Cardiologist finds possible link between sexual dreams and heart disease
Adults who regularly have sexual dreams may face a heightened risk of heart disease, according to new research published in Missouri Medicine.[1]
“The connection between sleep and heart health has long been established, with sleep disturbances like obstructive sleep apnea and insomnia being recognized risk factors for cardiovascular disease,” wrote author Emmanuel Eroume A Egom, MD, PhD, a cardiologist with Hartford Healthcare and senior researcher with the Institut du Savoir Montfort in Ontario, Canada. “Dreams, as a byproduct of sleep, are also influenced by physiological states, yet the potential relationship between specific types of dreams—such as sexual dreams—and heart health has not been fully investigated. This study seeks to bridge that gap by examining whether the frequency of sexual dreams could serve as an early indicator of cardiovascular issues, particularly heart disease.”
For this analysis, 301 adult participants were asked answer an online questionnaire about their dreams, post-dream symptoms and their cardiovascular history. The most common post-dream symptoms were an increased heart rate (57%), sweating (35%) and anxiety (34%). Patients who rarely have sexual dreams faced the lowest risk of self-reported cardiovascular health issues. That risk increased for patients with a few sexual dreams per month, good for an odds ratio of 3.03. The risk increased again for those with a few sexual dreams per week, with an odds ratio of 6.62.
Egom did emphasize that this does not prove causation. In addition, he wrote, the frequency of sexual dreams is “unlikely to function as a stand-alone diagnostic tool.” On the other hand, “it may represent one component of a broader biopsychophysiological profile. Future studies should determine whether this signal adds information beyond conventional risk factors in independent cohorts.”
Overall, Egom sees potential for dream frequency to serve as a “behavioral or psychophysiological marker of cardiovascular vulnerability” Until more research can be carried out, this remains a theory more than anything clinicians can immediately put to use.
Click here to read the full study in Missouri Medicine, an official publication of the Missouri State Medical Association.
Michael has more than 19 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.