Doctors should talk with cardiac patients about sex

The following is an excerpt from a Q&A in the December 2013 issue of  magazine. The article features Elaine Steinke, a professor in the school of nursing at 麻豆传媒, who was lead author in a recent American Heart Association study on cardiac patients and sexual activity.

If you aren鈥檛 having "the talk" with your cardiac patients about sexual activity, new guidelines might help you find the words.

Previous guidelines from the American Heart Association addressed the timing and safety of resuming sexual activity after a cardiac event. New guidelines published online in July by Circulation go into the details of sex counseling. Most cardiac patients without ongoing acute chest pain can resume sexual activity within a week or so after discharge, says Elaine E. Steinke, PhD, APRN, lead author of the article.