Keep Your Heart In Shape For A Better Sex Life

Over 17 million Americans have heart disease, and 8.5 million people have had a heart attack.  Heart disease is also the primary cause of death for women. For the many that live with heart disease, questions frequently arise regarding the safety of normal day to day activities. 

The American Heart Association has specific recommendations regarding sexual activity and heart disease. Generally, sex is viewed as a form of exercise and as such should be treated in a similar fashion as the guidelines for heart disease and exercise.  Specifically, sexual activity is considered to be equivalent to mild to moderate physical activity.  What this means is that if you can safely climb two flights of stairs, your exercise tolerance is sufficient for sex.

Mild blockages in the heart vessels can cause transient discomfort during periods of exertion which resolve with rest, this is called angina. During exercise the heart demands more oxygen in order to meet its increased metabolic demands. When, the blood vessels are narrowed, as is the case in coronary artery disease, not enough oxygen is able to reach the heart tissue. The oxygen deprivation is perceived as chest pain.  For those who experience angina while walking or climbing stairs, it is important to talk to your doctor and to discuss whether or not sex is safe.

Together with your doctor, you can create a plan to increase your physical abilities. At the same time it is critical to talk to your physician about your heart disease medications and any which you take to aid your sex life. The first line medications for erectile problems, PDE5 inhibitors, cannot be taken safely with medications that contain nitroglycerin, which is often given to patients with chest discomfort. Taken together you can experience an unsafe drop in your blood pressure.

Sex is seen as a key component of life, and these 2 stair guideline should come as a relief for many stable heart disease patients. It can be difficult to begin an active sex life after a heart episode, but patients should know that for many of them it is safe to enjoy sexual relationships again once they are determined to be stable. As you should before beginning any new exercise regimen, it is important to discuss your specific condition with a physician and make a plan together.  But the main point is not to view heart disease as the end of your sex life.