Sex After A Heart Attack?

I’ve always believed that being shot at 95 years of age by a jealous lover is the ideal way to depart this earth. But suppose you survive a coronary attack much earlier in life, how is it going to affect your sex life? Is it time to forget about “amour” and switch to backgammon or hooking rugs? Or, is a little romp in the bed still safe?

---

Dr. Randal Thomas, Director of the Cardiovascular Health Clinic at The Mayo Clinic, says, “A person’s life is essentially thrown upside-down following coronary attack. They see their frailty and how close they came to dying, and it can lead to a lot of psychological issues and need for recuperation.” Another cardiologist, Nieca Goldberg, at Lennox Hill Hospital in New York City, says, “Female patients worry about increased heart rate and sweating during sex after a heart attack.” She adds, “Sex sidelines many patients after a coronary, especially women, and they have higher rates of depression.” Goldberg explains that some patients simply give up sex after a heart attack and are too embarrassed to talk to their doctor about it. So you’re getting a little frisky and wonder how long you have to wait before having sex? Guidelines issued by The Princeton Consensus panel state that sexual activity is too risky during the first two weeks after a heart attack. But that 70 percent of patients are at low risk for a coital heart attack and can resume sexual activity within three to four weeks. The other 30 percent may require further testing before being given the green light. A study reported in the Journal of The American Medical Association followed 1,774 heart attack patients. It found that for patients at highest risk there was only a 20 in 1,000,000 chance of having a second heart attack during sex. This is certainly better than the odds of winning in Las Vegas. In fact, it claimed that anger was three times more likely than sexual activity to trigger another coronary death. Another study at the University of Maryland found that even men suffering from chronic heart failure could safely engage in sexual activity. But what actually happens in the real world? Some coronary patients never say die and have to prove their sexual prowess at the first opportunity. At a recent medical meeting, a speaker reported that one patient in a private hospital room had engaged in sex the day after the heart attack! That must be one for the Guinness Book of Records. It might also be one for newspaper’s obituary page the next morning. But for the less adventuresome, sex after a heart attack is a worrying time. Some fear sudden death during or following intercourse. And you can bet that if the person who had the heart attack isn’t worried, his or her partner will be anxious. After all, who wants to be responsible for triggering a second coronary and possibly death in the bedroom? But this should not be a major worry for most people, nor the need to put sex on the back burner. After all, studies show you don’t need the same energy as running in a marathon race. Experts say that intercourse expends about as much energy as walking 2 to 3 miles per hour or climbing two flights of stairs. So most people should just consider sex an enjoyable workout. However, a word of caution as I too have no desire to be responsible for death in the bedroom. Never use sex as a way to enter The Guinness Book of Records following heart attack. Moreover, if you’re planning a clandestine affair after coronary attack, remember that studies show the stress associated with cheating increases the risk of heart attack. Nelson Rockefeller discovered that fact the hard way. Finally, if you develop chest pain, an irregular heart rate, or excessive shortness of breath during sex, don’t push your luck. Stop and see your doctor. That is, unless you’re lucky enough to have reached 95 years of age. It’s still the best way to go.