Sex Cause Heart Attacks?
People with heart failure know that physical activities can leave them feeling fatigued or experiencing shortness of breath. If exercises come with such effects, one may wish to know if it is safe to engage in sex with an underlying cardiovascular condition. In soap operas and movie scenes, it is common to witness an old guy enjoying a steamy session of intimacy with a fine girl when he suddenly collapses.
Researchers at the St George's University of London established that people succumbing to a heart attack during or soon after sex is rare. They assessed the risk of dying from heart attacks due to the energy and passion associated with sex. They looked at 6,847 patients who died of acute heart attacks over the previous 16 years. The researchers established that only 17 deaths happened during or within an hour of having sexual intercourse, a rate of only 0.2%. Also, the study found that 11 of the 17 cases were men but were not old, as the average age was 38.
The researchers noted that their findings contradict earlier studies that show most of such deaths occur in older men. However, they established that majority of the younger men who succumbed to a heart attack while engaging in sex had preexisting heart disease. They also discovered that nine of them had no underlying heart problems, but their hearts stopped beating due to an abrupt arrhythmic death syndrome. Two others died of aortic dissection, where the aorta raptures and starves the heart for leading to death.
The study findings surprised the researchers, who agreed that 0.2% represents a very tiny figure and reassuring data. Sex is not as strenuous as people tend to believe, but an aerobic activity that is equal to climbing two flights of your stairs. The news is much welcome for people suffering from cardiovascular conditions, who are not sure if engaging in sex is okay to their health.
Cardiologists note that sex is generally safe for most patients with heart problems, apart from those that cannot tolerate even the lowest activity levels. They recommend medical guidance for healthy sex to patients who experience symptoms that interfere with the performance of daily chores such as cleaning and making the bed. Staying sexually active is essential for sustaining a desirable quality of life and remaining connected to your partner. Unfortunately, people with heart conditions may worry about suffering heart attacks and other cardiovascular conditions while enjoying steamy sessions with partners.
Luckily, the American Heart Association confirms that sex rarely leads to a heart attack. However, the experts recommend temporarily skipping sex until your physician confirms the heart condition is stable for intimacy. For instance, cardiac patients who had surgery in the past one or two weeks are at high risk of developing cardiac complications during sex. While partners may halt sexual intercourse temporarily to recover from cardiovascular conditions, touching and kissing are still okay for intimacy.
You can firmly agree that sex does not cause heart attack unless, in a few cases, in patients with preexisting conditions. If you have sexual difficulties, do not shy away from discussing with your doctor possible remedies. The European Society of Cardiology advises that every patient with cardiovascular disease get screened for sexual problems and get counseling as part of a rehabilitation program. Also, sex counseling to partners can answer their queries, build intimacy and give essential tips on how they can safely resume healthy sex life.