Energy assessment and positional recommendations for sexual activity in patients with coronary heart disease

**6.3//How much energy can a patient with coronary heart disease safely release?**

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Medical research has developed a fairly satisfactory method to determine what kind of work the human body can withstand and how much energy it can release without harming its health.

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The unit of measurement for energy consumption is called METS.

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For example, washing hands requires about two metz, while woodworking requires five to six metz.

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An excellent athlete can withstand the activity level of 20 Metz in one session.

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For middle-aged people with mild coronary heart disease (i.e., mild myocardial ischemia), they can probably withstand 8 to 9 meths of activity without causing any symptoms in the brain or heart. The amount of meths consumed in a single activity is much lower than this number.

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It is estimated that approximately 5 metz are consumed during orgasm, while only about 3 to 4 metz are needed before and after orgasm.

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The energy level consumed in a single transaction is generally manageable.

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Of course, the energy required for sexual intercourse varies depending on the intensity of intercourse and the state of arousal.

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If a patient is able to climb two flights of stairs, then he can certainly endure the physical exertion required for sexual intercourse without any worries, since climbing two flights of stairs requires 5 to 6 metz.

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> 6.4 // Is the heart rate during intercourse the peak heart rate?

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Studies on activity and heart rate show that heart rates reached during daily activities are often higher than those reached during sexual intercourse.

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Using a 24-hour electrocardiogram monitor to detect the heart rate of patients with coronary heart disease, it was found that their average daily maximum heart rate was 120 beats per minute, while the average maximum heart rate during intercourse was 117 beats per minute, and this heart rate only lasted for 10 to 15 seconds, meaning that this heart rate was only reached during orgasm.

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We generally don't consider the legal profession to be a physically demanding one. However, the stress on a lawyer's heart during courtroom advocacy is greater than the stress on the heart during sexual intercourse.

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This shows that the increased heart rate caused by sexual intercourse is tolerable for patients with mild to moderate coronary heart disease.

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Patients with severe coronary heart disease and some with moderate coronary heart disease should consult a doctor. For those with severe coronary heart disease, especially after myocardial infarction, when resuming sexual activity, they must be careful and follow the doctor's guidance. They should consult a cardiologist about what activities they can and cannot tolerate.

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> Doctor's advice is very important, but there is no need to feel burdened. Worrying will only increase the pressure on the patient during intercourse, causing sexual dysfunction and reducing the enjoyment that should be there.

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**6.5//What is the most suitable sexual position for patients with coronary heart disease?**

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Patients with coronary heart disease should adopt the position they find most suitable, generally speaking, the woman on top and the man on the bottom is more suitable.

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Some people believe that using a semi-sitting position can reduce the expansion of the left ventricle, which can prevent or reduce angina.

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For patients with heart failure, sexual activity should only resume after cardiac function has stabilized, and a sitting position is more suitable for intercourse.

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Studies have shown that, during intercourse in healthy individuals, there is little difference in the effects on heart rate and blood pressure between the male-on-top and male-on-bottom positions.

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However, patients with coronary heart disease should avoid positions that require exertion.

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For detailed information, consult a cardiologist. It is advisable to have your sexual partner present during the consultation so that the doctor can have a better understanding of the situation and obtain an accurate explanation.

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Involving a sexual partner in counseling can reduce her anxiety and worry about coronary heart disease.

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> 6.6 // How to determine the maximum activity level for patients with coronary heart disease?

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Sexual intercourse is a physical activity, just like any other physical activity; it is also a form of exercise, so patients with coronary heart disease must know their maximum exercise tolerance.

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Doctors can use scooters and other methods to measure a patient's heart rate tolerance.

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If we want to understand exercise tolerance in the simplest way, then climbing several flights of stairs without experiencing angina, and with a heart rate less than but close to 140 beats per minute, is the amount of exercise we can do at our maximum capacity.

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If you can climb a few flights of stairs, you can generally easily withstand the strain that sexual intercourse puts on your heart.

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> 6.7 // How can patients with coronary heart disease resume their sex life?**

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Patients recovering from coronary heart disease should not rush into sexual activity. In the first 1 to 2 weeks, they should engage in some caressing activities. The orgasm induced by caressing activities requires less physical exertion than the orgasm of sexual intercourse, and therefore the increase in heart rate and blood pressure is also less. However, they should not rush into sexual intercourse so that they can have a psychological adaptation process.

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After a coronary heart disease attack, it is generally necessary to wait 2 to 6 weeks before resuming sexual activity.

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To gradually resume sexual intercourse, one should begin with caressing activities and gradually transition to intercourse.

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Use positions that require minimal effort during intercourse.

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> Keep a relaxed and happy mood, and resume sexual activity in a familiar and comfortable environment.

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Avoid having sex when you are under significant stress at work or in your personal life. In such situations, your blood pressure or pulse rate may be higher from the start, which could pose a greater risk.

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> You can experiment with your partner to find some less strenuous sexual positions.

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If you feel tired or lack energy, you can also bring pleasure to your sexual partner through caressing with your hands or mouth, and your sexual partner can do the same for you.

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**6.8//What should I do if I still experience angina during intercourse?**

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Some men do experience angina during intercourse. In fact, this is one of the most common reasons why male patients with coronary heart disease give up sexual activity and develop erectile dysfunction.

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If the patient experiences angina during exertion, nitroglycerin can be taken before sexual intercourse.

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At the same time, you should relax and not worry about experiencing pain.

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Relaxing not only helps with erections, but also makes your sex life easier and more enjoyable.

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Some medications can alleviate symptoms, thus helping you enjoy more sexual pleasure, while others can cause certain side effects.

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For example, propranolol can reduce the likelihood of angina by lowering the heart rate during intercourse, but unfortunately, large doses of this type of drug can lead to loss of sexual desire and erectile function.

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If this occurs, seek medical attention immediately.

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Patients with coronary heart disease should not have sexual intercourse after overeating or drinking alcohol, because digestion consumes a lot of energy and blood flow, greatly reducing the energy and blood flow required for physical activity, which can trigger angina.