Heart disease: having sex without fear?

Christine Albert studied German linguistics and literature as well as Scandinavian studies at the Albert Ludwigs University in Freiburg. She is currently doing a traineeship at Hubert Burda Media and is writing, among other things, for

More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.

Sex with a sick heart: Many sufferers are afraid of it. As a rule, however, worries are unfounded. And sexual activity may even have positive effects. A study suggests this.

Many people with heart disease fear sex. And the partners are often even more inhibited than the patients. However, the worries are often unfounded, as the cardiologist Prof. Bernhard Schwaab emphasizes. "Sexual activity is also possible with heart disease without fear," says the chief physician of the Curschmann Clinic in Timmendorfer Strand.

A new long-term study from Israel confirms this. Scientists had investigated whether and how sexuality influences the survival after a heart attack. To this end, almost 500 patients under the age of 65 who had their first heart attack in the early 1990s were asked about their sexuality - the majority were men. 22 years later it was checked who was still alive and who had already died.

Does sex have a positive impact?

What the authors of the study concluded from this: With great caution, it could be said that being sexually active again a short time after the infarction can have a positive influence on the rest of your life.

"The study shows that sexuality is not dangerous after a heart attack," says Prof. Schwaab. "Everything is as we know it - nothing is really new," continues the expert from the heart foundation's scientific advisory board.

In connection with heart disease, however, sexuality is often fraught with fear. "In this respect, this scientific work is important because it is another building block that shows that sex after a heart attack is generally harmless."

Physical activity important after a heart attack

Whether sexuality after a heart attack contributes to the fact that one ultimately lives longer than without sex - the study does not allow this conclusion because too many other factors play a role that were not recorded in this study. In general, however, it can be said: "Anyone who is physically active after an acute heart attack lives longer - and sexual activity is part of it," says Prof. Schwaab.

But there are also restrictions: Patients with advanced heart failure (heart failure), for example, have to significantly limit their activity. In the last stage 4 (NYHA) in particular, those affected have symptoms such as shortness of breath or dizziness even at rest. Physical exertion is no longer possible here.

Do you have a heart condition? Then talk to your doctor about which physical activities are possible with your cardiovascular disease and what you should pay attention to! Not every heart patient can and should stress themselves equally.

(approx / dpa)

Tags:  Menstruation alcohol drugs parasites