Sexual intercourse after a heart attack | Everything you need to know by IDOVEN

Is it safe to have sex after a heart attack?

This is one of the questions that many patients ask themselves after having suffered a heart attack. In today's post we solve the most frequent doubts and help you explain how to return to a safe and controlled sexual life thanks to our services.

What happens to the heart when you have a heart attack?

A myocardial infarction involves damage to the heart muscle due to a lack of blood supply. It can be caused by a variety of causes, in most cases it occurs when one of the arteries, called coronary arteries, that nourish and oxygenate the heart becomes blocked; if the lack of blood supply lasts long enough, changes occur that affect the normal functioning of the heart. Patients, after being treated and recovering from the initial acute phase, must start a treatment based on cardiac rehabilitation and medication, as explained below. here.

After a heart attack, being able to return to a normal life will depend on several factors, such as the physical condition of the person before the heart attack, the extent of the affected territory or the associated complications. Thanks to IDOVEN monitoring, this can be done in a safe and controlled manner.

Will I be able to have sex again without problems, and will I be able to regain my previous sexual activity?

The most common fears and concerns that arise with regard to sex are related to the physical exertion that the activity requires, as the patient is often afraid that this activity may be of high intensity for the heart. To reassure patients, it should be noted that studies have shown that the energy expenditure during sexual intercourse is similar to that generated by climbing two flights of stairs, so it could be considered a moderate physical activity.

On the other hand,the ability to respond to sexual exertion, as with other types of physical activity, will depend on the amount of damage after the heart attack, the resolution of blockages in the coronary arteries and the physical (muscular, not overweight) and psychological state of the patient.

In general, depending on the type of sexual activity...it is comparable to climbing one or two flights of stairs. With supervised physical training and a proper diet, any physical activity can be improved..

When can I return to sex after a heart attack?

It is advisable to resume sexual relations after adequate and progressive physical and psychological training. Thanks to this planning, it is possible to learn to detect the physical responses of the body after an intense physical effort.

What problems can I have during sex after a heart attack?

Most probably none, although it must be individualised on a case-by-case basis. There are cases in which angina pectoris may occasionally occur, mainly manifesting as chest pain during sexual activity. This is most likely to happen to the same person when performing any other moderate physical exertion. In this respect, post-stroke monitoring is used to measure the heart's response to at least moderate physical activity.The energy expenditure required for this is usually higher than for sexual activity.

Can I have erection problems or sexual impotence?

This is one of the most common questions asked by patients. Impotence can be caused by multiple causes associated with cardiovascular disease, such as heart attack.

One of them is drugs: they control the disease very well and improve the cardiovascular prognosis but as a side effect some drugs (not all) promote erectile dysfunction.

Others are the psychological state after suffering a coronary event, which sometimes require the help of a professional. There are also hormonal and other alterations that can be studied in specific consultations.

In any case, for some years now, there have been pharmacological solutions to these problems that will be used depending on the origin of the dysfunction.

What can we do at IDOVEN after suffering a heart attack?

At IDOVEN we have a clear objective: "We want to help to care for and protect life", based on our monitoring and technology.. Obviously, sexual relations are part of our daily lives. That is why we want you to be able to enjoy them again after a heart attack without putting your life at risk, supported by our monitoring and our technology.