Introduction
According to research data, over 25,000 heart attack-related fatalities in India over the past four years and over 28,000 over the previous three years were recorded.
Just the term ‘heart disease might be frightening, but there are numerous fallacies around this phrase and it is simple to be misled by misconceptions. Heart disease is the leading cause of mortality worldwide, accounting for 17.9 million deaths each year. Even after a cardiac problem has been diagnosed, your health can be improved with the right information and prompt treatment at the right time to break the myths about heart attacks.
It is important to be aware of the prevalent myths in order to prevent unwarranted panic on the one hand and prompt detection and treatment of heart disease on the other. Relying on wrong assumptions and believing myths can be harmful to your heart, therefore everyone should be aware of the right information.
Let us discuss some most common myths about heart attacks.
10 Common Myths About Heart Attacks
Myth 1: I am too young to have heart disease
Your chances of developing cardiovascular problems later in life will depend on your current lifestyle decisions. Plaque can begin to build up in the arteries as early as infancy and adolescence, eventually resulting in blocked arteries. Heart issues may affect anybody, even those who are young or middle-aged, especially given that risk factors including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other conditions are becoming more prevalent in children and teenagers.
Avoiding meals that are processed or packaged, foods high in saturated fats or sweets, and engaging in at least an hour of physical activity each day can all help.
Myth 2: My genes predispose me to heart disease, thus there is nothing I can do to avoid it
You are at a higher risk if your family history is known. But by being aware of this, you may take certain precautions to reduce the hazards. Get some exercise, eat well, keep your weight in check, give up smoking, and keep an eye on your cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure levels.
Myth 3: Heart disease is an issue for men, not women
For women, cardiovascular disease continues to be the predominant cause of mortality. Women’s risk for CVD rises beyond the age of 60. After menopause, the risk is usually distributed pretty equally among females. Females may experience distinct symptoms, including abdominal discomfort, giddiness, shortness of breath, sweating, acute exhaustion, back pain, and very fast heartbeats.
Myth 4: Chest pain is the only sign of a heart attack
Chest pain is the most common sign of a heart attack, but it is not the primary symptom. In actuality, a lot of people experience heart attacks with no chest discomfort or pain at all.
Shortness of breath, heartburn, upper abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, backache, jaw pain, dizziness, and excessive exhaustion are other symptoms to look out for. The majority of heart attacks in males as opposed to women are silent heart attacks, also known as silent myocardial infarctions.
Myth 6: One should avoid exercising if they have a heart disease
This is a clear myth. Exercise improves blood circulation throughout the body and helps the heart muscle become stronger.
Guidelines for exercise in people with cardiovascular disease were released by the European Society of Cardiology that states, exercise has a very minimal likelihood of causing a heart attack or cardiac arrest. People who are fully sedentary and those who have severe cardiac disease ought to speak with their doctors before doing athletics or high intensity workout.
Myth 7: Vitamins can prevent heart disease
There is no proof that taking vitamin supplements will lower the risk of heart disease, despite the fact that most vitamins, when taken in the prescribed levels, are unlikely to be harmful for heart health. Furthermore, they cannot substitute for a balanced diet and frequent exercise.
Myth 8: Having enough good cholesterol can neutralize bad cholesterol
It was often believed that having a lot of good cholesterol would mitigate the effects of having a lot of bad cholesterol, but current research has disproved this.
Physicians increasingly concentrate on LDL cholesterol rather than total cholesterol, which includes both your ‘good’ high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and ‘bad’ low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
High levels of HDL are undoubtedly beneficial, but they also indicate that your body may still be depositing cholesterol in your arteries, which can result in heart attacks, strokes, and other issues.
Myth 9: Pain in the legs has nothing to do with the heart disease
People often assume that leg discomfort is an indication of ageing, but it may really be caused by leg artery blockage, putting the patient at a higher risk for heart attacks.
Myth 10: Diabetes won’t affect the heart, if a person is taking antidiabetics
Risk factors for both diabetes and heart disease include hypertension, obesity, smoking, etc. So, even if blood sugar levels are under control, heart disease risk still exists.
Final thoughts
Heart disease is a significant problem that calls for appropriate medical care. Don’t let false assumptions and myths about yourself or your age keep you from taking care of your heart health.
Although it is widespread, heart disease is not unavoidable. Regardless of our age, there are lifestyle modifications that we can all make to lower the chances of having cardiovascular issues.
Please feel free to speak with our expert cardiologist if you have been enduring any heart disease symptoms for an extended length of time. Now is the time to schedule a consultation and heart screening test.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q. What are 2 random facts about heart disease?
- Your heart will beat about 115,000 times each day.
- Your heart pumps about 2,000 gallons of blood every day.
Q. What are the 4 most common heart diseases?
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Arrhythmia
- Peripheral arterial disease
Q. What is one known fact about the heart?
The average heart is the size of a fist in an adult.
Q. What’s the number 1 cause of heart disease?
High Blood Pressure and High Cholesterol
Q. Who suffers more from heart attacks?
CVD is most common in people over 50 and your risk of developing it comparatively increases as you get older.
Written by: Anjali Sharma
