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Thursday, August 1, 2013

"First Detailed Guidelines On Sex After Heart Attack Issued"

Kandariya Mahadeva Temple at Khajuraho in India

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First detailed guidelines on sex after heart attack issued
Sexual activity should be in a comfortable room temperature and with the usual partner as it adds less stress to the heart.
, TNN | Aug 1, 2013

The Times of India

LONDON: The European Society of Cardiologyand the American Heart Association has come up with a document based on a consensus between doctors on how to resume a healthy sex life after having suffered a heart attack

The statement issues a strict no for extramarital sexual encounters after heart disease. It says sexual activity should be in a comfortable room temperature and with the usual partner as it adds less stress to the heart. 

The statement is the first to provide "how to" information about resuming sexual activities and applies to patients who have had a heart attack, heart transplant, stroke, received an implanted heart device or have other heart conditions, as well as their partners. 

Elaine Steinke, lead author of the statement and professor of nursing atWichita State University in Kansas said "It is the first scientific statement to offer detailed guidance for patients. Patients are anxious and often afraid sex will trigger another cardiac event - but the topic sometimes gets passed over because of embarrassment or discomfort." 

The recommendation focus on when to resume sex, risks with sex and managing medications. Doctors have reached a consensus that the setting and environment for sexual activity are important and patients with heart disease must not try sex in unfamiliar surroundings

"This is based on data from a study with pathological analysis of deaths that occurred during sexual activity in which almost all deaths occurred in men (92.6%), with the majority of the deaths occurring during extramarital intercourse. Only 19 of the fatal events occurred in the victim's home or the home of a long time partner," the document said. 

It says that studies from Asia have shown that men are the major victims of sudden death in the context of extramarital relations and their underlying cardiovascular diseases contributes to mortality. 

"It is presumed that secret sexual activity in an unfamiliar setting may significantly increase blood pressure and heart rate, resulting in sudden death or cardiovascular events. The risks, however, appear to be very low, and the increase in risk attributed to coitus was found to be far less than that associated with anger and unaccustomed physical exercise," the document said. 

There was however no consensus on what kind of position the patient should assume for sexual activity. 

The consensus among the world's top cardiologists is that anal sex can be a pleasurable sexual activity enjoyed by both heterosexual and homosexual couples. 

"However, anal penetration stimulates the vagus nerve, which leads to a slowed heart rate, rhythm, impulse conduction, and coronary blood flow which can result in diminished cardiac performance and chest pain. Therefore, sexual counselling might include the avoidance of anal sex until the cardiac condition is stabilized and after further evaluation of the safety of sexual activity".


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