— Sex is not only one of the most important ways you can connect with your partner and experience deep pleasure, but it also comes with plenty of health benefits like a boosted immune system, lower stress levels, and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. This article will explore whether increased longevity is another of the many benefits sex can bring.
- Sex is an important part of life for most people and it has many potential health benefits.
- The health benefits of sex include improved brain health, improved immune function, and lower rates of stress and cardiovascular disease.
- Sex also helps to improve romantic relationships which contributes to overall well-being and longevity.
Sex and longevity
With so much attention on lifestyle hacks to increase longevity, it’s no wonder researchers have turned to investigating sex as a way of living longer with greater vitality. Let’s take a look at some of the most well studied ways that sex can help us live longer.
Improved brain health
So much of longevity and enjoyment of life, especially as you age, has to do with the brain. Specifically how well it’s working. Staying mentally sharp helps people have more control over their lives and feel more like themselves even as they get older. Sex may help with that.
Researchers conducted a longitudinal study on the connection between sexual activity and cognition in people aged 50-89. They found a significant connection between the two, specifically in tasks like recall and number sequencing.
Having sex can help improve your brain health at any age, especially when it comes to memory and communication. Frequent sex can help increase neuron growth in the part of the brain responsible for emotions and memory – the hippocampus. Keeping your wits about you as you age can help improve your quality of life and help you feel better all around.
Lowers stress levels
Do you know what isn’t good for your cognitive health? Stress. High-stress levels can contribute to cognitive decline in aging adults. Chronic stress can increase your risk of mental and physical health problems like high blood pressure, sleep problems, and depression. Luckily having sex can also help combat that.
Sexual activity helps to reduce the levels of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. It can also stimulate the production of endorphins, which naturally elevate your mood. Any sort of sexual activity, but especially ones that lead to orgasms helps release oxytocin, aka the love hormone, promoting bonding and helping to relieve stress.
It’s not just the hormonal aspect of sex that can help decrease stress levels. Sex is also a decent form of exercise. Regular weekly exercise can increase your lifespan. While sex isn’t a replacement for other forms of exercise, it is a great addition.
Reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death globally. Hypertension (high blood pressure), rapid heart rate, heart attacks, and other cardiovascular events are all different types of cardiovascular disease.
Stress and heart health are also very closely linked. Heart disease affects so many people personally and is not something to make light of, but the science is there – sex can help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.
One study found having regular sex was linked to men experiencing cardiovascular events later in life than those that didn’t have regular sex. The same study also showed that good sexual quality seemed to protect women from cardiovascular disease later in life. Much like with stress, the physical activity component of having sex may promote cardiovascular fitness, improving overall heart health.
Enhanced immune system
Your immune system is the key to your health. Especially when it comes to infectious diseases.
Yet another example of exercise and longevity. Getting regular physical activity helps to improve immune function. Again, sex contributes to your overall amount of physical activity, but is not a substitute for exercise in general.
It’s not just because of exercise. Researchers found that people who had regular sex — once or twice a week — had significantly higher levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA) in their saliva. IgA is an antibody that helps your immune system prevent illnesses like colds.
The immune-boosting effects of regular sex also have an effect on those exposed to the COVID-19 virus. Researchers found that people who had sex more than three times a month were better able to combat pathogens and had lower rates of COVID-19 infections.
Relationships and longevity
Humans are social creatures. They depend on each other for resources, community, and even for positive health outcomes. Sex is one of the most important parts of many people’s relationships, which can help improve overall well-being and increase your lifespan.
It may seem obvious, but science is here to back it up — there is a strong correlation between sexual activity in older adults and greater life enjoyment. It’s fair to say that it probably extends to adults of any age.
Feelings of loneliness can increase the risk of clinical dementia in older age. That’s just one example of the ways that sex and relationships can improve health outcomes. Numerous studies have examined the ways that satisfying relationships are correlated with fewer health problems and a longer lifespan.
How to improve your sex life and live longer
The biggest thing in maximizing the health benefits of sex is figuring out a pattern that works for you. Sex doesn’t just mean penetration. It can also include oral sex, using sex toys, clitoral stimulation, anal sex, or anything else that feels like sex for you. While many of these perks have to do with having sex with a partner, masturbation also offers many health benefits.
We also want to acknowledge that for many people, sex is a form of stress, disconnection, pain, or simply not something that they’re interested in. This can be true for people who experience pain during sex from certain reproductive health disorders like endometriosis or vulvodynia, have experienced certain types of trauma, or are on the asexual spectrum.
If this is you, know that you can have a long, healthy life without sex (or regular sex) and that there are many steps you can take to help enjoy sex again — if you want to. This includes things like increasing intimacy and communication with your partner outside the bedroom and/or going to a sex therapist.
FAQ
How much sex do you have to have for the antiaging effects?
There are many variables when it comes to sex and aging. Some studies saw benefits in people who had sex more than three times a month, while others suggested once or twice a week. Also, this shouldn’t be a numbers game. Ideally, you should have as much sex as makes sense for you and your partner (if you have one).
How long can you be sexually active?
There is no cap on how late in life you can have sex. Obviously, there are health or physical disabilities that can affect your sex life, but people can have enjoyable sex well into old age. It’s important that no matter how old you are, you still practice safer sex by using barrier methods like condoms.
Can sex help you look younger?
Sex doesn’t just help prolong your lifespan, it may also help keep you looking young. One study found that people who had regular sex (three to five times a week) appeared seven to twelve years younger than they actually were. The hormonal effects of having sex like increased oxytocin and lower cortisol levels can also help you look younger.
Complete Article ↪HERE↩!