Can Too Much Sex Kill You? Sexual Activity In Older Men Increases Heart Problem Risks, Study Says

Sexual activity is many times celebrated and praised in popular culture, but some older men may want to take a break from it after a new study showed that too much at a certain age can increase the risk of heart attacks and other heart issues, Market Watch reported Tuesday. The journal of Health and Social Behavior revealed that older men who have sex at least once a week increase their risk for health issues like hypertension nearly twofold. Older men who find sex with their partners extremely pleasurable also run the risk of increased cardiovascular problems.

Researchers at Michigan State University used data gathered in 2005 from 2,204 people in the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project with ages ranging from 57 to 85 years old, Men’s Fitness reported. A second wave of data was collected five years later in which researchers measured heart rates in both men and women, monitoring high blood pressures, rapid heart rates, heart failures and heart attacks among other cardiovascular events.

"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," study author Hui Liu said. However, results are the opposite when it comes to females. Older women who experience pleasurable sex actually lower their risks of high blood pressure and curb incidents like strokes, heart attacks and heart failure for at least five years.

Men looking to have a healthy sex life in their old age should consider abstaining from the use of testosterone. They should also find a balance in their sex life, as too much sex or getting overly excited could have severe consequences. Men should also consult with their doctors to get a realistic outlook on what their body can and cannot take. Also, staying fit and healthy is key to lowering cardiovascular risks.