Have you held back from having sex after a heart attack because you’re afraid it will trigger another one? Studies have shown that many people have this fear, but it’s not well-founded in most cases.

Sexual intercourse raises the heart rate to around 130 beats per minute, about the same as climbing a flight of stairs in 15 to 20 seconds. So, if you were sexually active before the heart attack and now don’t experience chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or fatigue while going up a flight of stairs, you should not be afraid to engage in sexual intercourse.

One warning: If you are married, be sure the intercourse is with your own spouse. The anxiety provoked by intercourse during an affair is more likely to cause a heart attack even in those who have not had one (a heart attack, that is) before.