'More Sex, Lower Risk Of Dying' - Study

 

Having sex at least once weekly halves the risk of early death, a fresh study propounds.

AllNews reports that researchers found regular intercourse is linked to lower odds of dying from cancer, heart disease, and other illnesses.

They say mating is equivalent to “moderate intensity” exercise and has similar health benefits.

Scientists interviewed 15,269 adults with an average age of 39 on their sex lives and tracked them for up to 11 years.

Some 72 per cent engaged in sexual activity at least once a month and 36 per cent at least once a week.

Over the course of the study, 228 died, including 29 with cardiovascular disease and 62 with cancer.

The more sex someone had the lower their risk of dying, the Washington University researchers found.

Those who had sex weekly were 49 per cent less likely to peg out than those who make love once a year or less.

Their odds of dying from cardiovascular disease was 21 per cent lower, from cancer 69 per cent lower and from any other cause 48 per cent down.

Health benefits of sex

The benefits of sex range from slashing stress levels to lowering your risk of cancer and heart attacks.

Sex facilitates bonding and feelings of intimacy with your partner.

This kind of connectedness does more than make you feel warm and fuzzy, it actually reduces anxiety and boosts your overall health.

Sex workers using raincoats to keep 'safe'

In related news, many sex workers in the South American nation of Bolivia say they will return to work using gloves, bleach and see-through raincoats.

They say these recommendations - suggested by the Organisation of Night Workers of Bolivia (OTN-B) - will help keep everyone safe.

Prostitution in the South American country is legal and regulated in licensed brothels.

Restrictions have slightly eased after an early lockdown in March.

But some work - including sex work - is still restricted during the day and a night-time curfew remains in place.

Vanesa is a single mother of two children and says she needs to work to fund her studies.

"Our clients respect the issue of safety, that we are taking these measures for our security, but also for theirs," she says as per the BBC.

Another worker, Antonieta, says she is using a paper face mask, plastic visor, gloves and a raincoat.

She also sprays a bleach solution on the pole she uses to dance for clients at her brothel.

"The biosecurity suit will allow us to work and protect ourselves."

The OTN-B met with the health ministry last month to present a 30-page manual giving guidance to women on how to keep safe.

Bolivia has around 50,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and 1,898 deaths to date.

On the 9th of July, the country's interim president Jeanine Anez Chavez tweeted she had tested positive for COVID-19.

He dado positivo a Covid19, estoy bien, trabajaré desde mi aislamiento. Juntos, vamos a salir adelante. pic.twitter.com/oA4YVYlZFa

— Jeanine Añez Chavez (@JeanineAnez) July 9, 2020

But there are concerns that not enough testing is being done in Bolivia which is one of the region's poorest nations.

Data shows it is the country with fewest tests per million population.

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It is incomparable to neighbour Brazil which has been hugely impacted, with 1.97 million people affected and more than 75,000 deaths.

Lily Cortes who is a representative of Bolivia's sex workers union, says it's a difficult time for everyone but the restrictions are putting women at huge risk.

"We are also part of Bolivian society. We are sex workers, women, aunts and grandmothers that also have to worry about our work hours.

"Unfortunately the sex workers will go out to work the streets and the result will be worse."