Tuesday, September 13, 2011

#AskDrKK:How common is sexual dysfunction after acute heart attack?

#DrKKAnswers
1. Sexual dysfunction is common due to concern about risk; side effects of drugs (diuretics, beta blockers, lipid-lowering drugs) and due to risk factors like high lipis, diabetes, smoking, hypertension and psychologic factors [1].
2. Erectile dysfunction after a heart attack occur in one-half to three-quarters of patients. [2,3].
3. ED is also seen after bypass surgery (though less common)
4. Both men and women have less sexual activity and less satisfaction with sexual act after a heart attack [1].
5. Psychologic causes for sexual dysfunction are due to perceptions of their illness [4].
6. Worries about triggering a heart attack or sudden death and depression and anxiety of the disease especially the occurrence of a heart attack contribute. [5,6].
7. The fear can be in the mind of the patient or the spouse.
8. Most doctors do not discuss this issue of sexual act with post-heart attack patients or their spouses [7,8].
9. Counseling may improve sexual function [9].
10. Exercise stress testing is used to measure exercise tolerance and tolerance for sex..

References
1. Am J Cardiol 2000; 85:1283.
2. Arch Sex Behav 1986; 15:499.
3. Chest 1986; 90:681.
4. BMJ 1996; 312:1191.
5. Am J Cardiol 2000; 86:41F.
6. Am J Cardiol 2000; 86:46F.
7. Am J Cardiol 2000; 86:38F.
8. Arch Intern Med 1980; 140:38.
9. J Behav Med 1984; 7:61.


No comments:

Post a Comment