Israeli study: resuming sexual activity after heart attack improves survival
Professor Yariv Gerber of Tel Aviv University, who is involved in the study, said: 'Sexuality and sexual activity are markers of wellbeing'
Returning to usual levels of sexual activity a few months after a heart attack is linked to improved survival, a new study by Israeli suggests.
Researchers looked at whether resumption of sexual activity shortly after hospitalisation for a first heart attack was associated with survival over more than two decades.
They found that maintaining or increasing the frequency of sexual activity within the first six months after a heart attack was associated with a 35% lower risk of death compared with abstaining or reducing the frequency of sexual activity.
The scientists suggest the benefit linked with maintaining or increasing the frequency of sexual activity was mostly attributable to a reduction in non-cardiovascular mortality such as cancer.
Professor Yariv Gerber of Tel Aviv University, Israel, said: “Sexuality and sexual activity are markers of wellbeing.
“Resumption of sexual activity soon after a heart attack may be a part of one’s self-perception as a healthy, functioning, young and energetic person.
“This may lead to a healthier lifestyle generally.”
Previous research suggests sexual activity is a form of physical exercise, increasing heart rate and blood pressure.
Sudden vigorous physical exertion can sometimes lead to a heart attack, but despite this triggering effect, regular physical activity reduces the long-term risk of adverse heart-related outcomes, according to the researchers.
Similarly, episodic sexual activity can sometimes trigger cardiac events, but studies have shown this risk is lower in individuals who exercise regularly.
Researchers obtained data from the Israel Study of First Acute Myocardial Infarction, and the study included 495 sexually active patients aged 65 years or under who were admitted to hospital for a first heart attack in 1992 to 1993.
The average age was 53 years and 90% were men.
Information about the frequency of sexual activity was collected by interview at two stages – during initial hospitalisation, and three to six months afterwards.
Based on the frequency reported at the two interviews, participants were classified into two groups – those who abstained from sexual activity or decreased its frequency following the heart attack (47%), and those who maintained or increased its frequency after the heart attack (53%).
During a median follow-up of 22 years, 211 (43%) patients died, the study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology, found.
When comparing the risk of death between the two groups, the researchers accounted for baseline differences in other characteristics which could also predict mortality, such as socioeconomic status, depression, physical activity, obesity, self-rated health, and the severity of the heart attack.
They found that maintaining or increasing the frequency of sexual activity within the first six months after a heart attack was associated with a 35% lower risk of death.
Prof Gerber said: “Improved physical fitness, stronger spouse relations, and a mental ability to ‘bounce back’ from the initial shock of the event within a few months are among the possible explanations for the survival benefit observed among the maintained/increased group.”
“On the other hand, patients who perceive their health as poor might be less likely to start having sex again.
“They may also be less likely to adhere to cancer screening tests and other prevention practices during follow-up.
“This may explain the strong inverse association between resumption of sexual activity and cancer mortality that was seen in our study.”
Prof Gerber highlighted a number of limitations of the study, including that the low proportion of women and relatively young age of participants may limit the generalisability of the results to females and older individuals.
He added that this was an observational study and causation cannot be assumed.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
