Having sex twice a week can boost heart health, lower cancer risk and fight Covid - Study
Experts believe sex to be such an important barometer of general health that it should be more widely discussed by doctors with their patients.
By Kimberly RodriguesAug 23, 2022
We have all heard that regular sex brings with it many benefits, however, you may just be surprised at the range of benefits this act of intimacy is capable of bringing about, from lowering your risk of heart problems or cancer, to boosting your immunity and even helping you fight off Covid - frequent sex can provide a big boost to your overall wellbeing.
The Daily Mail reports that physical exertion is thought to help explain why it might improve immunity — specifically raising levels of immunoglobulin A, which exercise has also been shown to improve.
It’s not just the exertion, there are specific elements of sexual activity that may improve health, too, the Daily Mail states.
According to earlier research (in February) published in the Archives of Sexual Behaviour, when having sex, men reportedly burned on average 100 calories, and their heart rate rose to as much as 170 beats per minute — this helps strengthen the heart.
In 2010, the American Journal of Cardiology reported that men having sex two to three times a week have a 45 per cent lower risk of a heart attack compared with those having sex once a month or less.
Professor Geoffrey Hackett, a urologist and a professor of men's health at Aston University in Birmingham points to the Caerphilly Heart Disease Study (set up in 1979) that involved 914 men aged between 45 to 59.
According to the study, it was found that deaths from heart disease over 20 years were double in men having intercourse once a month compared with those having sex twice a week.
Stressing the importance of lovemaking Dr Hackett states, “I'd suggest men and women aim for some kind of sexual activity twice a week.”
In a study featured in The Journal of Sexual Medicine in January, it was found that those who had sex during lockdown (whether they were living with their partner or not) were 34 per cent less likely to experience depression than those who didn't.
The Daily Mail said that in fact, some experts believe sex to be such an important barometer of general health that it should be more widely discussed by doctors with their patients.
Yet, this is rarely known to happen.
“As a doctor, you're happy to ask women about their menstrual cycle, yet sexual activity is something we rarely discuss,” Dr Hackett told the Daily Mail.
“And the issue is even worse with men, yet knowing if a man has regular erections tells me an awful lot about his health,” he said.
Dr Hackett also said, being physically able to have sex also indicates a certain level of fitness.
He adds, “We estimate that 20 minutes of sexual activity in a man is the equivalent of walking a mile, and that's a reasonable amount of physical effort if you do it often enough.”
In addition, research from University College London found that women engaging in sexual activity at least once a month had later menopause than those who weren't sexually active.
The Daily Mail informs that according to the researchers, if sexual activity is not detected, the body deprioritises ovulation (releasing of the mature egg from the ovary) and this triggers menopause or the end of a woman’s menstrual cycles.
The journal Ear, Nose & Throat reported last year that orgasms can clear a stuffed-up nose as effectively as a nasal spray – this is probably because exercise has also been shown to be a decongestant.
Apparently, this is possible because exercise increases body temperature which in turn helps to loosen mucus. Also, the increase in circulation (due to the exercise) encourages the flow of nasal discharge.
Also, last year, the journal Fertility and Sterility stated that sexual activity at least three times a month was linked with a milder Covid-19 infection.
The explanation for this is that sex, primes the body to handle pathogens more effectively.
This study reportedly followed a 2004 study in the journal Psychological Reports which found that sex (once or twice a week) increases levels of immunoglobulin A, which is part of the antibody response of the immune system that defends us against infection.
Furthermore, frequent sex can also lower the risk of prostate cancer.
According to a 2016 study from Harvard University, it was found that for men aged 20 to 50 ejaculating more than 20 times per month reduced prostate cancer risk by 20 per cent. The theory is that sex “flushes the system” said Professor Hackett. The study is published in the journal European Urology.
Meanwhile, arousal and orgasm in women reportedly have been linked to better pelvic floor strength and reduced incontinence, which is linked to muscle contractions.
Kaye Wellings, a professor of sexual and reproductive health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine told the Daily Mail, “Improving your health" is not usually at the top of your mind when you're thinking about sex, but immunity, cardiovascular health, and depression are just some of the areas where studies suggest that sexual activity might have a benefit.
Dr Wellings adds, that while regular sex is “likely to be important, I don't want people thinking that because they don't have sex that often, or don't have a partner to have sexual activity with, they're going to end up sick.
“Many of the benefits of sexual activity can be gained in non-sexual ways, including exercise or hugging friends and family.”
Conclusively, Dr Narjust Duma, an oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, U.S. is reported to have said, patients whose sexual health is addressed “have a better quality of life, better pain control, and better relationships with their partners and their healthcare team.”
