Most of the men who take erectile dysfunction drugs are about 60 or older. That's also the prime time for men to start experiencing heart problems. It is a problem paramedics are facing now. If you don't let them know about the Viagra, the drug they give to save your life could end up killing you.

In an emergency, you'd think you'd do anything to save your life, but would you tell a roomful of people, EMS workers, firefighters and officers a personal, sometimes embarrassing secret?

"Patients will often think, 'Gosh, I'll just get through this, and I'll tell them later on.' By then it might be too late," EMS Director Dr. Ed Rach said.

A funny scene in the movie "Something's Gotta Give" shows Viagra and heart trouble, but it is one that portrays a very serious reality. Several people have died from keeping their little blue pill a secret.

Cardiologist Ed Chafzadeh says taking erectile dysfunction drugs and then taking any drug with nitroglycerin is like playing Russian roulette with your life.

"Viagra and the other medicines like it can lower your blood pressure a little bit. Nitroglycerine lowers your blood pressure a little bit. But, when you put them together, they really drop out the blood pressure. It's almost like circulatory collapse," Chafzadeh said. "This is a difficult situation because that's a very personal thing for most patients."

It's such a difficult situation for EMS workers. They're being specially trained to find a moment in the middle of a chaotic heart attack to take a patient aside and ask about Viagra.

This problem exists with all erectile dysfunction drugs including those for women. It's important to remember nitroglycerin isn't just for heart problems, but also diabetes and other diseases.

However, the complications only really start if you take it within 24 hours of taking nitroglycerin.

The most important thing is to make sure a family member knows and make sure you let someone in the paramedics know about the ED drug. It could mean a matter of life and death.

Source: http://www.kxan.com/Global/story.asp?S=5262949&nav=menu73_10_5_1