Common Sense Is Meaningless to Findings of Sex-Related Health Research
The common sense of sex
Believe it or not, as sex-crazy as our society is, the impact of sex on health has been studied relatively sparsely. Now, common sense tells us that healthy sexual relations should be a boon to health and self-esteem. But nowadays, without RESEARCH to back it up, common sense is meaningless to medicine. So without further ado, I’d like to summarize a few findings of sex-related health research:
- A British study of 900 middle-aged men published in 2002 found that those who had sex twice or more weekly enjoyed a significantly lower risk of heart attack than those who had sex less often.
- A 2002 study published in the journal Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation found that women who were regularly sexually active – including during menstruation – were 1.5 times less likely to develop endometriosis.
- An April 2004 article in the Journal of the American Medical Association outlines a pair of studies that concluded – in sharp contrast to previous research – that frequent ejaculation can slash the risk of prostate cancer by as much as a third.
- Research shows that in both sexes, orgasm releases oxytocin, a hormone that appears to regulate blood pressure and body temperature, relieve pain, and even promote the healing of wounds.
- Sex also strengthens emotional bonds between partners – this “closeness factor” alone cuts the risk of heart attack by 50% according to some recent studies.
And everyone knows that good sex relieves stress, promotes good sleep, and boosts self-esteem, but once again, I’m treading into the common-sense realm of the “unproven.” Bottom line: If you’re healthy enough for sex, have it whenever the spirit moves you – it’s good for you in a million different ways.
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Murder Weapon: H20
Every year, I write to you about hyponatremia (water intoxication). Every year, a certain number of people – usually marathon runners – die of this condition. Hyponatremia is caused by excess water in the body, which causes a drop in levels of blood-borne sodium. This plummeting sodium allows water to be absorbed directly by the blood, which causes swelling of the brain from fluid build-up. It’s often fatal.
Although no one deserves to die of ignorance, at least marathoners brought their fate on themselves – they’re usually health nuts who likely avoid salt like the plague, and belt gallon after gallon of water in the course of strenuous exertion. Even the most misguided of mainstream MDs will tell you this kind of behavior is asking for it
But it seems like also every year, some die of hyponatremia who DON’T bring it on themselves: Fraternity pledges.
Bullied by their “Big Brothers” into hazing rituals involving drinking massive quantities of water in short periods of time, some of these poor kids end up dead.
The real pity of the matter – besides young men’s needless deaths, of course – is that these incidents will end up as nothing more than footnotes on the national health scene, “odd and unusual” sound-bites on the evening news
And it’ll happen again. And again. And again.
Worth my salt – but not holding my water,
William Campbell Douglass II, MD