The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for thunderstorms across parts of eastern and south-eastern England, in effect from 20:00 BST on Friday to 05:00 on Saturday. The affected area spans from Eastbourne in East Sussex to Cromer in north Norfolk.
The warning indicates a high risk of disruption, with flash flooding, power cuts, and hazardous travel conditions expected. The Met Office warns that flooding of homes and businesses is likely, and delays or cancellations to bus and rail services are possible due to surface water and lightning strikes.
Heavy rain and strong winds forecast
According to the forecast, some locations within the amber zone could see between 30mm and 50mm of rainfall, accompanied by wind gusts exceeding 40–50mph. There is a heightened risk of frequent lightning and intense downpours, leading to flash floods and dangerous driving conditions.
The affected area spans from Eastbourne in East Sussex to Cromer in north NorfolkGetty Images
The Met Office said fast-flowing or deep floodwater could pose a danger to life. People are advised to remain indoors during the worst of the weather and avoid unnecessary travel. Where travel is essential, extreme caution is urged.
Public urged to prepare
Residents in affected areas are being encouraged to check on vulnerable neighbours, especially those who may require assistance with food or medication. The Met Office recommends staying updated with local forecasts, charging electronic devices in advance, and securing outdoor furniture or loose items.
Yellow warnings cover wider region
Alongside the amber alert, several yellow thunderstorm warnings have also been issued:
South-west England and Wales: 14:00–23:59 on Friday
Eastern and south-eastern England: 19:00 on Friday to 06:00 on Saturday
Wales, western and northern England, and Scotland: 00:00–18:00 on Saturday
Heavy rain and thunderstorm warningBBC
Although yellow warnings indicate a lower risk than amber, the severity of thunderstorms could still be high in isolated areas. The warning for Saturday covers more of the UK as the storm system moves westward.
Heatwave peaks before storms arrive
The weather alert comes as Friday could become the hottest day of 2025 so far, with temperatures possibly hitting 30°C around the Norwich area. This would surpass the previous high of 29.3°C recorded at Kew, London, on 1 May.
Elsewhere across East Anglia and south-east England, temperatures are expected to reach the mid to high twenties, which is about 7–10°C above the seasonal average.
Cooler weekend ahead
With rising humidity and atmospheric instability, the thunderstorms are expected to mark the end of the hot spell. Saturday will bring cooler conditions, with temperatures dropping to the low to mid-twenties in the east and the high teens across other parts of the UK.
The Met Office continues to monitor the situation and has advised the public to follow the latest forecasts and travel updates.
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Shergill and his accomplices were arrested on different dates in 2020
THE head of an organised crime group who claimed he was a male escort while masterminding an international operation to import cocaine into the UK has been sentenced to 21 years and three months in jail.
Kulvir Shergill, 43, from the West Midlands, told National Crime Agency (NCA) investigators he made a living through male escort bookings, teaching martial arts and working as a personal trainer.
However, an NCA investigation showed Shergill’s crime group imported around 250kg of cocaine with a street value of £20 million between February 26 and April 24, 2020. The gang used the encrypted communications platform EncroChat in order to arrange the drugs deals.
Shergill and his accomplices are “directly responsible for the horrendous consequences Class A drugs (banned) have among our communities,” said Rick Mackenzie, NCA operations manager. “Proceeds of crime proceedings have been started and all identified assets owned by the defendants have been frozen and are currently under restraint. The NCA will work with our partners at the CPS [Crown Prosecution Service] to ensure that any money made from their drug enterprise is recovered.”
Shergill arranged premises for class A drugs to be delivered to in the UK using the EncroChat handle “orderlyswarmer”, the investigation found. He would liaise with contacts in the Netherlands over impending deliveries, before his group distributed them around the country.
Shergill and his accomplices were arrested on different dates in 2020. He initially denied smuggling class A drugs, but eventually admitted the offence.
On September 20 last year, Shergill was jailed at Birmingham crown court. The news can now be reported after the last member of his gang, 43-year-old Jagdeep Singh, was jailed for the same offences last week.
Singh was an electrician by trade, and was tasked with taking receipt of drug deliveries and acting as a warehouseman. At the time of his arrest in April 2020, he was in possession of 30kg of high-purity cocaine.
He has now been sentenced to six years and eight months behind bars.
Three other gang members were also sentenced last September – Khurram Mohammed, 37, jailed for 14 years and four months was Shergill’s second-in-command and a trusted worker.
