An erectile dysfunction drug might be effective for heart failure, too

Scientists have found a breakthrough in treating heart failure, and it comes from from a very unexpected place.

Researchers at the University of Manchester in the U.K. published a study in the journal Scientific Reports on Wednesday, demonstrating that the drug tadalafil was effective in treating heart failure in sheep. Tadalafil is more commonly known by the brand name Cialis, and is currently primarily prescribed to treat erectile dysfunction.

Limited evidence has already shown that tadalafil can sometimes prove effective in fighting heart failure, The Independent explained, but this study is the first to show why. Heart failure, which occurs when the heart is too weak to pump blood, can mean that patients who have this condition can't engage in strenuous or stressful activities — they would be "quickly exhausted and suffer breathlessness and swelling." Tadalafil, the study found, was able to get the heart to pump more blood out into the body, effectively invigorating the heart.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 5.7 million Americans have heart disease, and about half the people who have it it live for less than five years after their diagnosis. This new research could vastly improve those odds. "It's entirely possible that some patients taking it for erectile dysfunction have also unwittingly enjoyed a protective effect on their heart," said Andrew Trafford, the study's lead researcher.

But he cautions against self-medicating just yet: Because of reactions with other drugs and potential side effects, it's still best to consult a doctor before taking any new medication. Learn more at The Independent.