Infrequent Physical or Sexual Activity May Precipitate a Heart Attack
Mon, November 7, 2011 at 03:00AM The idea that occasional physical or sexual activity may increase the likelihood of a heart attack has been around for a long time – especially in the soaps on TV. But it seems there’s some truth in it, according to a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Tufts Medical School researchers used 14 published studies to examine associations between episodic physical or sexual activity and heart attack (myocardial infarction, or MI), or sudden cardiac death. Ten studies involved physical activity, 3 covered sexual activity, and 1 involved both.
Analysis of the available data showed that episodic physical activity was associated with more than a threefold increased risk of heart attack (actually 3.45-times). It was also associated with an almost 5-fold increased risk of sudden heart death (4.98-times). Episodic sexual activity was linked with a 2.7-times increased risk of heart attack.
Importantly, the triggering effect of these activities was diminished when the subjects were more active on a regular basis. Thus the risk for a heart attack triggered by episodic physical activity decreased by about 45% for each additional time per week the activity was undertaken. For cardiac death, the relative risk fell about 30% for each additional work-out per week.
The bottom line o this analysis is pretty clear. Regular exercise (and sexual activity) are self-protective against the increased risk occasioned by ‘episodic activity’ in an ‘untrained subject’.
Reader Comments (1)
Great article..I never read or heard about it..I think you have wonderful knowledge related to health and their problems..Thanks.