10 Misconceptions About Heart Disease That Need Correct Understanding
1)
Misconception: Young, thin individuals with normal blood cholesterol levels will not have the chance to develop heart disease
Truth: While young people and those with normal cholesterol levels have a lower risk, it does not mean they are immune to heart disease. It can occur due to various reasons, such as genetics, and sudden cardiac arrest can be found in young people or athletes due to conditions like Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
2)
Misconception: People with heart disease should not exercise
Truth: Exercising can strengthen the heart muscle, increase blood supply to the brain and internal organs, and improve overall health, but should be done under the guidance of a doctor who provides personalized advice
3)
Misconception: Once taking cholesterol-lowering medication, you can eat anything
Truth: Blood lipids are produced by the liver and from dietary sources. Cholesterol-lowering medications reduce liver-produced fats, but not those from dietary sources. Eating high-fat foods can still raise blood lipid levels
4)
Misconception: Diabetics taking diabetes medication will not have a risk of heart and vascular diseases
Truth: Managing blood sugar levels can help slow down or reduce the risk of heart disease, but the risk of heart disease and strokes persists due to high blood sugar harming cells and damaging blood vessel walls, promoting inflammation, and making vessels more fragile
5)
Misconception: There’s no need to check blood lipid levels until reaching middle age
Truth: Checking lipid levels from a young age can help prevent heart disease risk, especially if there is a family history of the disease. The American Heart Association recommends testing every 5 years after turning 20
6)
Misconception: High blood pressure is normal for the elderly
Truth: Even though blood pressure tends to be higher in the elderly due to stiffer blood vessel walls, high blood pressure forces the heart to work harder to pump blood, increasing the risk of heart failure and stroke. Blood pressure should be kept below 140/90 mmHg
7)
Misconception: Women won’t get heart disease because female hormones prevent it
Truth: Heart disease can affect both men and women, and it’s more common in women over the age of 65
8)
Misconception: If your family has a history of heart disease, you’ll inevitably have it too, and it can’t be prevented
Truth: Though people with a family history of heart disease are at a higher risk, the risk can be reduced by managing contributing factors: regular exercise, controlling cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, weight management, and avoiding smoking
9)
Misconception: If you have heart disease, you must avoid all fats
Truth: The fats to avoid are saturated fats, hydrogenated fats, or trans fats, avoiding snacks, bakery products, cookies, and animal fats. However, beneficial fats like unsaturated fats from plants, fatty fish like salmon, various nuts, and olive oil that contain omega-3 are beneficial for the body
10)
Misconception: A heart attack (Myocardial Infarction) always starts with chest pain
Truth: Although many people first experience chest pain, a heart attack may also manifest as breathlessness, nausea, headaches, or discomfort in the arms, jaw, neck, and back. Anyone with suspected symptoms should immediately go to the hospital or call an ambulance
