New Delhi: A recent study titled The Association of Sexual Frequency with Cardiovascular Diseases Incidence and All-Cause Mortality has highlighted the positive impact of regular sexual activity on heart health. Submitted to the National Library of Medicine, the research underscores how sexual health is intricately connected to overall physical and emotional well-being.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD), including ischemic heart disease and stroke, remain the leading causes of death and disability globally. According to the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC), from 1990 to 2022, CVD resulted in approximately 19.8 million deaths worldwide, contributing to significant loss in both life expectancy and quality of life.
CVD in young adults
Over the past two decades, despite improvements in cardiovascular health among older adults, the rate of CVD in young adults has been increasing due to both traditional risk factors—such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity—and emerging ones like lifestyle choices and environmental influences.
Increased sexual activity means better health?
The World Health Organization defines sexual health as an essential component of overall well-being, emphasizing its role beyond the absence of illness. Studies have consistently linked more frequent sexual activity to better physical health outcomes. Increased sexual frequency has been associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease, certain cancers, depression, and improved cognitive function, suggesting a potential protective effect against cardiovascular diseases.
Research has also identified a significant correlation between lower sexual frequency and increased all-cause mortality among hypertensive individuals, even after accounting for other established risk factors. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database, the study examined the relationship between sexual activity and CVD among individuals aged 20 to 59 in the United States of America.
Analysis revealed that the link between sexual frequency and cardiovascular health was stronger in populations with older adults, diabetes, obesity, and depression. In contrast, the association was less pronounced in groups without these risk factors, suggesting that sexual activity may interact with traditional cardiovascular risks to influence health outcomes.
Furthermore, low testosterone levels, often linked to reduced sexual activity, are associated with increased levels of cholesterol and inflammatory markers, contributing to higher cardiovascular disease risk. Medications commonly used by individuals with CVD, such as diuretics and beta-blockers, can further impair sexual function, potentially leading to a vicious cycle of declining heart health and diminished sexual health.
The study further advised individuals with either excessively high or low sexual frequency to seek medical attention if necessary, as it could indicate underlying health issues like erectile dysfunction. This condition, often an early warning sign of heart disease, occurs because the small blood vessels in the penile artery are more prone to blockages than those near the heart.
This study provides valuable insights into how maintaining a balanced sexual life can positively impact cardiovascular health, especially for younger and middle-aged adults.
