Sex after heart surgery: Avoid unfamiliar, younger partners

Today heart surgeries have become really common which makes it extremely important for people to know about post-surgical procedures, most importantly knowing when you can get back to normal life. In

By: Dr Tilak Suvarna | | Updated: May 22, 2014 1:14 am

Today heart surgeries have become really common which makes it extremely important for people to know about post-surgical procedures, most importantly knowing when you can get back to normal life. In our earlier piece, we talked about exercising after heart surgery. In this post, Dr Tilak Suvarna, an interventional cardiologist and Head of Cardiology, Asian Heart Institute, Mumbai writes about sex after heart surgery: Also Read - auto draft test 1

When can a person have sex after surgery? Also Read - It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content

You should wait at least 4-6 weeks after the event. In case of a bypass surgery, the patient should wait for their wounds to heal. Also Read - Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry.

Are there any precautions one should take before, during and after intercourse?

One of the most important things is to be well-rested at the time of sexual activity. You should avoid unfamiliar surroundings and unfamiliar partners. If it’s a regular partner, that shouldn’t cause any problems. But if it’s a new partner, particularly someone younger, then there’s a chance of more anxiety and the heart rate going up. Most people who’ve suffered heart attacks during sex have been men who are with a younger and unfamiliar partner. Another important factor is to avoid a heavy meal and alcohol before sex. More importantly one should avoid positions that restrict breathing.

What warning signs should one look out for while having intercourse?

The most glaring signs are breathlessness, excessive sweating and light-headedness. All of the above signs indicate that a person’s blood pressure is falling and they need to stop. The best remedy is to rest and take a sorbitrate if the person is known to suffer from angina.

People believe that if a heart patient can walk up a flight of stairs after surgery, he/she is ready to have sex. Is this true?

Yes, this is true, but it is two flights of stairs not one, actually. But it is a generalized statement that was made, from studies that were done on healthy young or middle aged men. So, this study stated that a man who can climb two flights of steps without feeling uneasy can have sex, because that is the kind of stress that is put on a person’s heart while having sex. I think it differs from individual to individual, especially in older people. Since older people have weakened orgasms, they are likely to exert themselves to a greater degree in order to achieve climax.

Does heart surgery affect the virility of a man?

No. But, we do have patients who come to us after surgery and say that their libido is gone or is weakened. But there could be other reasons for it like the medicines they are taking, but more often than not it is psychological. They are scared and fear that they might get a heart attack while having sex or that they are worried that they may not be able to satisfy their partner. In all honesty, only 1% of people die of heart attacks during sex, so most of their fears are unfounded. I would say heart surgery per se does not affect one’s libido or erections. (Tips to beat erectile dysfunction)

So blood thinners and other medications do not cause it?

No, blood thinners cannot cause problems in one’s libido. But like I said there are certain blood pressure medicines that can cause a loss of libido. A recent study has shown that it is more psychological than physiological. Erectile dysfunction might be caused in people suffering from other conditions like diabetes but it is not due to heart surgery.

Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease.

Know your heart, love your heart

More and more Indians are falling prey to heart disease. There are various reasons for this including a sedentary lifestyle, genetic predisposition, pollution, smoking, drinking, a fatty diet and a general ignorance about what causes heart ailments. However, we at www.thehealthsite.com intend to fight that by covering every aspect of cardiovascular health including diet, expert advice, exercise, natural remedies, diagnosis and treatment, specific heart advice for women .

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Published : October 9, 2013 10:41 am | Updated:May 22, 2014 1:14 am

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