Men more likely to die from cardiac arrest while having sex

People who suffer cardiac arrest while having sex are four times more likely to die than other victims, says a new study.

According to the study, only 12 percent of men whose heart suddenly stopped during sex survived, which is far fewer that the 50 percent of those who suffered cardiac arrest while playing a sport, walking or gardening.

Scientists say that one of the most probable reasons for it could be that women whose partners collapse are too embarrassed to call for help and the shock might also prevent them from trying to resuscitate their partner.

According to lead author of the study, Dr Ardalan Sharifzadehgan, of the Paris Sudden Death Expertise Centre, there's social embarrassment and the women are shocked and they don't know how to react. He goes on to add that the fact that both of them could be naked might prevent them from calling for help as well.

Dr Sharifzadehgan, who presented his findings at the European Society of Cardiology conference in Barcelona, assessed records on 3,028 people who had suffered a cardiac arrest and were still alive when they were admitted to hospital.

Of these, 246 had been doing physical activity when their heart stopped, of whom 17 – all men with an average age of 53 – had been having sex.

Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood and if not resuscitated, patients can die within minutes.

He also found that fewer than half of the men who had been having sex were given CPR, compared with 80 per cent of the other victims.

Dr Sharifzadehgan said people should not be put off sex, stressing it is good for health. However, he added CPR education is vital.