A heart attack can affect your sex life
Men with heart disease may experience erectile dysfunction. Erections depend on the arteries that supply blood to the penis, so it makes sense that atherosclerosis is the most common cause of impotence. But high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, diabetes, and smoking — all leading cardiac risk factors — also increase a man’s risk for impotence.
Although heart attacks during sex are rare, no one wants to be among the unlucky few who die while getting lucky. So if you have cardiovascular disease (CVD), or even if it runs in your family, it’s important to ask your doctor what type of sexual activity is safe. If you’ve just had a heart attack, for instance, you should wait three to four weeks before having intercourse, according to current guidelines.
The link between cardiovascular disease and sexual dysfunction is well established, at least in men. Researchers have known for years that erectile dysfunction (ED) is disproportionately common among men with CVD (and even among those with risk factors for CVD, such as diabetes and high blood pressure). While erectile dysfunction can result from a number of factors, including psychological ones, the majority of cases can be traced to vascular problems.
Research does show that cardiac problems can increase in the hour or two after sexual intercourse, but in reality, the risk is very, very low — even for people who’ve had heart attacks already. It’s about as safe as walking up two flights of stairs. Studies also show that regular exercise markedly reduces the risk for heart attack during or soon after sexual activity.
Some people have angina during sexual activity. If this happens, you should tell your doctor. Doctors often recommend that people in this situation take nitrates before sex to avoid this problem.
