The Silent Witness
The Blue Pill: From Enhancement To Dependency!
By Dr. Johansen Oduor
Preamble
We live in a fast-paced world where constant access to information, especially through the internet and social media, has placed growing pressure on the modern man. In the relentless pursuit of vitality and performance, what now seems to matter most is instant results.
This urgency is clearly reflected in the widespread use of sexual enhancement drugs like Viagra. Originally celebrated as a breakthrough treatment for Erectile Dysfunction( ED), these medications have increasingly been repurposed for performance enhancement. This shift from treatment to enhancement has however come at a huge cost. Many have suffered serious side effects, some with fatalities to boot, particularly when used without medical guidance.
This article explores real-life tragedies, medical insights, and the evolving societal perceptions around these drugs, urging a deeper understanding of both their benefits and the lurking dangers from misuse.
Case 1: The Businessman’ s Fatal Climb
Paul, a 70-year-old successful businessman, was well-known in Kenya’ s transport and real estate sectors. With investments spanning Matatus, long-haul trailers, and residential apartments across Nairobi, Thika, Nakuru, and Mombasa, Paul was both affluent and respected. He was a family man with a wife and three grown up children.
Like many men in his age group and lifestyle bracket, Paul had developed systemic hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus- both commonly linked to sedentary lifestyles and poor dietary habits. These diseases, often referred to as“ lifestyle conditions” or“ diseases of affluence,” silently impair cardiovascular health over time.
During one of his frequent business trips to Mombasa, Paul met Kanini, a young gorgeous, attractive and charismatic woman. They exchanged contacts and continued to communicate for weeks afterward via messaging apps and phone
The psychological toll of Erectile Dysfunction can be profound. Many men experience feelings of inadequacy, shame, and embarrassment, which often prevent them from seeking professional help. Instead, some covertly resort to over-thecounter or unregulated remedies- frequently without medical consultation, leading to unnecessary fatalities. calls. Although they didn’ t meet in person during this period, their connection grew, and Paul began sending her money via mobile transfers.
Eventually, Kanini travelled to Nairobi to visit Paul. Out of discretion for his family, Paul arranged for her to stay at a short-term rental apartment( an Airbnb) in Kilimani area of Nairobi. Fatefully, on the day they were scheduled to meet, the elevator in the building was out of service. To reach the apartment room at the 5th floor, Paul resorted to using the stairs.
Tragically, just as he reached her door, before knocking, he collapsed. When passersby discovered him unresponsive in the hallway, it was too late. Kanini, eagerly waiting for Paul to arrive, heard a commotion outside the door. Upon opening the door, she found a crowd that had already gathered. On the floor was the lifeless body of her Paul. Medical responders who were called to the scene confirmed Paul had died before help arrived. In his pocket were a condom and Viagra tablets, with evidence that two had been used. Police were later called and took the body to the mortuary.
A postmortem examination performed two days later revealed that Paul had significant narrowing of the left ascending coronary artery( one of the major arteries which supplies the heart with blood) caused by an atheromatous plaque( cholesterol accumulation on the walls of the vessel). The heart was also enlarged, a common finding in people with systemic hypertension. There were also old scars on his heart tissue suggesting previous minor, undiagnosed heart attacks. Toxicology reports detected sildenafil( Viagra) in his blood.
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