I have heart disease and often feel short of breath. Does sex affect your health? (Hong Vu, 34 years old, Ho Chi Minh City)
Having sex is equivalent to light to moderate physical activity like climbing stairs or walking briskly. When making love, your heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate increase slightly. At its highest level (when reaching orgasm), the heart rate can reach 102-127 beats per minute. This is normal and safe. The risk of having a heart problem during sex is less than 1%. On the contrary, proper sex helps improve cardiovascular health, reduce stress, and improve sleep.
After being diagnosed with heart disease, patients often tend to be less physically active than before, which can affect the couple’s relationship. In addition, accompanying symptoms such as palpitations, chest pain, shortness of breath and fatigue can cause patients to reduce sexual desire and performance.
Many patients with chronic heart failure suffer from sexual dysfunction. For men, common problems include decreased libido and difficulty maintaining an erection. Women also experience decreased libido, vaginal dryness, and pain during intercourse.
Heart disease and its treatments can change the way blood circulates, reducing the amount of blood supplied by the heart to distant areas of the body, including the genitals. Reduced blood flow leads to erectile dysfunction in men and difficulty creating sensation for women during “love”.
Some cardiovascular medications also affect sex life. Erectile dysfunction drugs, if used in combination with nitrate drugs (vasodilators), can reduce blood pressure and pose a risk of sudden death. Therefore, combined use of these two groups of drugs must be avoided.
Emotional stress, depression… are common symptoms in cardiovascular patients, which also affect sex life.
Dr. Vu Nang Phuc performs echocardiography for people with cardiovascular disease. Illustration: Minh Huyen
You and your husband should openly discuss with each other about lovemaking, and consult a doctor when you have unusual symptoms, such as chest pain or discomfort. Cardiologists should also pay attention to prescribing medication and providing advice to patients about marital activities when needed as part of the treatment process.
People with cardiovascular disease need to watch for warning signs during or after sexual activity such as chest pain, shortness of breath, fast heart rate, irregular heart rate, dizziness, insomnia, fatigue… If these symptoms appear. If this symptom occurs, the patient should see a doctor for advice.
People with heart disease need to talk to their doctor before using any new medication, including physiological medications and over-the-counter medications.