Myths : Misconceptions about Heart Disease that You Need To Know

Cardiovascular diseases are the most prevalent diseases in our country. Obesity, old age and bad eating habits are not the only reasons that cause a heart attack. Several studies suggest that cardiovascular diseases are more often a result of your lifestyle than not.

We often develop misconceptions about many things in our lives including the problem of heart diseases. One must nip all myths and misconceptions in the bud. However, people continue to believe most of these misconceptions and suffer from sudden heart conditions. We’ve made a list of everything that you need to know to secure yourself as well as your loved ones from the killer heart ailments.

Only chest pains lead to a heart attack

Not necessarily. Although it’s common to have chest pain or discomfort, a heart attack may cause subtle symptoms. These include nausea, shortness of breath, lightheartedness, pain in one or both arms, neck, back or the jaw. Consult a doctor in case you experience any of these symptoms or if you feel uneasy.

 

Diabetes won’t lead to a heart attack if you’re on medication

Keeping in check your blood sugar levels is important as normal blood sugar is important to avoid complications such as loss of vision, nerve damage, and chronic kidney diseases. Diabetes medication helps lower blood sugar levels, but it does not decrease the risk of a heart disease. To avoid a stroke or a heart attack, you should keep your cholesterol level in check. Lose weight if you’re overweight or obese. If you’re a smoker, then stop smoking – use stop-smoking aids such as nicotine gums, nicotine patches, or medication prescribed by a doctor.

 

Men are at a higher risk of having heart diseases:

NOT TRUE. Men and women both are susceptible to heart ailments. However, it is more commonly found that men suffer from cardiovascular ailments earlier, while women have ailments post 55 years of age. Both the genders are susceptible to heart diseases such as coronary artery disease, heart failure, hypertension, and stroke. To avoid heartv conditions, you need to live an active and healthy lifestyle. To decrease the level of stress and chances of a cardiovascular disease, you need to indulge in a physical activity, especially if you sit for long hours.

 

All fats are bad for your heart 

Many people believe that the easiest way to eliminate heart ailments is to go off fats, but that’s not true. Not all fats are bad for your body. Only saturated fat is bad for your health. Unsaturated fat in vegetable oils and other foods are beneficial. Eating omega-3 fatty acids found in fish (salmon) can help lower the risk of a heart disease. Include low-fat dairy products, fatty fishes, olive oil and nuts.

 

Too young for a heart attack

How you live now affects your risk for cardiovascular diseases later in life. As early as childhood and adolescence, plaque can start accumulating in the arteries and later lead to clogged arteries. One in three Americans has cardiovascular disease, but not all of them are senior citizens. Even young and middle-aged people can develop heart problems – especially now that obesity, type 2 diabetes and other risk factors are becoming more common at a younger age.