A team of scientists analyzed a large database and came to the conclusion that, regardless of the fears and concerns of those suffering from cardiovascular diseases, sexual activity is rarely the cause of cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac death. Specifically, data from a total of 4,523 cases of sudden cardiac arrest in older adults that occurred in Portland between 2002 and 2012 were analyzed. The researchers had access to information not only about the specific circumstances of the incidents, but also about the patients’ previous health history, as well as that from the autopsies performed. Of this total of over 4,500 cases, only 34 were related to sexual activity within an hour before the incident. 32 of the patients were men and 2 were women. Or, according to the scientists, the incidence of cardiac arrest related to sexual activity was only 1 in 100 for men and 1 in 1,000 for women. Doctors in the field define these facts as reassuring. They have long observed that the maintenance of a sexual life by these patients is not a risk factor, but there are still many doubts among patients. NEWS_MORE_BOX Specialists say that the results of the study will allow them to reassure their patients in a new, reasoned way, based on facts. The published research also raises another important question – although sexual partners witnessed the cardiac arrest in these 34 cases, only a third of the patients received first aid from their partners. Which, according to the researchers, partly explains why only 1 in 5 experienced hospital care. The authors emphasize that the public needs to be better informed about how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, as well as how decisive help can be in the first minutes of an accident.