Sexual activity after heart surgery

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Huynh Khiem Huy - Cardiac Resuscitation Doctor - Cardiovascular Center - Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital

Heart valve surgery is a surgical treatment that helps move from a severe or potentially unstable medical condition to a more stable one. Once the valve has been repaired or replaced, it does not mean that the heart disease has completely disappeared, so the patient still needs to continue to monitor and have a reasonable lifestyle after surgery. Special attention should be paid to the issue of sex so as not to affect cardiovascular health.

1. Sex and heart disease can affect each other

Many people think that sexual activity is just a mere act of intercourse between people. But sex is much more than that. We can express our sexual desires in many ways, be it just wanting our partner to be close to us, wanting to touch or want to hug him/her... When making love. During exercise, physiological changes inside the body have been recorded such as:
● When stimulated, the breathing rate will increase gradually, the skin will turn red, the heart rate and blood pressure will increase slightly.
● When in a state of excitement, the whole body will tense up, heart rate and blood pressure will increase.
● At the time of orgasm, the body will release the pent-up energy and then the heart rate, blood pressure and breathing rate will gradually decrease to normal levels.
Patients with cardiovascular disease also have similar physiological changes following the above progression. However, for people with cardiovascular disease, this internal physiological change sometimes becomes a burden on the heart if the patient does not have a correct perception, especially in the case of recent heart surgery.

2. Should people with heart disease have sex after surgery?

People with heart disease should know that we can have sexual satisfaction without having to have intercourse. Just being close to each other, hugging, cuddling, and caressing can also increase intimacy. These activities usually take very little energy, and patients can do them at any time after being discharged from a heart surgery. Many couples have shared that these ways of showing affection help them gain confidence in their relationship.
The act of intercourse requires the body to expend more energy, so in general, patients need to wait 2-3 weeks after discharge and feel for themselves whether their health is ready or not. . The position of the relationship for people who have had heart surgery is also very important because the sternum is sawed at the time of surgery, changing the position appropriately is essential to avoid injury to the sternum or cause pain in the incision.

3. What to do to get ready to have sex again after heart surgery?

Patients after heart surgery should exercise to increase the endurance of the heart as well as the general condition of the body as directed by the doctor and the patient's subjective health. While practicing walking, it can be seen very clearly that the patient increases stamina and confidence day by day, then the patient will know when he is ready for sex after heart surgery.
Energy for intercourse is equivalent to walking briskly or taking the stairs up 2 floors. Heart rate during sex rarely rises above 120 beats per minute and blood pressure increases only slightly and temporarily. Patients after open heart surgery will clearly feel their heartbeat, breathing and muscle tension. If it feels fine, it means there's nothing to worry about the effects of sex and heart disease. According to specific estimates, if the patient is able to walk up three flights of stairs normally, he can slowly return to sexual activity.
If the patient is uncertain about his or her health status, the doctor may do a stress test to assess the patient's exercise capacity. Based on heart rate and blood pressure, the doctor will decide whether the patient is able to have sex or not.
The second thing the patient needs to do is practice controlling emotions. For a short time after open-heart surgery, the patient's feelings are unstable, agitated, and mood swings. Try to exercise every day and remember that feeling good is an important support in the recovery process.
The other important thing is to try to adjust the sexual needs of both of you . Sometimes the physical and emotional responses between two people cause anxiety during sex, but that's normal, so don't expect too much the first time.
Fear of not daring to have sex and psychological depression are two factors that can greatly affect sexual desire and ability. These are considered normal during the convalescence period after heart surgery and in most cases go away within 3 months, the patient can have sex again within the permitted level. If depression persists after 3-6 months, the person should see a specialist.

4. Why should heart surgery at Vinmec?

Vinmec International General Hospital has a team of Cardiology specialists including Professors, Doctors, Specialist 2 doctors, Masters with experience, great reputation in the field of medical and surgical treatment. department, interventional cardiac catheterization. Vinmec also focuses on applying advanced techniques in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, using a system of modern medical equipment that meets international standards.
In addition, Vinmec also has professional cooperation with prestigious medical units in the world, constantly consolidating and improving its expertise in medical examination and treatment.

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