A study has found that regular sex may drastically reduce the risk of heart attacks in men.
American researchers at the New England Research Institute investigated the sexual activity of 1,000 men aged 40-70 over a 16 year period, culminating in the publication of a study in the American Journal of Cardiology which found a clear link between regular sex and a reduced risk of heart disease.
Men having sex at least twice a week were found to have almost half the risk of developing heart disease than their less active counterparts. The study did not assess any effects on women.
Researchers speculate that regular sex is healthy both for its physical and emotional benefits – cardiovascular health is improved by sexual exertions, and previous studies have demonstrated that men in supportive relationships tend to be healthier.
Although neither of these benefits are likely to boost the health of committed onanists, other research provides consolation: ejaculating more than 5 times a week, whether through sex or masturbation, has previously been found to dramatically reduce the risk of prostate cancer.