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VIAGRA is proving almost as versatile as aspirin. The little blue pill appears to:
Protect against lung problems that result from high altitudes. Several studies involving skiers (below), cyclists and mountain climbers suggest that Viagra helps to reduce pulmonary artery pressure at high altitudes and improve one's ability to exercise in low oxygen conditions.
Cure jet lag. Last year, scientists at an Argentinian university found that lab animals injected with Viagra adapted faster to changes in light.
This suggests that Viagra could also speed up the time it takes for human body clocks to adapt to crossing time zones.
Keep flowers longer. Not long after the pill was launched, Israeli and Australian researchers discovered that just very small concentrations of the drug can keep cut flowers fresh for up to a week longer than their expected life span.
Increase a woman's fertility. According to a 2000 study, Viagra is believed to increase blood flow and stimulate cell growth in some women who have uteruses which are too thin to sustain a foetus.
Soothe the prostate. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a natural consequence of ageing, leads to frequent urination, bladder stones, disturbed sleep and depression. In a 2005 study conducted by Northwestern University in Chicago, 300 men with BPH were given Viagra and it was said to have had a 'dramatic effect' on their prostate condition.
Prevent breast cancer. Experiments in Johns Hopkins University in the US two years ago showed that breast and colon tumours in mice shrank threefold when they were injected with Viagra. Scientists believe the little blue pill 'unmasks' cancer cells, so the immune system can recognise them as foreign and destroy them.
Fight diabetes. Gastroparesis, a condition where the stomach empties too slowly, affects most diabetics, causing appetite loss and dehydration. Scientists at Johns Hopkins University found Viagra helped by relaxing the stomach muscles.
Relieve pelvic pain, which affects up to 50 per cent of men. In a study conducted last year by Washington University in the US, the drug appeared to help by dilating blood vessels in the pelvic area and boosting blood flow, relieving chronic pain.
This article was first published in The Straits Times on May 3, 2008.
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