Does sex after a heart attack lead to a longer life?

The research is in: Sexual activity after a heart attack isn't just safe for most people; it could actually lead to a longer life.

Sexual activity can be less physically taxing to the heart than many people may think. While sex does increase heart rate and blood pressure, the physical demand on the body is about the same as climbing 2 flights of stairs or jogging slowly.

A study followed 495 people for 22 years after their first heart attack. Study participants who returned to their previous levels of sexual activity within 6 months were 35% less likely to die of any cause. They were compared with those who stopped or cut back on sexual activity after a heart attack.

The study shows that sexual activity can be important to quality of life and overall health when recovering from a heart attack.

Still, heart attack survivors should talk to their doctors before returning to any moderate physical activity, including sex. It's common to wait a few weeks before resuming sexual activity after a heart attack. In some cases, doctors might recommend an exercise stress test first.

A stress test looks at how the heart performs under mild to moderate activity. People who pass the test without symptoms like breathlessness, chest pain or abnormal heart rhythms are generally ready to resume sexual activity.

The type of procedure a person had also will factor into readiness for sex.

Angioplasty or stent: For a person who had angioplasty or a stent, sexual activity is usually safe within a few days. Your health care team might want to see healing at the puncture site first.

Open-chest surgery: Health care professionals usually recommend giving the sternum 6 to 8 weeks to heal before engaging in sexual activity. But with new, less-invasive surgery techniques, that time can be shorter.

Other recommendations

The health care team might recommend easing into sexual activity. That could mean being well rested, in a familiar location, and avoiding heavy foods or alcohol before sex.