Death can occur during consensual sex for a number of reasons, generally because of the physical strain of the activity, or because of unusual extenuating circumstances.
Sex is associated with a variety of benefits and also risks. Deaths during consensual sex account for approximately 0.6% of all sudden deaths. Numerous notable cases of individuals dying during or from sex have been recorded and reported including a president, a prime minister, and a pope.
But how often does that happen? Very infrequently, statistics show: So, yes, sex can trigger a heart attack. A Tufts University survey of 14 studies showed that sex-related heart attack risk is highest among those who are the least sexually active. For those who are more regularly sexual, the risk is barely "one per 10,000 person-years" — social science shoptalk for "minuscule."
A 2011 meta-analysis published in Journal of Sexual Medicine found that men who were unfaithful were significantly more likely than those who were faithful to experience severe or fatal cardiac events during sex. Basilar artery dissection has also been reported in connection with sexual activity, though most coital cephalalgia is benign in nature. Sexual intercourse can also trigger a subarachnoid hemorrhage via the Valsalva maneuver. The majority of deaths due to cardiovascular causes during sex do occur in males. A number of deaths during consensual sex have been linked to fatigue, and multiple rounds of sex. Sudden cardiac death can be caused by myocardial ischemia, and the physical activity of sexual intercourse in patients with coronary artery disease can result in myocardial ischemia.
Adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle. It's never too late to quit smoking, get daily moderate exercise, lose weight, manage stress, control your blood pressure and cholesterol, eat less meat and cheese (and more fruits and vegetables), or spend more time with those you love. In addition to helping the heart, these steps boost libido and erections.
Make love regularly but in moderation since sex can help you manage stress. But it is It's gentle exercise that strengthens the heart. And assuming you're in a loving relationship, it is emotionally supportive.