Sex After Heart Attack – Is There An Association?

Heart attack is a sign of unhealthy lifestyle and an indication that you need to take care of things such as, diet, physical activities and much more. It is pretty natural that after one attack, people usually becomes very cautious in order to prevent the next cardiac event from happening. In this regard, while acquiring healthy lifestyle, several other questions may bother a person; such as:

• Would I be able to maintain a normal sex life like before?
• What are some signs that I should watch for?
• Do I need to practice extra caution while having sex?
• Will the passionate love making and the hormones gushing throughout the whole act make me go into the emergency crisis again?

Well, if you have all these concerns and feel shy to ask your doctor, then we have a good news for you. It is safe to have sex after heart attack! However, there are few things you should know before resuming normal sexual activity.

When Can You Resume Sexual Activity After Heart Attack?

The time required to resume your sexual activity after a cardiac event depends upon your physical and cardiac health as advised by your doctor. Some people are able to resume their sexual activity just after a week of heart attack while some patients are advised to wait for up to 4-6 weeks. It is important to first ask your doctor before resuming sexual functions.

As part of your follow-up visits, your doctor examines how tolerable your heart is towards strenuous activities like climbing stairs, riding a static bike or walking at a particular rate. Sex is as exhausting as these above mentioned physical activities.

Can Heart Attack Get Triggered Due To Sex?

No, sex does not trigger heart attack, but it may provoke it under certain circumstances such as, having extramarital affairs or indulging in act of adultery - the stress or anxiety of being disloyal and fear of being caught often puts extra strain on your mind and body, which may trigger a heart attack.

When Should Sex Be Avoided?

If someone during sex experiences the pain in chest then they must immediately discontinue sexual activity and speak to their doctor. In addition, before resuming their sexual activity, they must take permission from their doctor. Furthermore, if a person has high blood pressure or has gone through severe heart failure, arrhythmias (a condition in which heart rhythm is irregular), shortness of breath and light headedness then it is necessary to ask doctor if having sexual intercourse is fine for you or not.

What To Do If Doctor Completely Prohibits Sex?

Restricting yourself from sex is quite bothersome and difficult; especially if you are in a steady sexual relationship. But you can still maintain intimacy without engaging in intercourse such as act of cuddling, kissing, caressing, etc. Sometimes, reducing the frequency of sexual intercourse and intensity can help too.

Do not hesitate to ask doctor about resuming your sex life. Only your doctor can exactly tell what is right or wrong for your health. Here are some tips that may help:

• Strictly avoid alcohol consumption and quit smoking to improve your cardiac health.
• Try sexual positions that does not put too much stress or pressure on your heart.
• Avoid sudden movements just before or after sex.
• Increase your intake of antioxidants and fresh fruits and vegetables. Make sure to avoid heavy meals before or after sex.

References

1. Canto, J. G., Rogers, W. J., Goldberg, R. J., Peterson, E. D., Wenger, N. K., Vaccarino, V., ... & NRMI Investigators. (2012). Association of age and sex with myocardial infarction symptom presentation and in-hospital mortality. Jama, 307(8), 813-822.

2. Dharmarajan, K., Hsieh, A. F., Lin, Z., Bueno, H., Ross, J. S., Horwitz, L. I., ... & Drye, E. E. (2013). Diagnoses and timing of 30-day readmissions after hospitalization for heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, or pneumonia. Jama, 309(4), 355-363.