One in five people with a heart condition have abandoned having sex because they fear it might trigger a heart attack.
A survey of more than 1,500 people with heart conditions revealed that nearly a third had sex less often, while a fifth had stopped completely.
More than seven million people suffer from heart problems, and the British Heart Foundation estimates that more than a million could have stalling sex lives as a result.
A third of people with heart conditions said they had sex less often - and many fear a heart attack during sex
However, heart disease affects more than just the physical side of people’s sex lives, as one in seven said they’d lost interest in sex because of the emotional impact of their heart condition.
And five per cent felt that scarring from an operation made them feel sexually unattractive.
Martin Tailford, 36, who had a heart attack on Christmas Day three years ago and has since had difficulty having sex with his wife Louise, said: 'After my heart attack sex wasn’t natural, it required a lot more planning. I couldn’t spontaneously have sex.
'I needed to think what to wear to cover up the scars and bruises.
'Sex isn’t what you base a relationship on, but it is really important.
Physical and emotional: One in seven people said they had lost interest in sex due to the emotional impact of their heart condition
'My heart attack had put a strain on Louise, and not being able to be physically close to her really took its toll on our relationship.
'I would advise people in my position to get help as soon as they can, and not be disappointed if things don’t go well at first. It takes time.'
The BHF survey also warned that people aren’t getting the support they need, with 30 per cent admitting they’ve not even discussed the problem with their doctor.
Eight per cent said that they would have liked access to professional help but couldn’t get any.
Doireen Maddock, a senior cardiac nurse at the BHF, said: 'Sex is a hugely important part of life, but isn’t getting the attention it deserves in the consultation room.
'We’re hearing loud and clear from Heart Matters readers that they need better support and information on how to deal with issues affecting their sex lives.
'Problems like erectile dysfunction can often be tackled and rectified, but the first hurdle is identifying people who need that help.
'We’d like patients to feel comfortable and empowered to raise these issues, and for the NHS to proactively offer support in this area to everyone who needs it.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2666083/One-five-people-heart-condition-sex.html#ixzz35b9Qx5ue
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