The highly popular erectile dysfunction (ED) drug Viagra was originally developed as a possible treatment for angina due to its ability to boost blood circulation to the heart and stimulate the release of nitric oxide (most natural male enhancement supplements contain an ingredient that helps you produce nitric oxide - more on that later). Subsequently, it turned out that viagra how long before was not good enough to be used as a heart medication. However, researchers noticed that it did cause frequent erections.
The rest is male enhancement history. The blue pill was approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a prescription ED medication. Millions of prescriptions have since been issued, making Viagra one of the most successful drugs of all time.
The Erection Process Explained
When you are aroused, blood enters the corpora cavernosa, a cave-like structure of spongy erectile tissue located within the shaft of your penis. This causes your penis to become stiff and enlarged. Nitric oxide, a natural chemical compound synthesized from the oxidation of the amino acid L-arginine, activates an enzyme that manufactures cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), a biochemical signaling enzyme.
Under normal circumstances, cGMP causes the smooth muscle cells of your penis to relax, which widens your penile arteries to allow more blood to flow in. However, this widening is short lived because right after nitric oxide is released and cGMP is produced, another enzyme called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) is activated to destroy cGMP. This ends your erection and causes your penis to return to its flaccid state.
A decline in cellular concentrations of cGMP is part of the aging process. Viagra helps you achieve an erection by inhibiting PDE5, which enhances the effect of nitric oxide and maintains high levels of cGMP. But these erections come at a price. Viagra side effects include abnormal vision, diarrhea, dizziness, dyspepsia, flushing, nasal congestion, rashes, and urinary tract infection. Other ED drugs are also associated with a number of side effects.
Fortunately, natural male enhancement supplements offer an effective, safer, and less expensive way to deal with ED. As mentioned above, most male enhancement supplements contain L-arginine, the direct precursor to nitric oxide. Another common ingredient used by the best male enhancement supplements is the herb Epimedium or Horny Goat Weed. Epimedium contains Icariin, a natural PDE5 inhibitor. Male enhancement supplements are often referred to as natural Viagra because of these two ingredients. But unlike Viagra, which does nothing to increase your libido, male enhancement supplements contain aphrodisiacs that have been used around the world to boost sex drive, increase stamina, improve sperm quality, heighten pleasure, and support overall sexual health.
Janice Smith is one of the contributors for Male Enhancement Guide and check out his highly recommended Male Enhancement Products Review, a safety yet effective Extenze Review for you.