Monday, September 12, 2011

AskDrKK: How a sexual act linked to physical exercise?

#DrKKAnswers:
1. Both are measured in terms of MET (metabolic equivalent of oxygen consumption).
2. 1 MET = 3.5 mL O2 uptake/kg per min (resting oxygen uptake in a sitting position).
3. Sexual act is equated to 2-3m METS during the pre-orgasmic phase and 3 to 4 METS during orgasm.
4. This is equivalent to walking at two to four miles per hour on a level surface [1].
5. Exercise stress testing is used to assess both exercise tolerance and tolerance for sex [2].
6. A sexual act causes a modest increase in myocardial oxygen demand that lasts only a brief time [3].
7. Exercise training attenuates the heart rate response [4] and reduces the small risk of heart attack following sex [5,6].

References:
1. Arch Intern Med 1984; 144:1745.
2. Am J Cardiol 2000; 86:51F.
3. Am J Cardiol 2000; 86:27F.
4. Circulation 1977; 55:738.
5. JAMA 1996; 275:1405.
6. Heart 2001; 86:387.

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