A survivor of a heart attack are worried that resuming sex too early after this may trigger a new attack. But new research suggests that the opposite may be true.
Studies conducted in Israel show that resuming a normal sexual life within a few months after a heart attack can actually improve survival.
Lead researcher Yariv Gerber believes that part of the benefit may lie in a person's mentality.
Tadalista
Vidalista 20
Vidalista 20
"Sexuality and sexual activity are markers of well-being," said Gerber, head of the School of Public Health at Tel Aviv University. "Resuming sexual activity shortly after a heart attack can be part of the perception of yourself as a healthy, functioning, young and energetic person. This can lead to a healthier lifestyle overall."
For the study, Gerber's team collected data on nearly 500 sexually active people aged 65 and younger who were hospitalized with a heart attack in 1992 or 1993.
With a median follow-up of 22 years, 43% of patients died. But the study found that those who maintained or increased the frequency of sex during the first six months after a heart attack had a 35% lower risk of death than those who did not.
The researchers noted that the survival benefits of having more sex appear to be associated with reduced mortality from cardiovascular disease-for example, fewer cancer-related deaths.
Of course, the findings can't prove that returning to sexual activity soon after a heart attack directly improves long-term survival-only that they seem to be related.
The new study was published on September 23 in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.
As the researchers explained, sex is a form of exercise that increases your heart rate and blood pressure. And while vigorous exercise can sometimes cause a heart attack, regular physical activity can also reduce the risk of heart problems over time. Similarly, sex can trigger a heart attack, but your risk is lower if you exercise regularly, Gerber's team noted.
"For this and other reasons, some patients [including young ones] are hesitant to resume sexual activity for a long time after a heart attack," Gerber said in a journal press release.
