Men at greater risk of heart attack when they enjoy sex at older age

A new study has revealed that having sex well into old age is not totally beneficial to all. It found that having regular sex – and enjoying it – puts older men at higher risk for heart attacks and other heart-related problems. Contrary to the claim, older women can actually lower their risk of hypertension by having good sex.

Dr. Hui Liu, a lead researcher and an associate professor of sociology at Michigan State University, said: “These findings challenge the widely held assumption that sex brings uniform health benefits to everyone.”

Using data related to 2,204 people aged between 57 and 85, in the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project in the US collected in 2005-06, a similar data was repeated five years later.

The study shows older men who had sex once a week or more were much more likely to suffer a cardiovascular event five years later, when compared with older men who were sexually inactive. The same risk was not found for women, the researchers noted.

Dr Liu further said: “Strikingly, we find that having sex once a week or more puts older men at a risk for experiencing cardiovascular events that is almost two times greater than older men who are sexually inactive.

“Moreover, older men who found sex with their partner extremely pleasurable or satisfying had a higher risk of cardiovascular events than men who did not feel so. Because older men have more difficulties reaching orgasm for medical or emotional reasons than do their younger counterparts, they may exert themselves to a greater degree of exhaustion and create more stress on their cardiovascular system in order to achieve climax.

“However, only women in good quality relationships may acquire such benefits from their partner.”