Patients taking the blue pill also were 33 percent less likely to die from any cause after a heart attack.
Despite previous evidence suggesting otherwise, the scientists foundthat it reduces the risk of return to the hospital after these cardiac events.
The popular impotence drug, as well as other similar brands, is scientifically known as a PDE5 inhibitor.
Currently, the SNS warns that men should be careful before taking the drug if they have heart disease.
While it also suggests that they should avoid them if you have low blood pressure, recently had a stroke or other cardiac events.
But the new study, at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, shows that Viagra may actually have a beneficial effect.
Author of the study Dr. Daniel Peter Andersson said: ' If you have anactive sex life after a heart attack, it is probably safe to use PDE5 inhibitors.
'This type of erectile dysfunction treatment is beneficial in terms of prognosis, and have an active sex life seems to be a marker for a decreased risk of death'.
Reduction in heart failure was greater when Viagra was combined with alprostadil - an artificial hormone that helps to stimulate blood flow to the penis.
This reduced the risk of death 40 percent, but this latest drug had noeffect on its own.
The study looked at the records of age of 43,000 men 80 years or under hospitalization for a first attack to the heart between 2007 and 2013.
They were followed for an average of three years following the eventand if prescribed alprostadil or PDE5 inhibitors.
In general, a little more than 7% of men were prescribed a medication for erectile dysfunction. The majority (92%) received PDE5 inhibitors.
While the results suggested that PDE5 inhibitors can benefit the health of the heart, the researchers are unable to confirm the directcause and effect.
Dr. Andersson added that the results were surprising because erectiledysfunction is associated with an increased risk of heart disease in healthy men.
Viagra was originally developed as a medicine to fight angina pectoris, a chest pain associated with heart disease, as it widens the blood vessels.
While its effects in reducing angina pectoris were found to be modest, the unexpected side effect was that they gave male patients improve erections.
The new study was presented at the American College of the 66th session of annual scientific Cardiology in Washington.
FACTS ABOUT VIAGRA
Viagra was developed in 1998 by accident, after scientists discoveredthat it had benefits for those who suffer from erectile dysfunction.
Manufactured by Pfizer, the magic blue pills are taken by more than1 million men in Britain each year, figures suggest.
Majority of users are in their early to mid-50s, but younger people are starting to take drugs more often, the pharmaceutical industry, saidpreviously.
Until 2013, only the United States drug giant had permission to makethe pills - costs on average £21.27 for a pack of four.
But since its patent expired, his rivals have made generic versions that contain the same ingredient in active, at a price of around £1.45 forthe same amount of capsules.
Famous as Hugh Hefner, founder of Playboy Magazine and the actors of Hollywood Ben Affleck and Ashton Kutcher have admitted previously using Viagra.
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