When Is A Safe Time To Make Love After A Heart Attack? This Is What The Doctor Says

Illustration of making love after a heart attack. (Pexels)

JAKARTA - Heart attacks that occur can have various effects on the body, from physical symptoms to life-threatening serious complications. A person who survives a heart attack must pay attention to their daily activities, including sexual activity.

There is a possibility that a heart attack could happen again if you don't pay attention to or limit daily activities, including having sex. Quoted from the Times of India, on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, sexual activity can increase heart rate and blood pressure.

This in the end can increase the workload on the heart. For a healthy individual without any history of illness, it tends to be safe.

However, the safety of sexual activity for cardiac patients varies, depending on the specific conditions of the individual and health as a whole. Sexual activity may pose a risk to cardiac patients.

"Individuals with a stable and well controlled heart condition, sexual activity can usually be considered safe," said CTVS surgeon Dr. Dhaval.

"However, for individuals with unstable or uncontrolled heart conditions, sexual activity may be heavier and pose a higher risk," he added.

However, that does not mean that a heart attack patient cannot have sexual intercourse. However, to do so, sexual intercourse is again recommended a few weeks after a heart attack, so that the body has time to recover first.

"A patient suffering from a mild initial heart attack and a stent, may be able to continue intercourse within a few weeks. Others may be advised to wait at least six weeks," he continued.

Not only that, it is also recommended for heart attack survivors to wait an hour to three after eating heavily for sex. A few hours for digestion will allow the body to process food effectively, thereby reducing strain on the heart during sexual activity.

Survivors are also advised to do light physical activity before having sexual relations again, such as walking quickly to the stairs. If you can do this light physical activity without experiencing chest pain, fatigue, and shortness of breath, then you can continue with sexual activity.