In 2010 a study by the New England Research Institute in MA, involving men aged between 40 and 70, found that those who had sex at least twice a week had nearly half the heart attack risks of those who had relations once a month or less.
Advertisement
A new study by researchers from Michigan State University and the University of Chicago finds that older men who have enjoyable sex more frequently – the definition of “frequently” for the purposes of this research being once a week or more – are at higher risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular issues. Here are some steps you can take to stay healthy-and enjoy sex for the rest of your life.
Which leaves older chaps who care about their hearts and their other halves in something of a quandary.
Sex in later life could make men twice as likely to have a heart attack – but bring health benefits for women, the first study of its kind suggests. A study conducted at Duke University found that not only were people over 65 still having sex, 20 percent of them said their sex lives were better than at any previous time in their lives. Step away from the douche.
Researchers interviewed 2,200 men and women aged between 57 and 85 about their sex lives and then followed up over five years to see how their heart health was by the end.
Participants were aged 57 to 85 when the first wave of data was collected in 2005-06.
Cardiovascular risk was measured as high blood pressure, a rapid heart rate, elevated C-reactive protein and general heart problems, including heart attack, heart failure and stroke.
The study found that older men who had sex once a week or more were “much more likely to experience cardiovascular events five years later than men who were sexually inactive”. This risk was not found among older women.
“Strikingly, we found having sex once a week or more puts older men at a risk for experiencing cardiovascular events that is nearly two times greater than older men who are sexually inactive”.
But women who participated in the study and who said they found sex to be extremely pleasurable or satisfying were found to be at lower risk of hypertension.
High testosterone levels and the use of medication created to boost sexual function may also contribute to the harmful effects on men’s hearts, Liu said, though noting that scientific evidence to support this is rare.
Prof Liu said: “Although scientific evidence is still rare, it is likely that such sexual medication or supplements have negative effects on older men’s cardiovascular health”.
As if to demonstrate that every silver lining has a cloud, researchers in the United States have shown that older men who enjoy frequent sex raise their chances of developing heart problems.
Outside of older men, safe, enjoyable sex can have a number of health benefits for everyone.
For women, it was a different story however. In fact, sexual activity in later years, as well as the level of pleasure experienced by partners, may not have the same effects on heart health for men and for women.
“For women, we have good news: Good sexual quality may protect older women from cardiovascular risk in later life”, Dr Liu said.
Advertisement
Older women who enjoy an active sex life may fare better than older men because of the beneficial effects of the female sex hormone released during orgasm, and the stress-busting effects of a close relationship, the researchers say.
