People who have had a heart attack are much more likely to continue with their sex life if a doctor gives them advice about it before they leave hospital, researchers say. But many people don't get advice, and women are much less likely to be advised about resuming sexual activity than men.
What do we know already?
People who have had a heart attack need help and support to recover from the shock and resume normal life. Sex is a part of that, and resuming sexual activity is perfectly safe for most people. However, many people worry that the excitement or exertion of sex could put a strain on their heart. That's why it's helpful to have advice from a doctor about whether it's likely to cause problems, and what you should do if you get symptoms like chest pain during or after sex.
There hasn't been much research on the advice people get, or how likely they are to resume their sex life after leaving hospital. This new study interviewed 1,760 people one month, and again at one year, after their heart attack.