When Is Sex Safe After a Heart Attack?
By Chauncey Crandall, M.D.
Many patients worry that a heart attack will end their sex lives. Sexual activity definitely has an impact on the heart — it increases the heart rate, elevates blood pressure, and causes the heart to need more oxygen.
But exercise has these effects as well, and exercise is a very important part of life after a heart attack. As with exercise, there are a few things to keep in mind when considering your sex life after a heart attack, the American Heart Association (AHA) says.
Special: The Simple Science Behind Optimal Male Performance
You should know that only about 1% of heart attacks occur during sexual activity — and that’s about the same for heart attack survivors and those without coronary artery disease.
If you have no symptoms of heart disease, can pass a stress test without experiencing angina, or have undergone complete coronary revascularization with bypass surgery, you are at low risk of having a heart attack during sex, according to the AHA.
So when is sexual activity unsafe?
If you have unstable angina (you get chest pain when you exert yourself), worsening heart failure, uncontrolled heartbeat irregularity, or symptoms of severe heart disease, you shouldn’t have sex until your condition is stable.
Also, if you experience symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or profuse sweating during sex, you should stop and contact your doctor.
By Chauncey Crandall, M.D.
Many patients worry that a heart attack will end their sex lives. Sexual activity definitely has an impact on the heart — it increases the heart rate, elevates blood pressure, and causes the heart to need more oxygen.
But exercise has these effects as well, and exercise is a very important part of life after a heart attack. As with exercise, there are a few things to keep in mind when considering your sex life after a heart attack, the American Heart Association (AHA) says.
Special: The Simple Science Behind Optimal Male Performance
You should know that only about 1% of heart attacks occur during sexual activity — and that’s about the same for heart attack survivors and those without coronary artery disease.
If you have no symptoms of heart disease, can pass a stress test without experiencing angina, or have undergone complete coronary revascularization with bypass surgery, you are at low risk of having a heart attack during sex, according to the AHA.
So when is sexual activity unsafe?
If you have unstable angina (you get chest pain when you exert yourself), worsening heart failure, uncontrolled heartbeat irregularity, or symptoms of severe heart disease, you shouldn’t have sex until your condition is stable.
Also, if you experience symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or profuse sweating during sex, you should stop and contact your doctor.