When pleasure kills: Why lovers die in active sex duty

How about the man and woman that were discovered dead in a Sienna space bus on Lagos – Ibadan Expressway recently. Onlookers said they died while having sex.

In December 2018, a middle-aged man, simply identified as Davy, died in a hotel in the Ikotun area of Lagos State during a sex duel with a lady, known as Loveth. Davy and Loveth had claimed superiority in the art of sex and disputed who could last longer in a sex bout.

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Boastful Davy staked N50, 000, which Loveth was to collect if she defeated him in the sex romp. The deal was struck and they booked into a chalet in the hotel. Unfortunately for Davy, he died on top of Loveth after managing to pull through six rounds.

The Sun also once reported the death of one Malawian man, Charles Majawa, who died during sex due to ‘extreme orgasm’. The 35-year-old man had engaged in sexual intercourse with a sex hawker, identified as Phalombe, when he fainted and eventually met his untimely end.

The investigation revealed that the extreme orgasm caused brain vessels in the brain to rupture, leading to his death. According to reports, the woman will not be held liable for the man’s death and no charges have been filed against her.

The takeaway from this is that sex is as sweet as it is also a killer. Invariably, what gives pleasure also brings death. There have been several instances of sex-related deaths, whether one dies on active sex duty or as a consequence.

We are used to reading how one woman or another was raped to death, perhaps, as a result of the brutal violence associated with rape. However, several studies conducted by leading medical experts have concluded that one could die even during consensual sex.

Let us say it as it is, sex is good and everyone loves it. Sex is a very emotive word and makes even the necks of monks to turn wherever and whenever it is mentioned. The summary of it all is that life would be too drab without the colour sex adds to it.

However, no matter how sweet and popular sex is, a lot of times it has brought quite unexpected and embarrassing end.

Medical experts have proven that indulging in sexual intercourse could lead to death because of a series of activities it causes in one’s system. It is interesting to note that the study also found that these deaths usually occur during illicit or adulterous sex rendezvous between unfaithful partners. In other words, “men who were unfaithful were significantly more likely than those who were faithful to experience severe or fatal cardiac events during sex,” the report exposed. As if to lend credence to the death during extramarital sex theory, another report found out that 14 of the 20 cases of coital death occurred during an affair. That was the origin of the refrain, “Dying in the saddle”, as a euphemism for death during sex.

It is not clear why such deaths occur more among adulterers but further studies blame the majority of such deaths in men on cardiovascular causes. This is especially so because of men’s recourse to aphrodisiacs and sex-enhancing drugs like Viagra, which has been linked to sudden cardiovascular death during sexual activity among elderly or otherwise infirm men. Men who tend to keep up with their macho image and continue to prove their dominance over women employ these aphrodisiacs and even such recreational drugs as cocaine without knowing the true state of their health and pay the supreme sacrifice during sex, whether it is consensual or not.

It is unarguable that sex is one of the best gifts nature bestowed man with. Moreover, there is hardly a successful relationship between a man and woman without a sexual connection. Sex gives indescribable pleasure and also has some superb physical and psychosomatic effects, including reducing high blood pressure, boosting the immune system, and relaxing the nerves, thereby enabling better sleep. Sex also enhances libido, reduces the likelihood of prostate cancer in men, and improves women’s bladder control. It is reputed to be a good form of exercise that lowers the risk of having a heart attack, reduces stress and calms the mind, and also reduces anxiety.

It is obviously because of these innate qualities that people cannot seem to have enough of sex.

Nevertheless, too much sex could be a hindrance, even fatal in some cases. Even when it is not in excess, sex has a lot of drawbacks, as unsafe sex comes with some hazards, including the risk of contracting Sexually Transmitted Infections, STIs, such as Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV or hepatitis B, etc. and not excluding unwanted pregnancy.

Apart from these, some experts have concluded that excess sex could result in certain conditions that are unhealthy for the body, and in the worst scenario even death. According to Wikipedia, death can occur during consensual sex for various reasons, generally because of the physical strain of the sexual activity, or because of unusual circumstances surrounding the carnal act.

