Heart Attack Survivors Uninformed About Returning to Normal Sex Routines

A new study reveals some startling information that doctors and heart attack sufferers need to take note of. Many patients are afraid to resume sexual activity after suffering a heart attack. They worry the activity may cause another heart attack. However, doctors are not worried about it and do not realize their patient is even thinking about it. Therefore, a major communication breakdown  occurs, and the heart attack victim leaves the hospital worried about resuming their sex life.

The study reveals that only 50 percent of men and about 33 percent of women actually spoke to their doctors about resuming sex before they were discharged from the hospital. A year following the attack,  40 percent of men and 20 percent of women had talked with their doctor about sex following their heart attack. This factor contributed to 30 percent of men and 40 percent of women reporting they had a decline in sexual activity following their heart attack when there was no discussion between the doctor and patient. Patients who had the discussion with their doctor were more likely to return to their normal sex routines than those who never had the important conversation.

Doctors estimate the risk of having a heart attack due to sexual activity is about 1 in 50,000 for those with heart problems. People who are virtually healthy and do not have heart disease have a risk of about 2 in a million. Heart attack survivors who exercise regularly had no increased risk of a heart attack during sex.