Sex

After a heart incident, or if you suffer from heart disease, resuming sexual activity may not seem to be a priority. It is, however, one of the key elements that can help you return to normality and improve your quality of life, in the same way as driving or physical activity. 

Many people feel apprehensive about resuming sex. Heart rhythm disorders can cause depression and fatigue, while certain medications may alter your libido and its physical manifestations. Not forgetting a loss of confidence in your body, and a lack of self-confidence. Add into the mix the apprehension of making things worse. 

Heart rhythm disorder and sex: what precautions to take?

Theoretically, nothing prevents you from resuming sexual activity soon after a heart incident. It is even possible to be sexually active the first week following a heart attack, for instance. The longest break is for people who have had a heart operation, for whom it is recommended to wait six to eight weeks. 

In actual fact, the fear of provoking a new heart incident is not really substantiated: the act of having sex is equivalent to climbing around 15 steps, or walking around 5 kilometers an hour. Sexual activity is responsible for less than 1% of heart attacks, and 0.6% of cases of ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death. 

The fact remains that the heart rate and systolic blood pressure — when the heart empties and sends blood to the arteries — increases, hence the need to abstain after a heart incident in certain cases. 

But in any case, and in general when you suffer from a heart rhythm disorder, it is essential to speak with your cardiologist about it. 

Some tips for a serene and fulfilling sex life

In light of the risks mentioned above, doctors are very clear in the matter: except in certain cases, the benefits of resuming sex outweigh the risks. 

But it needs to fall within a broader framework. On the one hand, alongside the sexual act itself, attention, affection and tenderness can help a person suffering from a heart rhythm disorder to regain self-confidence. On the other hand, wellbeing can only be restored if sex is accompanied by lifestyle habits likely to improve your health in the long-term: better sleep, quitting tobacco and drugs, reducing your alcohol consumption, practicing a physical activity, etc. In certain cases, it is also necessary to lose weight. 

If resuming sexual activity is difficult, you could speak about it with a sexologist. Talking therapy can also be effective, as can certain medications.
However, some of the latter, which are used to treat erectile dysfunction, are sometimes incompatible with heart treatments. It’s better to always read the patient information leaflet carefully, and consult your cardiologist.