Shakfat Ali, 38, who travelled around the UK on behalf of the group and is believed to have delivered drugs, was jailed for 16 years and nine months; while Mohammed Sajad, 44, a trusted member of the group, was jailed for 16 years.
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Motorists are being advised to expect significant disruption
Drivers are facing long delays on the M62 following a lorry crash near Warrington that led to a significant fuel spill on the carriageway.
The incident occurred when the lorry struck railings on a bridge on the A49 Newton Road, causing fuel to leak onto the motorway below. As a result, the M62 has been closed in both directions within junction 9, and the junction 8 eastbound entry slip road is also shut.
Cheshire Police said the motorway could remain closed for several hours. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported.
National Highways confirmed that traffic is being diverted via exit and entry slip roads. The agency is working to install a new barrier and repair damage caused by the fuel spill. No clear timeline has been provided for when the road will reopen.
Motorists are being advised to expect significant disruption. There are currently delays of up to 60 minutes eastbound and 20 minutes westbound, with congestion building in both directions.
Drivers are urged to avoid the area if possible and allow extra time for journeys while the clean-up and repairs continue.
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A view shows Air India flight AI 379 that had to make an emergency landing back at Phuket Airport, due to a note of a bomb threat discovered mid-air, in Phuket, Thailand, June 13, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)
AN AIR INDIA flight from Phuket, Thailand to New Delhi returned to the Thai island on Friday after a bomb threat was discovered on board, according to Thailand’s airports authority.
The flight had taken off from Phuket and was en route to India when the pilot reported a possible threat and made an emergency landing.
Airports of Thailand stated on its Phuket Facebook page that the pilot of the Airbus A320 informed air traffic control after a message indicating a bomb threat was found inside the aircraft.
"We received a report of a bomb threat written inside the aircraft's bathroom, so the pilot informed the control tower and decided to divert the flight to Phuket International Airport after circling to burn off fuel," said Monchai Tanode, director of Phuket International Airport, at a press conference.
"Police have brought in several suspects, but have not yet been able to identify who wrote the message," Monchai added.
According to flight tracking website FlightRadar24, the aircraft made a U-turn over the Andaman Sea shortly after takeoff, then circled repeatedly off Phuket’s coast before landing back at the airport.
The website showed that the flight departed again at 4:28 pm (0928 GMT), more than seven hours after its scheduled departure.
The incident took place a day after another Air India flight, bound for London, crashed in Ahmedabad, killing at least 265 people both on board and on the ground.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Debris of Air India flight 171 is pictured after it crashed in a residential area near the airport in Ahmedabad on June 13, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)
INVESTIGATORS have recovered the black box from the site of Thursday’s Air India crash in Ahmedabad, where a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London’s Gatwick airport went down shortly after takeoff, killing at least 265 people, including those on the ground.
The aircraft issued a mayday call shortly before crashing into a residential area around lunchtime. The plane had barely lifted 100 metres from the ground before it came down, with its tailpiece left protruding from the second floor of a hostel for medical staff from a nearby hospital.
Air India said the flight carried 242 people, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese nationals, one Canadian and 12 crew members. According to police, 265 bodies have been counted so far, including at least 24 on the ground. Authorities warned that the death toll could rise as more remains are recovered.
Deputy commissioner of police Kanan Desai confirmed the body count on Friday. Home Minister Amit Shah said in a statement that the official death toll would be announced after DNA testing is completed. Samples will also be collected from family members living abroad, he added.
A formal investigation has been launched by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said. The probe will follow International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) protocols. He said a high-level committee comprising experts from multiple disciplines was also being set up to examine the incident and improve aviation safety.
Visited the crash site in Ahmedabad today. The scene of devastation is saddening. Met officials and teams working tirelessly in the aftermath. Our thoughts remain with those who lost their loved ones in this unimaginable tragedy. pic.twitter.com/R7PPGGo6Lj — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 13, 2025
Prime minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site on Friday and met survivor Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national, at the hospital. Ramesh, who was injured in the crash, said, “Initially, I too thought that I was about to die, but then I opened my eyes and realised that I was still alive.”
“Everything happened in front of me, and even I couldn’t believe how I managed to come out alive from that,” he added. “Within a minute after takeoff, suddenly... it felt like something got stuck... I realised something had happened, and then suddenly the plane’s green and white lights turned on.”
Eyewitnesses said the nose and front wheel of the aircraft landed on a canteen where students were having lunch. Search and rescue teams worked through the night to locate the black box flight recorders, which are expected to provide vital information about the plane’s final moments.
The UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch has offered assistance to India, and the US National Transportation Safety Board will also help with the investigation. Boeing said it was supporting Air India and was “working to gather more information” on the crash.