Many mature and elderly men are often worried that sex will affect their heart and health. Can sexual activity be too much strain on the heart? While this issue may make you smile, it’s actually quite serious, especially since a lot of research has been done on the subject, writes health.harvard.edu.
How do sports and sex affect the heart?
To assess the effects of sexual activity on the heart and blood vessels, a study was carried out in which volunteers performed two activities: running on a treadmill and having sex. The study involved 13 women and 19 men, with a mean age of 55 years. Almost 70% of these men had some form of cardiovascular disease, and 53% used beta-blockers. Despite the heart health, they exercised on average four times a week and engaged in sexual activities on average six times a month.
During the study, men were monitored for heart rate and blood pressure by performing standard treadmill exercise tests and having ‘normal’ sexual activity with their partner.
The study found that for many participants, the treadmill was more difficult than sex.
On an intensity scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest, men rated running exercises with 4.6 and sexual intercourse with 2.7. For women, sex seemed to be an even easier activity in terms of both heart rate and blood pressure, as well as intensity of exercise.
Sex burns 5 calories per minute
During sexual intercourse, men’s heart rate rarely exceeded 130 beats per minute, and their upper or systolic blood pressure was almost always less than 170. Overall, average sexual activity was not high compared to the intensity of exercise.
Researchers compared the workload of intimate activities to dancing foxtrot, raking leaves or playing table tennis.
By the way, sex burns about five calories per minute – that is four times more than a man burns while watching TV.
What is the chance of having a heart attack during sex?
Both agitation and exercise increase the amount of adrenaline and can cause a heart attack and arrhythmia. But can sex provoke it? Theoretically, yes. However, this has not been observed in practice (at least not during normal sex).
Studies show that less than one in 100 heart attacks is related to sexual activity, and the incidence of fatal arrhythmias is one in 200.
The probability that a healthy 50-year-old man will have a heart attack is about one in a million. Sex doubles that risk, but it’s also just 2 cases in a million.
However, men with heart diseases are ten times more likely to be at risk. But still, the probability that they will have a heart attack is 20 to million.
Healhy lifestyle
Sex is a normal part of human life. Therefore, in order for sex to be a safe activity for your heart, it is recommended that all men (whether they have heart disease or not) avoid tobacco and alcohol, exercise regularly and eat healthy. If palpitation or other adverse symptoms occur during sexual intercourse, it should be stopped immediately. If you follow these simple instructions and precautions, sex will always be safe for your heart.