Sex Good for Men's Hearts, Study Shows

(CBS)  A new study in the American Journal of Cardiology finds that men who have sex at least twice a week can almost halve their risk of developing serious heart disease.

And sex may have other health benefits, as well, notes Dr. Holly Phillips of WCBS-TV in New York.

On "The Early Show" Friday, Phillips said the research, published in the American Journal of Cardiology, tracked more than 1,000 men for 16 years, 40- to 70-years-old, with no history of heart disease.

It was found that men who had sex twice a week or more were as much as 45 percent less likely to develop serious heart conditions than men having sex less than once a month.

Women weren't part of the study but, Phillips notes, many experts think the results would hold true for women, too.

The researchers said the benefits of sex could stem from its physical and emotional effects on the body. Don't forget, sex can be good exercise, which might serve to protect the heart. Estimates are you burn around 60 calories during sex. So, let's say you have sex 12 times a month: Twelve times 60 is the equivalent of running seven miles!

But doctors think there is also an emotional component: Men with a desire for more sexual activity and who are able to engage in sex are likely to be healthier and might be more likely to be in a supportive intimate relationship with a regular partner, and this might improve health through stress reduction and social support.

So, says Phillips, doctors should ask about their patients' sex lives and vice versa: Men should consult with their doctors if they experience any sexual difficulties, because it could be a sign of heart disease.

Phillips points out that other studies have shown other health benefits from sex: Sexual activity may ease depression and pain by releasing natural chemicals such as endorphins, possibly decrease the risk of prostate cancer, and boost the immune system by boosting immunoglobulin, which destroys invading organisms.