Regular sexual activity may contribute to improved health and a longer life for middle-aged patients with hypertension, according to a recent study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. Researchers discovered that individuals with high blood pressure who engage in more frequent sexual activity tend to have a lower risk of all-cause mortality.
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a global health concern associated with various cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications. Managing this condition is crucial, as it often exhibits no obvious symptoms, earning it the nickname “silent killer.” Previous studies have shown that sexual activity can influence overall health, including cardiovascular health, but the link between sexual frequency and survival in hypertensive individuals remained unclear.
Researchers were motivated to conduct this study because they recognized the significant public health impact of hypertension and the potential role of sexual activity in improving health outcomes. Understanding this relationship could provide valuable insights for healthcare professionals and patients alike.
“Sexual partnership, sex life quality, sexual frequency, and sexual interest are positively associated with health. Hypertension is an important public health problem worldwide. However, the relationship between sexual frequency and all-cause mortality in hypertensive patients is not yet clear,” explained corresponding author Jiahua Liang of the Meizhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
The study analyzed data from a large survey called the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), conducted in the United States between 2005 and 2014. The research involved over 4,500 participants aged 20 and older who had been diagnosed with hypertension. To determine hypertension, doctors used a combination of medical history, blood pressure measurements, and medication records.
Participants also completed a questionnaire about their sexual activity, including the number of times they engaged in vaginal or anal sex over the past year. The researchers excluded individuals who did not provide sexual frequency data or had no follow-up information.
Most participants were men (55.6%), over 50% were married, and the average age at enrollment was approximately 40.6 years.
The study’s findings revealed a notable connection between sexual frequency and all-cause mortality in hypertensive patients. Individuals who engaged in sexual activity 12-51 times a year or more than 51 times a year had a significantly lower risk of all-cause mortality compared to those with sexual activity less than 12 times a year.
This association remained significant even after adjusting for various factors such as age, sex, education, body mass index, smoking, and medical conditions. Interestingly, this connection between sexual frequency and health was particularly pronounced among married individuals.
“An increased frequency of sexual activity may have protective effects on overall health and quality of life in hypertensive patients, and this finding has significant clinical significance for young and middle-aged patients with hypertension,” Liang told PsyPost.
While these findings are intriguing, the study has certain limitations to consider. It relied on self-reported data, which may introduce some recall bias. Additionally, it could not establish a causal relationship between sexual activity and improved health outcomes.
It is possible that sexual activity itself may prevent cardiovascular events to some extent or that the emotional aspects of sexual activity may contribute to better cardiovascular outcomes. However, it is also possible that individuals who are generally healthier are more likely to engage in frequent sexual activity.
Future research could explore the underlying mechanisms that link sexual activity to better health, as well as consider the impact of other factors like marital satisfaction, emotional well-being, and physical activity. These findings suggest that maintaining an active sex life could be a beneficial aspect of a healthy lifestyle for those with hypertension, but further investigation is needed to fully understand this relationship.
The study, “Association between sexual frequency and all-cause mortality in young and middle-aged patients with hypertension: a cohort study of patient data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2014“, was authored by Chuanjin Luo, Shuzhi Xu, Shiqin Bao, Bo Zhang, Xiaofen Zhong, Zhihua Huang,Ping Li, and Jiahua Liang.
