Why You Should Have More Sex for Heart Health

Why You Should Have More Sex for Heart Health

Sex and heart health go hand in hand, but what comes first? Find out about the benefits of sex for heart health and how a healthy heart can make for better sex.

Sex is generally safe for heart patients as long as they get the OK from their doctors, according to a statement from the American Heart Association (AHA) released in January 2012, which reported that less than 1 percent of acute heart attacks are linked to sexual activity. In fact, research has actually shown that sex can be good for your ticker. One study from 2010, published in the American Journal of Cardiology, found that men who had sex at least twice a week were less likely to develop heart disease compared with men who had sex only once a month.

So get out there and get busy. But first read up on the health benefits of a little frisky business.

"When it comes to sex and your heart, the benefits go both ways," says E. Dean Nukta, MD, medical director of interventional cardiology at Fairview Hospital, a Cleveland Clinic Hospital. "If you have a healthy heart, you are more likely to have frequent sex, and a healthy sex life may also decrease your heart attack risk factors."

Sex and Your Heart: Benefits of Sex

The most obvious way sex benefits your heart is the fact that it’s a bit of a workout. "Sex is good aerobic exercise, and aerobic exercise is good for heart health," says Dr. Nukta. The American College of Sports Medicine defines aerobic activity as one that uses the big muscles of the body in rhythmic, continuous fashion, so doing the deed definitely counts

Benefits of aerobic exercise range from weight loss to reduced risk of heart attack and diabetes. They include:

Lower blood pressure. Aerobic exercise is generally good for lowering blood pressure, and sex itself may deepen the effect in women. "Orgasm in women stimulates the release of the hormone oxytocin, which has a direct effect on lowering blood pressure," says Nukta.

Stress reduction. There are many reasons why people have sex, including relaxation. Chilling out is good for your heart because stress hormones constrict your blood vessels and speed up your heart rate, increasing your risk for heart attack.

Emotional health. Regular sex as part of a supportive emotional relationship is especially good for your heart. Studies show that emotional issues like stress, anger, anxiety, and loneliness contribute to heart attack risk much like smoking and high cholesterol do.

Sex and Heart Health for Men and Women

Even better news, the lifestyle choices you make to reduce your heart attack risk are also good for your sex life. Heart-healthy habits can help prevent erectile dysfunction in men and sexual dysfunction in women. Here are the basics:

Stop smoking.

Exercise regularly.

Avoid alcohol and drugs.

Reduce your stress.

Sleep well.

The health benefits of sex may be particularly important for seniors. As men and women age, sex becomes less about performance and more about intimacy. There’s no reason seniors should stop enjoying the many benefits of an active sex life, including increased circulation, reduced anxiety, and a greater sense of well-being.

Nukta warns not to look for action in the wrong places, however. “The benefits of sex come from stable relationships. Having unsafe sex far outweighs any benefits you get from doing it frequently."