Sex Can Kill You

You've been warned. As a kid maybe you heard that too much masturbation would make you go blind or make hair grow on your hands--old wive's tales meant to scare the bejeebers out of you. But now a medical study finds results that sex can kill you--if you are a physically inactive person, that is.

A review and analysis of 10 studies was conducted , with results published in the March 23/30, 2011 edition of "The Journal of the American Medical Association." Study authors were interested in the correlation between "episodic physical and sexual activity" with acute heart problems. These acute heart conditions are myocardial infarction, M.I., and sudden cardiac death.

A myocardial infarction occurs when blood supply to the heart muscle is greatly diminished or non-existent, causing a section of the heart muscle to die. The heart cannot beat properly when its muscle tissue dies. Sudden cardiac death occurs when the electrical impulses within the heart malfunction, causing an irregular rhythm. Again, the heart is unable to pump blood to the body when in this rhythm.

Physical and Sexual Activity

It is important to note that the findings associated with the acute cardiac events usually occurred in people who are not physically active on a regular basis. These heart conditions occurred when a normally sedentary person suddenly became physically active or during sexual activity.

Both unusual physical activity and sexual activity can put undo strain on a heart that is not used to such demands from the body.

Study author Issa. J. Dahabreh, M.D. states that a person is 3.5 times more likely to suffer an acute cardiac event during exercise than when not exercising, and 2.7 times more likely to suffer such an event during sexual activity. These increased risks last for 1 to 2 hours after either activity.

Bottom Line

Does this study suggest we should all just sit on the couch and forget all about physical activity, exercise and sex? Without more information on the health of the study participants, no such conclusion can logically be drawn. Health experts continue to advise that the best way to promote heart health is to engage in physical activity 30 minutes each day for most days of the week.

To me, the study suggests that when you begin to be active after a period of being sedentary, moderation is the key. Thirty minutes of physical activity doesn't have to be done in one session; break it down into smaller sessions throughout the day. Don't try to jog a mile your first week out; go walking and build up slowly to longer walks or faster strides.

Consult your health care provider before beginning an exercise program. He is familiar with your existing conditions and can advise you appropriately.

Sources:

"The Journal of the American Medical Association"; Association of Episodic Physical and Sexual Activity with Triggering of Acute Cardiac Events; Issa J. Dahabreh, M.D. and Jessica K. Paulus, Sc.D.; March 23/30, 2011.

WebMD.com; Heart Disease and Sudden Cardiac Death.

All Headline News; Study--Exercise, Sex Can Trigger Heart Attack, Cardiac Arrest; Windsor Genova; March 23, 2011.