Having sex “occasionally” puts us at double the risk of having a heart attack, according to a study published in the latest issue of the journal JAMA. To begin with, regular physical activity has a positive effect on health and reduces the risk of heart problems. The new study shows, however, that irregular physical activity – as well as sex – can have the opposite effect and cause a myocardial infarction. The increased risk, 2.7 times, applies mainly to people who have health problems, but there is minimal danger in all of them, the researchers say. Scientists from Tufts and Harvard universities in Boston reviewed the results of 14 previous studies and found that “episodic activity” carried a two and a half times higher risk of heart attack and sudden death. Regular exercise, including sex , do not evoke risk conditions, researchers report. Despite the well-established benefits of regular physical activity, anecdotal evidence suggests that it, as well as other acute exposures, such as sexual activity and psychological stress, can lead to acute cardiovascular events. What else causes a cardiovascular accident: Periodic traffic congestion causes 7.4% of heart attacks. Air pollution increases the risk of a heart attack by nearly 5%. Coffee and alcohol cause 5% of heart attack cases. Cocaine use increases 23 times the risks of a heart attack. Let’s recall the benefits of regular sex: reduces stress, increases immunity – having sex once or twice a week is associated with higher levels of antibodies – immunoglobulin, which protects against colds and other infections, burns calories – with 30 minutes of sex we burn more than 85 calories, reduces pain – endorphin levels increase and thus pain decreases, improves sleep – during orgasm oxytocin is produced, which promotes restful sleep.