Sex not a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, study confirms

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Heart attack and stroke victims often put into consideration engaging in any sexual activity after suffering from an episode, because of fear that it may result to fatality. Luckily, it looks like it should no longer be a worry, as a new study suggests that sex will not lead to a heart attack. What more, the study also states that it is safe to engage in it, even after experiencing a heart attack.

Eureka Alert writes that based on a research done by Ulm University Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry in Germany, sex is categorized as a moderate physical activity. This is because not much effort is required for individuals to have sex, which is less than what people need for a brisk walk or climbing two flights of stairs.

The researchers observed and analyzed data of more than 530 patients, ages 30 to 70 years old, who have a history of cardiovascular diseases. They evaluated the sexual activity of the patients for the past 12 months before experiencing a heart attack. The researchers then compared the data to sex frequency in order to verify if it will lead to subsequent heart events such as stroke, fatal heart attack or death.

Based on their findings, 55 percent of the participants had sex more than once per week; more than 25 percent said they had sex once a week; 4.7 percent had less than once in a month; and almost 15 percent shared they did not engage in sexual activity a year before they had a heart attack. 

Furthermore, Medical Xpress shares that less than one percent of the participants revealed they had sex an hour before they experienced heart attack, which is very little compared to the 78 percent of participants who stated they had sex more than 24 hours before the event. 

Dr. Dietrich Rothenbacher, a medicine professor and lead author of the study, believes that based on what they have discovered, it is less than likely that sex can cause heart attack.

Medical experts do not often provide information about sexual activity to heart attack and stroke victims, The Mirror UK reports. Only half of men and a third of women have stated that they were given sex education by their doctors after experiencing or developing a heart condition.

Dr. Rothenbacher says their study hopes to change this because they believe it is vital to reassure victims that it is okay to have sex and that they do not to be worried at all.

However, although sexual activity may not be a concern, researchers believe that other medical complications may cause issues. It is best to remind patients about the possibility of erectile dysfunction, which is often a side effect of taking heart medications.