Viagra used to prevent pulmonary edema at high altitudes

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In the beginning, it gave hope to older men trying to give their sexual performance a lift.

Now sildenafil, better known by its trade name, Viagra, is gaining popularity for a different use among skiers and mountain climbers. Their concern: avoiding high-altitude pulmonary edema, a potentially deadly condition in which excess fluid collects in the lungs.

Research has been accumulating about sildenafil's value in nonsex-related uses. The drug has been shown to help some people with high blood pressure in arteries supplying the lungs, a condition known as pulmonary hypertension.

Studies on its use for pulmonary edema include one published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in August. German researchers found that the drug not only prevented this type of edema but also increased the ability to exercise at altitude.

LA Times

[Deep13]

1. Interesting

It will be interesting to see how that develops. Is there anything to show any effectiveness on HACE?