Man dies of cardiac arrest while having sex: Can sex pose a health risk if you are suffering from a heart disease?

In its unsparing journey, heart attack has been claiming more young lives these days. The disease which was earlier seen as an old-age problem, is massively spreading in the younger population like a wildfire. Of the 1.8 millions lives that are lost to heart diseases every year a sizable fraction is that of lives of people who die prematurely; these people die before the age of 70.

There are several risk factors which pose a threat to a human heart. Of all these factors some are noticeable and some are so commonly ingrained in our daily lives that we don't see their impacts until it's too late.

Recently, a 28 year old man died heart attack while having sex. Ajay Parteki from Nagpur was with his girlfriend in a lodge when he succumbed to a heart attack. Driver by profession, Parteki was also working as a welding technician.

As per reports, Parteki has been having a fever for the last few days. He collapsed on the bed during sex. So far, the police say there is no evidence of medicine or drug consumption.

An untreated coronary artery disease can turn fatal during sex, which is a strenuous exercise. Coronary artery disease is commonly seen in young people these days. The heart needs more oxygen and blood during a high intensity activity like sex. The heart rate and blood pressure which elevates during sex is dangerous if one has heart related issues. This danger can result in a sudden heart attack if the patient is not regular in medical checkups. This calls for attention towards regular body checkup from as early as 20 years of age.

According to Michael Blaha, M.D., M.P.H, director of clinical research at the Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease, one should abstain from sexual activities if there are symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat and nausea or indigestion.

The expert says the possibility of heart attack during sex is low and one should not be scared as long as no symptoms are there.

He further says that if you are able to jog or walk the stairs without any difficulty you can have sex.

According to a 1996 study by Harvard Medical School researchers sex can trigger heart attacks in some people, especially men, but the odds of literally succumbing to passion are very low. Of all the heart attack cases, sex is a contributing factor in 1% of them, the study found.

Several researchers and health experts have said that the occurence of heart attack during sex is extremely low.

A recent study, published in JAMA Cardiology, found that 0.2% of the total sudden cardiac deaths which were autopsied at a hospital in London between 1994 and 2020 were due to sex. This means of 1000 sudden cardiac arrest cases, 2 are related to sex. "A forensic study found that 0.2% of natural deaths that underwent autopsy were associated with sexual activity and predominantly involved middle-aged men," the study says and concludes that sudden cardiac death may occur in various circumstances, including physical exercise and sexual intercourse

The common symptoms of heart attack are:

• Chest pain
• Discomfort in chest that does not go away
• Pain in neck, jaw and arms
• Shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing
• Nausea
• Cold sweats

There are several studies which have actually proven the health benefits offered by sex.

Sex provides the same benefits to a human body as a physical exercise does. It improves heart rate, lowers blood pressure, reduces stress and is also known to improve sleep in many individuals.

The stress related issues which have a negative impact on the heart health can actually be eliminated with regular sex.