Your spouse has had a heart attack. Does this mean your sex life is over? We bring you the bottom line on sex after a heart attack.

Bottom Line/HEALTH:Dr. Suzanne, so straight to the point, is it safe to have sex after you’ve had a heart attack?
Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum:The American Heart Association just came up with guidelines regarding this exact issue. If you can climb two flights of stairs after you’ve had a heart attack, then it’s actually safe to have sex. And the AHA continued to say that it is important for quality of life as well, so climb two flights of stairs, and if you can do it, then go at it.
Bottom Line:And they even recommend it!
Dr. Steinbaum:Exactly!
Bottom Line:If sex is relatively safe after a heart attack, why do we see so many deaths on TV? What’s that all about?
Dr. Steinbaum:Because it makes great television! But it’s actually more dangerous to go out and shovel snow, than it is to have sex, if you’re at risk for a heart attack.
Bottom Line:And what about the differences in risk for men and women?
Dr. Steinbaum:Men who have had a heart attack are oftentimes put on medications. They often have erectile dysfunction as well and take medications for that. Some of those medications do not go well together and can lead to cardiac problems. If you’re a man who wants to have sex and who has a heart condition, has been put on medication and also has erectile dysfunction, it’s really important to talk to your doctor about taking multiple medications. For women, it’s more subtle, and after a heart attack, again, do that stair test, and you’ll be fine.
 

The bottom line on sex after a heart attack is the two-flight rule—can you comfortably walk up a couple of flights of stairs without getting too winded? Then you’re probably OK. Men, though, should talk to their doctors, because those taking erectile dysfunction medications may be at significantly increased risk.