"If Rose Nylund's bedroom walls could talk, they'd make it clear that sex can cause a heart attack. That IS how her husband Charlie died after all. True, the Golden Girl, played by Betty White, indulged in fictional nights of passion, but medical research HAS shown that sex can-on rare occasions-- trigger a heart attack. According to a 1996 study by Harvard Medical School researchers, sexual activity is a contributing factor in less than 1 percent of heart attacks. And having had a heart attack should NOT prevent you from having a satisfying sex life. Doctors DO ADVISE that if you've had a heart attack, to avoid unhealthy stress on the heart you SHOULD wait three to four weeks before resuming sexual activity. So who are the one percent of people at risk for a heart attack during sex? MEN are most at risk, particularly those in their late 50s to early 60s, rarely exercise, and have pre-existing heart problems. They also tend to be men who have not had an active sex life in recent years. A 2011 study published in JAMA, the journal of the American Medical Association, confirmed these findings WHY MEN? Is there an actual gender distinction here? During moments of INTENSE physical activity, stress is placed on the heart and blood vessels as your heart rate increases. Chest pain can start as the heart becomes deprived of the oxygen it needs to function. And in a few minutes or a few hours a heart attack can hit. The best way for anyone at risk to avoid a heart attack during passion is to start exercising more regularly. Start with short brisk walks a few times a week, and you'll strengthen the heart's muscles and blood vessels. Research has shown that the risk of heart attack drops by about 45 percent as a result of regular exercise. You may also want to stay on top during sex, because if you lie on your back fluid is more likely to pool in your lungs, reducing the supply of oxygen to the heart muscle. To learn about other heart attack causes and prevention measures, check out more videos on this site."