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Top 10 Myths About Heart Disease: Common Misconceptions Top 10 Myths About Heart Disease: Common Misconceptions

Top 10 Myths About Heart Disease: Common Misconceptions

Artemis Hospital

January 29, 2025 |
Top 10 Myths About Heart Disease: Common Misconceptions 9 Min Read | 146

How much do you actually know about your heart health? Misconceptions are quite simple to fall for. After all, heart disease only affects your old neighbour or your uncle who likes fried foods, correct? Or do you know the truth: heart disease can happen to people of all ages, including those who eat well?

Relying on incorrect assumptions might be risky. In today's scenario, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in people each year. However, you can improve your heart health awareness by differentiating fact from myth. Let's dispel some popular myths associated with heart related diseases.

What Are the Types of Heart Related Diseases?

Heart disease isn't simply a single condition. A wide range of diseases can have an impact on how well your heart functions. Heart disease is often known as cardiovascular disease, but that term also refers to blood vessel disorders. Each type of heart disease has unique symptoms and treatments. If you have a certain type of heart disease, lifestyle modifications and medication can make a significant difference in your health. Others may require surgery to restore normal functioning of their heart. These are some of the most prevalent types of heart conditions:

What Are the Main Causes of Heart Diseases?

Following are the main causes of heart diseases:

  • Infection in heart valves
  • Blockages of vessels supplying blood to heart muscles
  • Abnormality in impulse conduction in the heart
  • Enlargement of heart
  • Weakening of heart muscles
  • Weakening of heart valves
  • Damage of the layers covering the heart muscle (pericardium)
  • Abnormality of heart structure development at the time of birth
  • Impaired heart function 

Top 10 Myths About Heart Disease

Replacing these myths with facts will provide you with the information you require so that you and your doctor can chart the best course to a healthy heart. Here are 10 generally accepted but erroneous notions:

1. Young people must not worry about heart disease.

Although heart disease is more common in those over the age of 65, 4-10% of heart attacks occur in adults under the age of 45, primarily men. Furthermore, how we conduct our lives as children, adolescents, and adults builds the framework for long-term heart health.

2. People who have heart problems should avoid exercising.

This is a myth. Exercise strengthens the heart muscle and increases blood flow throughout the body. The chances of exercising causing a cardiac arrest or heart attack are exceedingly minimal. However, persons who are absolutely sedentary and have significant cardiac disease should consult their doctor before participating in any sports.

3. I take cholesterol-lowering medications, so I can eat whatever I want.

Some medications, such as statins, lower cholesterol levels in the blood. However, this does not imply that a person on statins can freely consume foods high in saturated fats. So, statins may only be able to mitigate the negative consequences of a bad diet. However, a poor diet increases the risk of other independent risk factors for heart disease, such as obesity, hypertension, and diabetes.

4. There is nothing I can do to prevent heart disease because it runs in my family.

You may be at higher risk if you have close family members who have had heart disease. Even for those who have a genetic predisposition, there are other strategies to lower the risk, therefore it is not absolute. These include controlling blood pressure, quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy diet, and getting regular exercise. It is also important to remember that cardiac illness may not indicate a genetic predisposition if it runs in the family. Families frequently have similar lifestyle choices, including eating and exercise routines, which can affect heart disease risk.

5. Heart disease can be prevented with vitamins.

There is no evidence that taking vitamin supplements lowers the risk of heart disease, even though the majority of vitamins are unlikely to be harmful to heart health when taken in the recommended dosages. Taking vitamins solely cannot counterbalance the heart-healthy effects of a balanced diet and regular exercise.

6. Since I have smoked for years, there is nothing compelling to quit at this time.

It's a myth. One of the main causes behind heart conditions is tobacco consumption. The health advantages start as soon as a person quits smoking.

7. Only men are actually affected by heart disease.

It is a common misperception that heart disease exclusively affects men. The fact that men are more likely than women to acquire cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease is true. But the risk of stroke is higher for women.

8. Heart attacks and cardiac arrest are one and the same thing.

A heart attack is not the same as a cardiac arrest. A circulation issue is what causes a heart attack. It happens when the coronary artery, which supplies the heart's muscles with oxygenated blood, gets clogged. An "electrical problem," cardiac arrest occurs when the heart is unable to adequately circulate blood throughout the body. Heart attacks often end in cardiac arrests. An individual is likely to be conscious throughout a heart attack. During a cardiac arrest, they are almost always unconscious. These both are medical emergencies.

9. You can save your life by coughing during a heart attack.

Coughing hard during a heart attack, often known as cough CPR, may save your life, according to some sources. However, there is not any evidence that this method is effective for heart attacks that are not brought on by medical treatments.

10. People who have heart problems should not eat anything that contains fat.

A person with cardiovascular disease should definitely limit their consumption of partially hydrogenated and trans fats, which are included in foods like baked goods, frozen pizzas, and microwave popcorn, as well as saturated fats, which are present in foods like butter, biscuits, bacon, and sausages. On the other hand, unsaturated fats have advantages. For example, there is some evidence that the polyunsaturated lipid omega-3 may also promote heart health. Experts also advise consuming omega-3 fatty acids that come from plants. These are present in canola oil, walnuts, flaxseeds, and their oils, as well as tofu and other soybean products.

Conclusion

Heart diseases are very common these days, but are preventable. Regardless of age, we all can make lifestyle adjustments to minimise our chance of developing cardiovascular disease.

Uncover the truth behind the top 10 myths about heart disease and debunk common misconceptions. Learn how to protect your heart health. Choose Artemis Cardiac Care for expert cardiologist advice today!

FAQs

Q1: Is chest pain the only symptom of a heart attack?
A: No, other symptoms include shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, or pain in the arms, jaw, or back.

Q2: Can heart disease be reversed?
A: While damage may not always be fully reversible, lifestyle changes, medications, and proper medical care can significantly improve heart health.

Q3: Do thin people not get heart disease?
A: No, even thin individuals can develop heart disease if they have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or other risk factors.
 

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