Viagra Treats Cold Hands Syndrome, Study Finds

Viagra, sold to treat erectile dysfunction, also may help a circulatory disorder called Raynaud’s phenomenon, German researchers reported on Monday.The drug, made by Pfizer Inc. under the chemical name sildenafil, reduced the frequency and duration of Raynaud’s attacks, the researchers found.Raynaud’s phenomenon occurs when capillaries constrict in response to cold temperature or stress, causing numbness, tingling and pain in the fingers, toes and ears.It affects 3 million to 5 million people worldwide, more women than men, and can cause skin ulcers in extreme cases.Writing in the journal Circulation, the researchers said sildenafil seemed to improve blood flow to tiny blood vessels called capillaries.