March 29, 2011 – Episodic physical activity can lead to heart problems in people who are not very active, study finds1 American. This is also the case for those who have casual sex.
Researchers analyzed 14 studies2 interested in the risk of suffering a myocardial infarction or of suddenly dying from a heart problem within hours of an occasional activity. All the studies totaled more than 9,300 predominantly male patients, whose average age ranged from 57 to 63 years.
The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), shows that people who exercise are almost 3.5 times more likely to have a myocardial infarction than those who do not. This risk is 2.7 times higher in people who have casual sex than in those who abstain.
People who exercise occasionally are almost 5 times more likely to die suddenly from a heart problem. However, researchers have not established a link between sex and the risk of dying from a heart disorder.
In other words, while exercise – whether physical or sexual – is good for the heart, doing it occasionally, but sustained, can be harmful in people who are not in good physical condition.
The absolute risk of suffering from a myocardial infarction or of suddenly dying from a heart problem during physical and sexual activities remains low, however, because their occurrences are infrequent. The researchers therefore estimate that, for every 10,000 people engaged in these activities on an occasional basis, an extra hour per week translates into an increase of 2 to 3 heart attacks and sudden cardiac death.
Another result, encouraging this time, the researchers found that for people who participate in physical activity, each additional period per week decreased the risk of suffering a heart attack or sudden death by 45% and 30% respectively. Note, however, that these latter results are based on 5 of the 14 studies.
For the authors of the study, these results attest to the importance of consulting a doctor before embarking on an intensive training program when our physical condition is poor.
Louis M. Gagné – HealthPassport.net
1 Dahabreh IJ, Paulus JK. Association of episodic physical and sexual activity with triggering of acute cardiac events: systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2011 Mar 23; 305 (12): 1225-33.
2. Ten of the studies looked at physical activity and 3 at sexual activity. A final study dealt with these 2 types of activities.
