Having sex halves the risk of early death at least once a week, a study suggests. Researchers have found daily sex is associated with a lower risk of dying from cancer, heart disease, and other diseases.

They say a workout between the sheets is equal to an exercise of “moderate intensity,” which has comparable health benefits. Scientists questioned 15,269 adults on their sex lives with an average age of 39 and tracked them for up to 11 years.

Some 72 percent engaged in sexual activity at least once a month and 36 percent are sexually active at least once a week. 228 died during the study, including 29 with cardiovascular disease and 62 with cancer.

The more sex someone has a lower risk of dying, the researchers at the Washington University found. Those who had sex once a year or less were 49 percent less likely to peg out than those who romped.

Their chances of dying from cardiovascular disease were 21 percent lower, 69 percent lower from cancer, and 48 percent lower from any other cause. Sex releases good chemicals that encourage mental wellbeing and “natural killer cells” activity.

These cells reduce the risk of cancer and infectious disease, avoid lung infections, and improve other conditions, including asthma.