Brazil official urges more sex for better health

[April 27, 2010]  RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -- Brazil's health minister has a remedy for the nation's high-blood-pressure problem: more sex.

Minister Jose Temporao says adults should be exercising more to help keep their blood pressure down -- and he says a good cardiovascular workout includes sex, "always with protection, obviously."

Temporao also recommends dancing, a healthy diet and regular blood-pressure checks.

The minister made the comments Monday while launching a national campaign against high blood pressure in the Brazilian capital of Brasilia.

The Health Ministry says that 21.5 percent of Brazilians had high blood pressure in 2006. That jumped to 24.4 percent in 2009.

[Associated Press]

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