Truth behind whether viagra can cause heart attacks as full side effects listed

It's a commonly used drug when things aren't working properly downstairs, but viagra also has some side effects.

There are plenty of things which could cause erectile dysfunction, with some 'mechanical' causes while others might be more psychological.

Viagra can be used to relieve symptoms, helping to get things up and running again.

One common misconception is that taking viagra will cause someone to get an instant erection whether they want one or not, but this is not how the drug is supposed to work.

While this is true for the venomous bite of the Brazilian Wandering Spider, which can cause a painful, hours-long erection known as 'priapism', viagra is more a facilitator than a direct cause.

In other words - it removes problems preventing you from getting it up, but you still have to be in the mood to get an erection.

Here are some common misconceptions of Viagra, and some side effects.

Erectile dysfunction can affect anyone for a variety of reasons (Sutthichai Supapornpasupad/Getty)

Can viagra cause a heart attack?

Viagra is generally regarded as safe to take if it is used as directed.

However, there have been some rare reports of people experiencing serious side effects.

Viagra is a vaso-dilater, meaning that it effects how wide the blood vessels are, so can cause a drop in blood pressure as vessels widen.

There have been reports of myocardial infarction, a heart attack, in people who take viagra, however, it is not clear whether there is a causal link between the two.

It is advised that you don't take viagra if you've had a heart attack or stroke recently, but the drug is safe for most patients with heart disease.

Viagra is used to treat erectile dysfunction (elenaleonova/Getty)

How many people experience bad side effects of viagra?

Viagra can have a lot of side effects, most of which are fairly mild, but some can be more serious.

Serous side effects include a sudden loss of vision, priapism, which we mentioned earlier, and chest pain.

Someone might also be allergic to viagra and not realize, meaning that they experience anaphylaxis.

While these symptoms are very serious, they are also very rare.

Fewer than one in 1,000 people who take viagra experience these symptoms.

Common symptoms of Viagra

• aching muscles (back, arms and legs)
• nosebleeds
• diarrhoea
• difficulty breathing
• flushes
• headaches
• nausea
• indigestion
• pain or tenderness around your eyes and cheekbones
• sneezing
• stomach discomfort after eating
• a stuffy or runny nose
• trouble sleeping
• heartburn

Ian Budd, Prescribing Pharmacist at Chemist4U, said: “You should speak to a doctor or pharmacist for advice if you experience any side effects associated with Viagra.

"They will be able to advise you on whether you need to stop taking Viagra, change your dosage or are safe to continue taking it.”