When former vice president of the U.S. Nelson A Rockefeller died of a heart attack during sex with a much younger woman in a hotel room, people began to wonder if orgasms caused heart attacks or "death in the saddle." Orgasms don't seem to be directly linked to heart attacks, although the physical exertion leading up to an orgasm could trigger heart stress\x97especially if the man is married but is with a non-spouse in an unfamiliar setting after consuming a big meal and alcohol. In fact, 70% of coital deaths have occurred during extramarital intercourse.