Sex is bad for older men, and even worse when it's good

[steve2470]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/09/06/active_love_life_bad_for_older_men/

?x=648&y=348&crop=1

Men of a certain age who enjoy frequent sex are putting themselves at higher risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems, US researchers have warned. And just to rub salt in the wounds, older ladies who still enjoy a bit of the other reap positive benefits from frequent nookie.

The frankly depressing revelation comes in research from Michigan State University on how sex affects heart health in later life, published today in the Journal of Health and Social Behaviour.

A team led by associate professor of sociology Hui Liu analysed data covering 2,204 people aged 57 to 85 in 2005 in the National Social Life, Health and Aging project.

The study found that older men who had sex once a week or more were “much more likely to experience cardiovascular events five years later than men who were sexually inactive.” It also found that, bluntly put, “This risk was not found among older women.”

on edit:

Working from a social relationship and life course perspective, we provide generalizable population-based evidence on partnered sexuality linked to cardiovascular risk in later life using national longitudinal data from the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project (NSHAP) (N = 2,204). We consider characteristics of partnered sexuality of older men and women, particularly sexual activity and sexual quality, as they affect cardiovascular risk. Cardiovascular risk is defined as hypertension, rapid heart rate, elevated C-reactive protein (CRP), and general cardiovascular events. We find that older men are more likely to report being sexually active, having sex more often, and more enjoyably than are older women. Results from cross-lagged models suggest that high frequency of sex is positively related to later risk of cardiovascular events for men but not women, whereas good sexual quality seems to protect women but not men from cardiovascular risk in later life. We find no evidence that poor cardiovascular health interferes with later sexuality for either gender.

from: http://hsb.sagepub.com/content/57/3/276.abstract

You have to pay to get more than that.

[Exilednight]

1. I find this hard to believe.

I know many older men who are sexually active and quite healthy.

[geek tragedy]

8. #1 cause of heart attacks in older men is waking up in the morning

I don't find this surprising at all.

[Eleanors38]

13. "Wake up and die!" Sounds like a punk rock lyric.

[snooper2]

25. depends on the position used

[FreakinDJ]

27. The key to this is "quite healthy"

I hate these studies sensationalism by the media

[liberal N proud]

2. There are worse ways to die!

[yeoman6987]

19. Definitely!

[Go Vols]

3. Not a bad way to go I guess

Hope its not tonite.

:/

[geek tragedy]

4. if you refrain from such enjoyments you can probably live to be 100

but it will feel like 200

[steve2470]

5. so true lol nt

[Eleanors38]

9. Heh! Better a hot-beef injection than a drip-feed I.V.!

[malaise]

42. We had a good friend who said this regularly

Better to be a has been than a never was- we're all going to die anyway.

[safeinOhio]

6. does sex for older men cause heart problems or

do heart problems cause more sex in older men..did they control for that?

[steve2470]

7. I doubt it but I have not read the study

The professor who did it is a sociology professor, which is a huge red flag right there.

[safeinOhio]

10. Took both course in college

Psych stats and Social science stats.

In SS stats 2 numbers equal data.

Right on Steve

[LanternWaste]

23. Looking forward to you guys countering the study with objective evidence!

Looking forward to you guys countering the study with objective evidence! Otherwise, dime-store criticism is little more than another bumper sticker, with even less supporting evidence than the study in question.

Good luck!

[Exilednight]

34. The study in question has a lot of missing info.

[jberryhill]

37. Um, no

One does not need evidence to point out potential flaws in the methodology and/or analysis.

Or indeed, my question of what, if anything, is this study measuring.

A couple of things jump out, even in this popular press rendition:

"Sex is bad for older men"

That statement is made on what purports to be a study of men, aged 57-85 (thus longevity is apparently not considered as a potential positive outcome, and says:

"Results from cross-lagged models suggest that high frequency of sex is positively related to later risk of cardiovascular events for men"

where

"Cardiovascular risk is defined as hypertension, rapid heart rate, elevated C-reactive protein (CRP), and general cardiovascular events."

Okay, fine.

Now, what was the difference in mortality rate from these cardiovascular events between the two populations?

Does it say?

Does it examine any other measure of "health" than the incidence of cardiovascular events?

I will tell you this - middle aged men who ride bicycles are orders of magnitude more likely to be killed by cars than middle aged men who do not ride bicycles.

Are they healthier? Do they live longer? You don't know. What you know is that, sure, bicyclists are more likely to get hit by cars.

What about other forms of exercise?

Do men, between the ages of 57-85, who run 5 kilometers every weekend, have a higher incidence of "cardiovascular events"? I would bet that they do, and I would bet that they do so for the same reason - they are exerting themselves regularly, and exposing themselves to a greater risk of such events, than men who do not. But that says ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about relative mortality or health.

People who are in good shape have heart attacks. People who are in bad shape have heart attacks. People who exert themselves at anything are at greater risk of having them. HOWEVER, people who are in good shape and engage in regular exercise are also probably better positioned to survive them.

You don't need "data" in order to look at "what is this study actually measuring" and is the thing it is measuring whether "Sex is bad for older men"?

It is clearly not measuring anything which is a general proxy for "bad". Regular ejaculation decreases the risk of prostate cancer. Incidence of "Cardiovascular events" - independent of any other measure of mortality or health - are not the be-all and end-all of "bad", and nobody needs data to understand that.

[Warren DeMontague]

53. I suspect people who aren't getting laid regularly

really like this "study"

[jberryhill]

57. Lol

There are a surprising number of people who think that older folks shouldn't have sex.