Sex is a strenuous exercise that affects the entire being of the partners. One round of sex has been equated to 30 minutes of jogging; so, having sex repeatedly without adequate hydration could lead to dehydration and exhaustion and ultimately death, perhaps.

The National Health Service in the United Kingdom has advised that drinking plenty of water after sex is a good way to avoid dehydration and that emptying the bladder after sex helps to prevent urinary tract infections as it clears bacteria from the urinary tract.

It was also gathered that while sex is a form of exercise, it can be very tiring, and having it continuously leads to exhaustion. Sex could also lead to lower back pain if had too often because of the heavy and consistent thrusting.

“During sexual activity, the body releases norepinephrine, epinephrine and cortisol which increase the heart rate and trigger the release of glucose in the blood. All these activities are tiring, especially when done frequently. Thus, indulging in sex several times a day will drain all your energy and leave you feeling exhausted most of the time,” the report said.

Of more importance is that too much sex can worsen the health situations of people with heart problems. In other words, even though sex is good for the heart, as it keeps increasing blood flow, it can also lead to complications for people with heart-related conditions.

Therefore, people with heart-related ailments or those suffering a stroke are urged not to indulge in frequent sex. This is so because it takes a lot of energy to have sex and any such person runs a great risk if he engages in sex often.

Given the above-mentioned effects, the question then is, how much sex is too much?

There is actually no seal on how much sex an individual should have to avoid fatality. It depends on what partners involved consider good and adequate for them, and are comfortable with. Insisting on having too many rounds of sex when one is not physically fit for it is an invitation to trouble. After all, it does not finish. It is better to enjoy it, as it suits your health and be alive to enjoy it again tomorrow than die in it as if it is getting out of stock. In other words, sex could not be said to be too much or too little as long as the partners enjoy it are comfortable with their unique arrangement.

However, despite the liberty to have as much sex as you feel comfortable with, you need to monitor your body clock to know how it is ticking and base your sex life on that. Whatever you do with your sex life is your choice. 

It is advisable for anyone who does not want to be a casualty or add to the statistics of the sex fatalities to shun drugs whether you are a man or woman. Once you become drug dependent to aid your sex life, even if you don’t die, getting weaned off that option is a Herculean task. You must recognize your sexual limit and stick within that boundary. It is not in the number of rounds of sex that makes one a better lover.

One must pay very close attention to one’s state of health, especially your heart, as death during sex is often traced to heart attacks. Indeed, healthy sex life cannot be divorced from better heart health.

Despite all this, why do people die during the otherwise pleasurable sex trip? Must people stop having sex for fear of dying; is it possible?

Interestingly, according to a study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, survivors of a heart attack, who still maintain a healthy sex life have higher survival rates in the long run. It adds that not having sex fearing it would trigger another episode of attack may not be a wise decision. The study said that resuming sexual activity soon after a heart attack could be part of an individual’s perception of a healthy, functioning, and energetic person.

Actually, the sex activity and attendant orgasm trigger, which releases what is simply known as the love hormone. This is important in building trust and bonding between people. When death results from such activity, it is caused by the physical strain of the sexual activity, or illegal drugs, such as cocaine.

The risk of sudden cardiac death is higher as people get older, but researchers from St. George’s University of London have found that this phenomenon is not limited to middle-aged men.

In conclusion, a healthy sex life is linked to better heart health. According to the research published in the European Journal of Preventative Cardiology, people who maintain a healthy sex life have a higher survival rate in the long run.

Sex is given to be enjoyed but by the living only. Therefore, Dr. Gwen Nelson advised: “Enjoy your sex but don’t abuse it. It is because of abuse that people die during sex. Take good care of your health, particularly your heart. Eat good food, observe some rest. Don’t submerge yourself in sex and give aphrodisiacs a wide berth; take note that too much of everything is bad. Those who die during sex end up leaving their partners for others to enjoy, as the beat goes on.”