Affairs are bad for the heart

Long-term relationships are good for the heart

An expert has warned that extra-marital affairs can literally damage your heart.

Sex with someone who is not your spouse increases your risk of having a heart attack.

Researchers from St Thomas's Hospital, London, found couples in long-term relationships were far less likely to have heart attacks while having sex than those having affairs or one-night stands.

75% of the cases of sudden death during sexual activity involved ... extra-marital sexual intercourse

Graham Jackson, St Thomas's Hospital, London

Cardiologist Graham Jackson told a sexual health conference in Hamburg, Germany that the risk of extra-marital sex was increased even more when there was a significant difference in age between the partners, Reuters news agency reported.

Heart failure

In general, sex puts the same amount of pressure on the heart as a brisk 20 minute walk, with an orgasm putting the same strain on the heart as walking up a flight of stairs.

He told the conference: "We found that 75% of the cases of sudden death during sexual activity involved people who were taking part in extra-marital sexual intercourse."

He added heart rates accelerate considerably during sexual activity, but said couples in long-term relationships "hardly faced any risk of heart failure".

But he added: "Only 1% of all heart attacks are triggered by sexual activity."