Sex After a Heart Attack: Is It OK?
You've had a heart
attack, and suddenly your outlook on sex is very different. You used to relish intimacy
and pleasure with your partner. But now it seems like a scary proposition.
Could sex trigger another heart attack? Will your sex life ever be the same?...
After a heart attack, some men and women fear that any type of sexual activity
will provoke another one. People feel that if they've had a heart attack, it's
not a good idea to stress their bodies with sexual activity. But fewer than 1%
of heart attacks come from having sex. It makes sense to think of sex as a form
of exercise: If your doctor clears you for physical activity, you're also
likely safe for sex.
Similar to any type of
exercise, if you begin to feel symptoms such as chest pain, abnormal shortness
of breath, fatigue, dizziness, or palpitations, it definitely makes sense to
slow down what you're doing, whether you're a man or a woman. If you're pretty
certain it's angina, which is temporary pain or pressure in the chest when the
heart doesn't get enough oxygen, it might help to take your nitroglycerin.The exception to that advice is for men who use medication for erectile dysfunction -- it's dangerous to take nitroglycerin, too. Your blood pressure can fall to dangerously low levels, and there's an increased risk of heart attack and even death. If you're on an erectile dysfunction drug and have heart-related symptoms during sex, see your doctor asap.
Sex is obviously part of an overall healthy life -- and it's also a sign of a healthy heart, right?
It shows that you're capable of doing physical activity in which your heart rate and blood pressure go up. In a sense, you're doing a stress test on your heart. If you tolerate that well and you feel good doing it, it suggests good things about your overall level of fitness and therefore your risk of heart disease.
Sex can also be a sign of healthy relationships and social supports. It shows you have the opportunities, frankly, and that you're interested and engaged. I think sex is a barometer for overall health.
By...Belinda Yeboah
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