Sex does not increase chance of heart attacks, researchers find

A 10-year survey found no evidence to support claims sexual activity could increase risk of cardiovascular problems

Sex does not increase the risk of a heart attack (Rex)

Having sex does not increase the risk of another attack, researchers have confirmed.

In a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology researchers analysed heart attack victims over a ten year period, monitoring their sexual activity.

They found “no increased risk associated with SA [sexual activity] for adverse CVD [cardiovascular disease events],” with researchers keen to “reassure” patients they “need not be worried about SA and should resume their usual SA.”

The review letter seeks to rebut long-running claims having sex following a heart attack can trigger another episode.

It tracked 536 patients, part of a rehabilitation programme following a heart attack (known as a myocardial infarction), who reported on their sexual activity before and after the attack.

Only 0.7 per cent reported having sex in the hour before their attack, with 1.5 per cent having had sex three to five hours prior to the incident.

The researchers, based at Ulm University in Germany, told the Los Angeles Times it was therefore “very unlikely that sexual activity is a relevant trigger”.

Their findings also suggested participants who had more sex prior to their first attack were less likely to experience another – however, they were keen to caution these findings as it was suggested these individuals were younger and in better shape than older victims.