Why your heart loves sex

Why your heart loves sex

No surprise but sex and heart health go hand in hand.  The reason is when it comes to sex, the health benefits go both ways.  If your heart is healthy, you more likely to engage in frequent sex while frequent sex may also reduce your risk of having heart attack.

For those who already have heart disease or have had a heart attack, they should always consult with their physician for their advice on when, how frequent and whether they should be having sex. However, according to the American Heart Association, less than 1 percent of acute heart attacks are linked to sexual activity. Generally, research has shown that sexual activity can be beneficial to heart health.  In fact a 2010 study published in the American Journal of Cardiology, found that men engaging in sex twice a week were less likely to develop heart disease compared to men having sex only once a month.

Besides lowering the risk of heart disease, how else is sex good for your heart?  Here are other ways intimacy can enhance heart health:

·      It counts as a mini workout

Maybe it’s not as strenuous as running five miles, but sex is so much more enjoyable and invigorating.  Sex can fall into either an aerobic activity or even as a good stretching move but when you are in the moment of lovemaking, all that heavy breathing is definitely giving your heart a workout. When using the large muscles of your body in a rhythmic, continuous fashion, think of it also as an endurance event with a tremendous finish. 

·      Lowers blood pressure

Any type of aerobic activity will be good for your heart. Whether its walking, running, swimming, bicycling, or having sex, each aids in opening up blood vessels, clearing the path of plaque debris that can raise blood pressure.  For women who orgasm, this particularly stimulates the release of the hormone oxytocin, which has a direct effect on lowering blood pressure.

·      Reduces stress

For many of us, sex is a time not only to engage and show our love to our partner, but also to relax and chill out.  Sex tends to take us to a whole new level of relaxation which is especially good for your heart.  If you never take time to unwind, your stress hormones can constrict your blood vessels which speeds up your heart rate increasing your risk for a heart attack. 

·      Boost emotional health

Your emotional/mental health should not be ignored or discounted as being unimportant to heart health.  When we feel good not just physically but also emotionally/mentally, this can reduce our feelings of stress, anger, anxiety, and loneliness.  Each of those emotions can contribute a part into the makings of a heart attack.  That’s why regular, intimate close contact such as when having sex, can be one of the best supportive mental and emotional health tools we should often use.   

·      Help keep your immune system strong

People who have sex have higher levels of what defends your body against germs, viruses, and other intruders wanting to cause you harm. Researchers have found that those who engage in sex at least once a week have higher levels of a certain antibody compared to people who have sex less often.