective for pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases treatment, which is beyond the scope of erection.
Nowadays, none of the studies showed that sildenafil increases the physical performance of athletes at sea level. The drug helps people with low blood pressure, which limits oxygen transport to tissues. For example, some people at a height substantially suffer from increased pulmonary arterial pressure, which makes oxygen supply in blood difficult. Viagra reduces pulmonary arterial pressure, improves oxygen consumption and physical performance.
Only a small percentage of elite athletes has an imbalance between the capacity of heart and lungs. The power of their hearts, as a rule, exceeds the tidal volume, which causes a mismatch between pulmonary and cardiovascular systems.
Lack of physical activity, a diet containing saturated fats and trans fats, sugar, and reduced muscle mass decreases insulin receptor ability to regulate carbohydrates, amino acids (building blocks of proteins) and fats composition. Insulin sensitivity adversely affects endothelial cells lining blood vessels.
These cells release nitric oxide (NO), which opens up blood vessels in tissues throughout the body. Long-term use of the drug has “training effect” on endothelium, thereby increasing the potential for nitric oxide release. When taking this drug, men suffering from metabolic disorders, feel blood flow improvement, but this drug can also stimulate blood flow to muscles for both bodybuilders and physically healthy adults.
Viagra does not increase endurance over short-term consumption, but long-term use can give significant benefits for well-trained athletes.
Besides, the drug increases testosterone level, which is an important hormone for gaining lean muscle and increasing strength indicators, as well as aggression – which is extremely important for athletes. Hormone – testosterone affects sexual excitement and increases efficiency. Middle-aged men who take testosterone supplements improve sex desire, erection, self-confidence and aggressiveness.
Italian researchers found that erectile dysfunction treatment with using Cialis and Viagra increases the total level and free testosterone in men by 50%. However, it is unclear whether these drugs increase testosterone per se or it occurs indirectly through increased sexual activity.
The frequency of intercourse was greatest in men who took Cialis (which PDE5 inhibitor more long-acting), making it a preferred drug for men. Men who had the greatest amount of sexual intercourses has the highest testosterone level.
Factors that influence the level of testosterone include:
- mental health;
- diet;
- physical and sexual activity.
Men who frequently have sex, are so much happier and feel more confident than men who do not. Genital muscles work better if you use them, and Viagra can give them a boost. Although we do not know really whether sildenafil increases testosterone levels in a healthy and strong bodybuilder.
Prolonged use of this drug can also increase muscle strength and size by running biochemical reactions that increase protein synthesis in cells and prevent their decay. As already mentioned, Viagra increases vascular nitric oxide release(NO). NO, in turn, promotes protein synthesis in muscles, especially when muscle fibers are under stressed or stretched state.
In addition, nitric oxide induces satellite cells formation that add mass to muscle fibers. Today none of the studies showed the ability of ED drugs exhibit the properties of steroids, however, based on the results of biochemical studies, we can conclude that in fact, they have such properties.
Viagra on WADA Radar
WADA drew attention to Viagra after Stanford University study was carried out on greyhounds (they were given this drug to increase running speed). They were interested in whether Viagra can improve physical properties at a lower height and provide a competitive advantage in areas such as Denver, Mexico City, or areas of Winter Olympic Games. Sometimes quite a few seconds are enough for victory in cycling or cross-country skiing, so drugs that give even a small advantage can be very significant.
Currently, WADA is funding studies series at Marywood University (Scranton, Pennsylvania) and University of Miami. The purpose of this research is to determine the effect of sildenafil on exercise capacity and its ability to improve physical abilities of athletes at sea level, in moderate height and contaminated environments.
They also want to know whether the drug has an adverse effect on both men and women. The results of these studies were conducted to find out if Viagra gets the list of prohibited substances.
Can Viagra make you a superstar?
Viagra can make you a sexual giant provided that you are attractive, practice good hygiene and have a more or less strong constitution. But if you do not have talent, a place in the list of the US Olympic team is not suitable for you. To date, studies did not reveal that this drug improves performance at sea level.
However, prolonged use may promote muscle protein synthesis growth and enhance the exchange process, sufficient to provide a slight positive effect on endurance and strength. Viagra and similar ED drugs may have some side effects, so do not use them without consulting a doctor. It is necessary to carry out a lot more researchers before we can adequately estimate these drugs impact on physical performance and athletic performance.
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