New reserach shows heart attack survivors don’t return to a normal sex life

THERE’S no doubt having a heart attack changes your life - even your sex life. The results of a recent survey comes as a rude shock to Territorians.

Mikey and Cobie Campbell were surprised to hear that more than two in three heart attack survivors have reported a decrease in their sexual activity, new research from the Heart Foundation reveals.

THERE’S no doubt having a heart attack changes your life – even your sex life.

The results of a recent survey by the Heart Foundation, come as a rude Valentine’s Day shock to Territorians.

It was revealed that more than two in three survivors of a heart attack report their sex activities had subsequently taken a hit.

What’s more, those under the age of 50 are more likely to suffer from a reduced sex life.

Darwin father, Peter, aged in his 40s, said after his heart attack his priorities changed.

“You just don’t even think about intimacy, sex or romance, it becomes such a low priority in the face of such a life changing experience,” he said.

The fact that cardio vascular disease kills one Australian every 12 minutes, was a fact not lost on him.

“You refocus on your kids, and planning for their future … your mind takes you into damage control,” he said.

Being urgently admitted to hospital, flown to Adelaide and having to undergo bypass surgery, was an experience that left Peter and his family stressed and exhausted.

For Peter, the stress of his health challenges and his time in hospital contributed to the breakup of his relationship.

READ: WHO’S CUTTING YOUR GRASS THIS VALENTINE’S DAY?

“Unless your relationship has very strong foundations, heart surgery and recovery can really take it out of you.

“Being a survivor who needs to think about life in a very different way, makes you more cautious and hesitant about trying to start another relationship … who would want someone with this kind of baggage?”

In the Territory, where one in nine people are affected by cardiovascular disease, the rate of heart attacks has risen by ­almost 30 per cent since 2003.

The Heart Foundation’s annual Heart Attack Survivors’ Survey revealed that for those whose sex life was affected by their heart attack, one in four haven’t resumed having sex.

Heart Foundation NT health director Simon Dixon said a heart attack was a scary, life altering event and it was vital that patients were provided with the right advice.

“With today being Valentine’s Day, it’s important for us to take the covers off this important issue,” Mr Dixon said.

“What the results from our survey shows is that it isn’t getting the attention it deserves in the consultation room.”

Mr Dixon said less than half of heart attack survivors in the Territory had reported they had discussed sexual issues with their GP.