SEXUAL ACTIVITY, NO matter how good, rarely leads to sudden heart attacks, new research suggests.

The preliminary research was presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2017, a global exchange of the latest advances in cardiovascular science for researchers and clinicians.

Researchers found no correlation between sex and heart attacks.

Researchers examined records on 4,557 cases of cardiac arrest in adults between 2002 and 2015 in a community in the northwestern United States.

They found:

• Of the cases examined, 34 cardiac arrests occurred during or within one hour of sexual intercourse
• Compared with others who had sudden cardiac arrest, people with an arrest associated with sexual intercourse were more likely to be male (94%)
• One in 100 cases of cardiac arrest in men was associated with sexual activity, compared with one in 1,000 cases in women
• Even though sudden cardiac arrest during sexual activity was witnessed by a partner, bystander CPR was performed in only one-third of the cases

The researchers say that the findings may help inform discussions between healthcare providers and patients on the safety of sexual activity. They also highlight the need to educate the public on the importance of bystander CPR for sudden cardiac arrest, irrespective of the circumstances, researchers said.

“The absolute risk of sudden cardiac arrest triggered by sexual activity was low, with the clear majority of cases confined to men.

“These findings have important implications for both cardiac patients and health care providers, and will inform discussions on the safety of engaging in sexual activity.”

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