[Warren DeMontague]

58. Fuck That Noise

even if I can't actually hear the noise very well

[Drahthaardogs]

35. P values are endangered species in psychology

Double blinded studies are unicorns

[Eleanors38]

12. Should have asked a Poli-Sci prof. Lots of..... time on their hands.

[womanofthehills]

30. ED can be a sign of heart problems because of blood vessel problems

If you are older and don't have ED, sounds like you are good to go.

Surprisingly, ED might be a sign of heart problems. It is important to discuss sexual health with your doctor. Not only can your doctor prescribe medications to improve sexual function, but together you may be able to prevent a major heart problem like a heart attack. This article outlines the steps that you should take if you think you have ED.

http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/123/21/e609

[jaysunb]

11. Nonsense ! n/t

[NightWatcher]

14. You gotta die of something, so if you're lucky enough to make 85 and be chasing tail....

You may as well go for it

[jack_krass]

15. I think theres sort of a Darwanistic feedback loop going on here....

Nature wants the young to reproduce, not the old.

[Loki Liesmith]

21. Nature don't care

Genes "want" to get passed on, whatever the modality. That's about it.

[jack_krass]

22. "genes want to get passed on"

Yes, but they don't always get what they want (speaking from a macro scale here). Evolutionary forces work in many mysterious ways, and here also possibly.

[Laffy Kat]

16. So that's got to be true for masturbation as well?

Seems like the effects would be the same, for both women and men. If so, gift your grandmother a vibrator for her 80th birthday!

[womanofthehills]

31. Buy her the best - the Hatachi Magic Wand

[bluesbassman]

17. I'll take my chances thank you very much.

[malaise]

43. And they will write this on your tombstone

He came and went simultaneously with a big grin

[bluesbassman]

60. !!!

[JonathanRackham]

18. I will die happy then.

I wonder if they're recruiting for studies?

[tonyt53]

20. At least we will die with a smile on our faces.

[EX500rider]

24. Did it take into account physical fitness?

I could see how being out of shape might make vigorous sex a danger at a advanced age..

[jberryhill]

38. It doesn't even measure relative mortality

"Bicycle Riding Is Bad For Older Men

A recent study found that older men who bicycle are 100 times more likely to be hit by a car than older men who do not."

That's about what is being said here.

[malaise]

44. This thread is too good

[cwydro]

46. I know, right?

And yet another reason I'm so glad I was born female!

[lapfog_1]

26. If older men refrain from sex

they will live longer... or at least it will seem longer.

[MohRokTah]

28. Fuck that, I'm going to get drunk and laid tonight. eom

[jonno99]

29. I found this sentence to be poorly constructed:

The study found that older men who had sex once a week or more were “much more likely to experience cardiovascular events five years later than men who were sexually inactive.”

This study begs the question: if you substituted sex for jogging, biking or some other strenuous activity, would you see similar incidences of "cardiovascular events"?

IOW - could the study have been titled "Getting your heart racing when you're old could cause a "cardiovascular event".

As if that is a surprise.

[jberryhill]

39. Bingo

It doesn't even say whether those who have sex are more likely to survive them. It just says that they are more likely to have them.

As you point out, plenty of older joggers and bikers also probably have a higher incidence of "cardiovascular events". Big deal. Are they healthier?

But here, you'll note that the study cuts the age range from "57-85", so there's not even an impact on longevity under consideration.

[jonno99]

48. Yep. I'll stick with "do not go gentle...":

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
- Dylan Thomas, 1914 - 1953


https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/do-not-go-gentle-good-night

[malaise]

32. This belongs here

On hearing that her elderly grandfather had just passed away, Katie went straight to her grandparent's house to visit her 95 year old grandmother and comfort her. When she asked how her grandfather had died, her grandmother replied, "He had a heart attack while we were making love on Sunday morning." Horrified, Katie told her grandmother that 2 people nearly 100 years old having sex would surely be asking for trouble. "Oh no, my dear, " replied granny. "Many years ago, realizing our advanced age, we figured out the best time to do it was when the church bells would start to ring. It was just the right rhythm. Nice and slow and even. Nothing too strenuous, simply in on the Ding and out on the Dong." She paused, wiped away a tear and then continued, "And if that damned ice cream truck hadn't come along, he'd still be alive today!"



source: http://www.jokes4us.com/dirtyjokes/churchbellsjokes.html

[jonno99]

47. Ha! that is a great one - thanks! nt

[malaise]

59. You're welcome

[Warren DeMontague]

51. even worse if Benny Hill came on the tv

[malaise]

54. Getting up off the floor

How did they survive that

[Warren DeMontague]

55. Those Llamas are having none of it

no, sir

[malaise]

56. Freaking hilarious

I loved Benny Hill

[vdogg]

33. Oh well. If it's my time to go then it's my time to go.

[NuclearDem]

36. Eh, might as well go out with a bang.

[JoePhilly]

40. Did the study control for masturbation?

Seriously ...

Consider an older person who plays a sport, like softball. If you play a game once or twice a week, you get hurt.

But if you practice more regularly, you are less likely to get hurt.

Did they control for orgasms?

Viagra use?

There are a lot of factors here to consider.

On edit: Did they include AGE OF PARTNER? Old guy, young woman ... just saying!

[LongTomH]

41. In addition to the very valid criticisms of the statistical methodologies, there is the issue of....

.....quality of life measured against length.

[Warren DeMontague]

45. So if you tell your wife and your sex life gets better

Look out, she's trying to get rid of ya!

[malaise]

49. Don't rule that out either

[PufPuf23]

50. Maybe this is why women on average live longer than men? eom

[trof]

52. OK, look...This is ONLY about "sexual intercourse".

You know, genital to genital.
Fellatio is NO PROBLEM!
Honest.
BJs are NOT A PROBLEM for us...um...THOSE OLDER GUYS.