Sex not as risky as some heart attack survivors may fear

DALLAS, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Sex isn't as risky as some heart attack survivors may fear and should be discussed with their doctor, a U.S. cardiologist says.

Dr. Joseph A. Hill, chief of cardiology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, said heart attack survivors often consider the heart attack as a wake-up call to eat healthier, exercise more, and not sweat the small stuff. But anxiety can accumulate around a taboo topic: resuming a fulfilling sex life, he said.

"It's a subject that a lot of patients have trouble asking their physicians about due to the nature of the topic," Hill said in a statement. "Sometimes, physicians need to be the ones to bring it up, to put patients at ease."

To address this fear, the American Heart Association recently released guidelines to help healthcare providers comfortably advise patients on resuming a safe sex life following a cardiovascular event, such as heart attack, stroke, or transplant.

"Sex isn't as risky as some survivors may fear," Hill said. "It is unlikely that being sexually active after a heart attack will trigger another attack in most people. If you don't experience symptoms in your daily life, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or dizziness during exercise, you're not likely to experience them in bed either."

Patients and physicians alike should recognize that a healthy sex life contributes to overall quality of life; therefore, while the topic may be perceived as taboo, it is a worthwhile discussion to have, he said.

It's important for doctors and patients to put their potential embarrassment aside and recognize the importance of sexual counseling, because it can go a long way to help survivors on the road to recovery, Hill added.