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Intimacy After a Heart-Attack

Oct 6, 2016

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A heart attack can be a traumatic experience. Not only is the event itself often scary, but recovery is a challenge. It can be even more so if you feel like you have become less intimate with your partner.

Fear is a Motivating Factor

One of the biggest factors impacting a woman’s sexual activities after a heart attack is fear. It makes sense. After a patient has suffered a heart attack, it stands to reason that she would worry about having another one. Since intimacy can be a very active pursuit, it can be a bit scary to resume a normal level of engagement. However, it’s been noted that less than 1% of heart attacks occur during sex, so it is not something that should be a big worry.

If impaired sexual activity is a problem after a heart attack, here are a few tips that can help make the transition back to a more normal sex life a little easier.

  • Talk to Your Doctor – Your cardiac doctor has heard these questions before and will be more than happy to provide frank, honest answers about whether your body is ready for sex and the best way to proceed.
  • Talk to Your Partner – Your partner should know about your fears and should understand your concerns. Don’t be afraid to tell him or her about your worries, so that you can work them out together.
  • Start Slow – You don’t have to jump into the same activities you enjoyed before a heart attack right away. Start with some gentle ways to build intimacy and see where it takes you.
  • Acknowledge You May Need Help – It’s natural. With a significant change like a heart attack, your body is changing too. You may need assistance like lubricants or extra intimacy to feel ready for sex.
  • Realize that Sometimes It’s Emotional – A diagnosis of heart disease or suffering a heart attack is a major life change. This can affect your emotions. You may need to talk to your doctor about these concerns if you hope to return your sex life to normal. If you want more information about this, reach out to us at PBMC today. We can put you in touch with someone who can help.

As you can see, there are many ways that you can work around sexual impairments after a heart attack. The first step is to acknowledge they exist. Once you do this, you’re well on your way to resolving them!