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Hemoptysis during sexual intercourse. Unusual manifestation of coronary artery disease
S Bansal1, J A Day, S S Braman
1Department of Medicine, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Providence, RI 02908.
Insights
Sexual activity can trigger heart problems in some individuals. This case study shows successful treatment for a patient whose angina and hemoptysis during sex were resolved with coronary artery bypass grafting.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiovascular Physiology
Background:
- Sexual activity places significant physiological stress on the cardiovascular system.
- Stable angina pectoris is a common condition characterized by chest pain due to reduced blood flow to the heart.
Observation:
- A patient with stable angina presented with recurrent hemoptysis (coughing up blood).
- These episodes of hemoptysis were consistently linked to left ventricular failure occurring exclusively during sexual activity.
Findings:
- Cardiac catheterization confirmed severe atherosclerotic coronary vascular disease as the underlying cause.
- Successful coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was performed to address the severe coronary artery disease.
Implications:
- Coronary artery bypass grafting can effectively resolve exertional cardiovascular complications.
- Patients with coronary artery disease can resume sexual activity symptom-free after successful revascularization.
Abstract:
Sexual activity increases physiologic demands on the cardiovascular system. A patient with stable angina pectoris experienced recurrent bouts of hemoptysis caused by left ventricular failure that occurred only during sexual activity. Severe atherosclerotic coronary vascular disease was confirmed by cardiac catheterization. The patient underwent successful coronary artery bypass grafting; nine months after surgery, he is sexually active and symptom-free.