Top 10 Myths about Cardiovascular Disease

A common misconception about heart diseases is that we often think it can only happen to those who are older and to those who eat fatty food. It does come with old age and of course unhealthy eating habit, but heart disease can also happen to anyone at any age, any time, and to those who even do and try everything to maintain a physically fit physique.

Misconceptions, more often than not, can lead to accidents, tragedy, or even worse, death. That’s why we created this list of cardiovascular misconceptions to set the records straight.

 

1. “Heart disease? Oh please, I’m still too young for that.” NOT.  How you live your life today affects your cardiovascular risk in the future. Simply said, if you stay fit and healthy today, you’ll live a longer, happier life. Remember that obesity and diabetes are now becoming more and more common at a younger age.
2. “I don’t have high blood pressure. If I do, I’d know because there’d be signs.” High blood pressure is called “the silent killer” for a reason. You won’t know you have high blood pressure unless you take a test. As early as now, if you do have high blood pressure, it is imperative that it be treated right away because if not, you can have a stroke, heart attack, kidney damage, or other serious health problems without any warning signs from your body.
3. “My chest hurts; I’m having a heart attack.” Actually, chest pain isn’t necessarily associated with heart attacks alone. When you’re having a heart attack, the signs you should watch out for are nausea, shortness of breath, feeling lightheaded, pain or discomfort in one or both arms, in the jaw, the neck, or back. But if you think you are having one, even if you’re not sure, call for help right away. Better safe than sorry. 
4. “My heart beats really fast; I'm having a heart attack.” Calm down. It’s normal to experience variations in your heart rate. It spikes up when you exercise or when you’re excited, it slows down when you’re sleeping. A change in your heart beat is harmless, but sometimes it can be a sign of arrhythmia – an irregular or abnormal heartbeat. Arrhythmia is harmless, but some can last a long time and affect how your heart works so you better have it checked.
5. “There’s nothing I can do about it – it runs in the family.” Even if heart disease runs in the family, that doesn’t mean you can’t do anything to at least dramatically decrease your risk to it. Your first order of business is to create a plan to keep your heart and body healthy. How? Get active. Control your cholesterol level and your blood sugar. Eat better and healthier and maintain a healthy weight. Manage your blood pressure. Lastly, but definitely not the least, DO NOT SMOKE.  
6. “I got my Diabetes under control so I know my heart is safe.” Treating diabetes does delay the development of cardiovascular disease. But though you regulate your blood sugar and take your meds regularly, you’re still at an increased risk for heart disease and stroke. It’s because of the factors that contribute to having diabetes such as high blood pressure, obesity, physical inactivity, and smoking.
7. “My cholesterol level’s fine. I’m still young, you know.” Experts actually advise that you have your cholesterol checked at age 20. It’s better to have your cholesterol test earlier especially if your family has a record of being prone to cardiovascular disease and that means that you are also at risk to develop it later on. Lessen you and your family’s risk by eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly.
8. “Heart failure is when your heart stops beating.” WRONG. Your heart stops beating when you are under cardiac arrest, not during heart failure. With cardiac arrest, you lose consciousness and you stop breathing normally. Your heart actually still works during heart failure, but it doesn’t pump blood as well as it should.  With heart failure, you experience shortness of breath, your ankles or feet swell, and you may cough or wheeze persistently. 
9. “My legs hurt; I think I’m getting old. I’m sure my heart’s still good, though.” There is a condition known as Peripheral Artery Disease or PAD that has symptoms like leg pain felt in your leg’s muscles. PAD is a result from blocked arteries in the legs because of plaque buildup. This condition definitely puts you in a higher risk for heart disease if you have it. 
10. “I still need to rest; I just had a heart attack.” Doctors actually advise those who just had a heart attack to immediately get moving with a plan medically approved for you. Getting heart-healthy changes and being physically active in fact increases your chances to live a longer life than those who don’t. It is recommended that you do a moderate-intensity activity, which is safe and beneficial, for two and a half hours weekly.

 Published at: 02/23/2015

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