Cialis could hurt eyesight, study warns

A widely prescribed erectile dysfunction drug could increase the risk of glaucoma and potentially threaten men’s eyesight, new research suggests. Scientists found men taking tadalafil, best known by the brand name Cialis, were up to 33 per cent more likely to develop the most common form of glaucoma than those who did not take the drug. Glaucoma affects around one million people in the UK and is responsible for about one in 10 cases of blindness. It is also the world’s leading cause of preventable blindness. Researchers from Taiwan and the US analysed the health records of 73,854 men aged over 40, around half of whom had been prescribed tadalafil or another similar erectile dysfunction medication over a five-year period. The results showed that men taking tadalafil were 22 per cent more likely to develop glaucoma overall and 33 per cent more likely to develop primary open-angle glaucoma, the most common form of the disease. They were also 32 per cent more likely to develop ocular hypertension, in which pressure inside the eye is raised and can increase the risk of glaucoma. Experts believe tadalafil could temporarily raise pressure inside the eye over time, potentially damaging the optic nerve. They also suggested that reduced blood flow to the optic nerve could play a role, although neither theory has been proven. The researchers stressed that the observational study does not prove tadalafil causes glaucoma, only that there is an association between the drug and the condition. However, they concluded that the findings show the long-term effects of tadalafil on eye health warrant further investigation. Tadalafil is prescribed to hundreds of thousands of men in the UK for erectile dysfunction, where it works by increasing blood flow to the penis. It is also used to treat an enlarged prostate by relaxing muscles in the bladder and prostate. Known side effects include headaches, indigestion, muscle aches, a blocked nose and flushing. Headaches can also be an early warning sign of glaucoma. ---------------

Childhood obesity could harm chances of becoming mothers Girls who are overweight or obese from as young as six could face a significantly lower chance of becoming mothers later in life, new research suggests. Scientists found women who followed the highest body mass index (BMI) trajectory throughout childhood were up to 42 per cent less likely to have children by their mid-30s than those who maintained a healthy weight. Researchers say the findings suggest fertility may be influenced much earlier in life than previously believed and highlight the importance of tackling childhood obesity. The Danish study analysed data from 60,864 women born in Copenhagen between 1950 and 1989, using yearly school health records to track their height and weight before linking them to birth records. Overall, 78 per cent of the women went on to have children between the ages of 18 and 45, while 22 per cent remained childless (13,195). After accounting for factors including relationship status, women who were obese from childhood were 22 per cent less likely to have a child between the ages of 25 and 29 than women with a healthy childhood BMI. Between the ages of 30 and 34, their chances of giving birth were 42 per cent lower. Girls who were overweight, rather than obese, also faced reduced fertility, with their odds of having a child falling by nine per cent between 25 and 29 and by 26 per cent between 30 and 34. Lead author Dr Dorthe Pedersen, of Copenhagen University Hospital, said: “Our findings suggest that less favourable BMI patterns from as young as six years old may increase a woman’s risk of childlessness from their mid-20s onwards. “By the time women reach their 30s, when many women start trying to conceive and fertility difficulties often become evident, the effects on reproductive capacity may already be established, underscoring the importance of preventive efforts focused on healthy growth and development in childhood.”