Mr. Ma is 40 years old this year. In the first few years of his marriage, he and his wife were very close, and their sexual life was also harmonious, with a stable marital relationship. However, since being diagnosed with heart disease two years ago, Mr. Ma not only needs to take medication on time and undergo regular check-ups but also his sexual life with his wife has been affected.
One night, when Mrs. Ma returned from a banquet, looking exceptionally beautiful, Mr. Ma couldn’t help but be moved, and in the evening, he persuaded his wife to engage in sexual activity. However, during the sexual activity, he suddenly felt chest tightness, dizziness, and shortness of breath. They immediately stopped the activity, and Mrs. Ma called for emergency assistance.
Fortunately, the hospital was nearby, and after active treatment, Mr. Ma’s life was saved. The doctors reminded the couple to be more careful during intimate moments in the future, avoiding excessive excitement to prevent a heart attack.
Can patients with heart disease still enjoy a fulfilling sexual life?
Whether patients with heart diseases such as coronary heart disease, arrhythmia, and heart failure can engage in sexual activity is a common concern.
On one hand, many patients worry that emotions, excitement, physical exertion, and other factors during sexual activity may trigger another heart attack or even sudden death. On the other hand, sexual activity plays a vital role in enhancing marital relationships and improving quality of life.
This dilemma raises the question for many heart disease patients: Can they engage in sexual activity?
According to Dr. Yang Qing, Chief Physician of the Cardiology Department at West China Hospital of Sichuan University, patients with generally normal heart function can engage in sexual activity regardless of the type of heart disease.
What constitutes normal heart function? Dr. Yang provides two judgment criteria.
One is to assess the severity of heart disease. According to the New York Heart Association functional classification, heart disease is classified into four levels: Class I, Class II, Class III, and Class IV. Class I refers to patients with heart disease but with no restrictions on daily activities, while patients in the other three classes may experience fatigue, palpitations, and other abnormal symptoms after activities. Class I patients can engage in sexual activity appropriately.
Another simple measurement method is stair-climbing. If one can climb 20 steps of stairs within 10-15 seconds without experiencing significant chest pain, shortness of breath, or rapid heartbeat, they can safely engage in sexual activity.
To safely enjoy sexual activity, heart disease patients should pay attention to four things:
1. Choose the right time:
Patients with acute myocardial infarction should wait for four to six to eight months before engaging in sexual activity, while those who have undergone coronary stent surgery can attempt sexual activity after three to four weeks. It is advisable to avoid sexual activity after consuming alcohol or a meal.
2. Preparation before sexual activity:
Patients should prepare for sexual activity by keeping a first aid kit nearby. If angina occurs, they should stop immediately and rest after taking nitroglycerin sublingually.
3. Control the frequency of sexual activity:
Heart disease patients should limit the frequency of sexual activity. It is recommended that patients with coronary heart disease engage in sexual activity no more than twice a week. They should avoid sexual activity when overly stressed, fatigued, or after consuming alcohol or a meal.
4. Pay attention to drug interactions:
Patients taking medications such as nitrates, alpha-adrenergic blockers, should avoid taking inhibitors like sildenafil to prevent hypotension and potential life-threatening complications.
Cardiovascular disease specialist Dr. Hu Dayi advises that if symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, weakness, or angina occur during sexual activity, it is crucial to stop immediately, take nitroglycerin, and rest. If the symptoms do not improve, then call emergency services immediately.
Three situations during which sudden death may occur during intimate moments:
It is not only patients with cardiovascular diseases who are at risk of sudden death during intimate moments, but even healthy individuals may face this risk under inappropriate circumstances.
1. After consuming alcohol:
Some people believe that alcohol can enhance libido and improve the sexual experience, but alcohol can stimulate vasospasm, potentially triggering cardiovascular diseases and even death. It is advisable to avoid alcohol before engaging in sexual activity. Especially after heavy drinking, it is not suitable for sexual activity, as it can lead to vomiting and choking on vomit, causing suffocation and sudden death.
2. Excessive fatigue:
People busy with life’s demands under multiple pressures are often in a state of exhaustion with insufficient sleep. Sexual activity after excessive fatigue may lead to sudden death.
3. Use of medications:
Some people choose to take aphrodisiacs to enhance sexual performance, unknowingly risking excessive excitement, leading to sudden death due to cardiac causes. Patients with heart disease must take care of their bodies, as some are not suitable for sexual activity. Even for healthy individuals, engaging in sexual activity immediately after consuming alcohol, overworking, or misusing drugs is not advisable, as it may lead to accidents.
