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Viagra was the first drug approved by the U.S. federal government for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, and researchers in California have discovered a new use for this drug. An article published in the Journal of Applied Physiology shows that researchers have studied the effects of Viagra on high-altitude athletes and soldiers. Pulmonary hypertension is caused by a low-oxygen environment, during which blood vessels in the lungs constrict, leading to an increased workload for the heart to pump blood. Hypoxia at high altitudes is an important cause of pulmonary hypertension. Institutions such as Stanford University have studied the hypoxic state caused by individuals who exercised 6 kilometers on stationary bicycles while wearing masks. The control group experienced hypoxia when exercising at 12,700 feet. However, 39% of the experimental group given Viagra developed hypoxia later than the control group. The New York Times reported that the military is preparing to conduct a study to see if Viagra can enhance soldiers' tolerance to low oxygen environments, such as in Afghanistan.
Translated by Chengjun Wu from sciencedaily. Related thematic articles:
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