Some Problems About Heart Disease And Sex

Aside from anxiety over making symptoms worse or having a heart attack while having sex, there are other concerns people with a heart condition face, which may affect their sex life. In many men who are taking medications for high blood pressure and heart disease, erectile dysfunction or impotence is a side effect that leads to frustration and depression. Patients who are experiencing sexual dysfunction possibly because of the heart medications they are taking must talk to their doctors about alternative treatments. However, you must not stop taking medications without talking to your healthcare provider first.

You should not take these type of drugs within 24 to 48 hours of using certain erectile dysfunction drugs. Again, it is best to talk to your doctor about drug interactions between those taken for treating heart disease and those used for treating impotence. Remember, however, that your heart health is a priority over your sex life.

Other factors associated with both heart disease and erectile dysfunction include obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking habits. Quit smoking to improve heart health as well as erectile problems. Avoid heavy alcohol drinking, which can affect both the heart and your sex life. Eat a healthy diet to improve weight and other obesity-related health problems to improve both your heart condition and sex life.

In women, getting pregnant may be a concern if they have heart problems. They should talk to their doctors if they are planning to get pregnant or if they wish to use birth control to avoid getting pregnant.

Post-menopausal women with heart disease can safely to use hormones like estrogen for topically use for treating vaginal dryness and painful intercourse.

It is common for people who have a chronic disease such as heart disease and diabetes to be severely depressed. Some doctors prescribe antidepressants to these patients, which sometimes leads to reduced sexual desire and function. Ask your doctor about having psychotherapy for depression and sexual dysfunction.

Cardiac rehabilitation after a heart attack can help patients gradually go back to their daily routines.

Regular exercise can increase your strength and stamina, and can reduce the demands on the heart during sex. A sedentary lifestyle increases your risk of a heart attack, so try to get some physical activity if you can, as long as you are stable – that is, you do not experience chest pains, easy fatigue or difficulty breathing with normal activities of daily living.

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If you have undergone a surgical procedure such as angioplasty and cardiac stenting or bypass surgery, wait until your surgical wounds heal before resuming sexual activity.

Signs that suggest your can resume normal sexual activity include your ability to exert enough energy to do a stationary bike exercise or walk at a comfortable pace without experiencing angina (chest pain) or excessive breathlessness. Clinical evaluation should also show that these simple activities do not result in ECG changes that show a lack of oxygen to the heart muscles, irregularities in heart rhythm, or rises in blood pressure.