BIRD gets on it, the bees get on it, and now it appears that women who have lived for a long time get on it too. A recent study from the US analysed the health data and sex lives of 14,542 men and women. 1 Having sex at least once a week might help women live lover Credit: Shutterstock It found that women aged 20 to 59 who had sex less than once a week had a 70 per cent higher risk of dying within five years compared to those who had sex more than once a week.
The women having less sex were found to have elevated levels of a protein linked to inflammation, which can cause damage to healthy cells, tissues and organs. The study authors from Walden University in Pennsylvania believe that sex contributes to good heart health, "possibly by reducing heart rate variability and increasing blood flow". They concluded that "there are benefits for women to having sex more than once a week" or around four times per month.
The notion that sex is good for the old ticker is not known. Infact, the act itself has previously been linked to myriad health benefits , including better sleep, improved brain function and looking younger . However, the researchers were quick to note that while sex might improve health, it could also be that people in poor health have less ability to have sex.
To find the individuals for the study, published in the Journal of Psychosexual Health , the team used a big database from the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Most read in Health LAST ORDERS 'That unit is .