Globally, heart disease is the number one cause of death and is responsible for 17.9 million deaths every year and just the word heart disease can be scary but there are numerous myths surrounding this term and it can make fooled by misconceptions. The right information and timely action can prevent heart disease and improve your health even after diagnosis.
We all want to believe that heart disease only happens to the elderly or our fried food-loving friends. Relying on false assumptions can be dangerous to our hearts so let’s set the record straight by separating fact from fiction!” there are some common myths described below:
1: Heart disease affect only old age
How you live today determines your risk of heart disease later. Plaque starts to accumulate in the arteries from the beginning of our life circle. So unhealthy eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle can lead to heart problems even in young people, especially now that obesity and diabetes are becoming common at this age. Avoiding processed/packaged foods, foods rich in saturated fats/sugars and at least one hour of physical activity per day goes a long way.
2: Heart disease isn’t gene-based
Having a family history puts your heart at risk. But by having this knowledge, you can take specific steps to reduce the risk. Be physically active, eat healthily, maintain a healthy weight, stop smoking, and control your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol.
3: High blood pressure can be a symptom
It’s called the “silent killer” for a reason. You can have very high blood pressure and still have no symptoms to know when the damage is already done. If left untreated, it can lead to heart attack, stroke, and kidney damage. Therefore, it is important to monitor blood pressure on a regular basis.
4: Having a heart attack because of chest pain
Although chest pain is common, you may have a wide range of symptoms ranging from pain in one or both arms, jaw, neck, or back, to difficulty breathing, irregular heartbeat, nausea, and light-headedness. Initially, these symptoms usually occur when you pretend to yourself and disappear when you take some rest, so are easily missed or ignored. Only when the disease progresses will you have symptoms at rest.
5:I am old so there is no use in the treatment
It is a disease of the elderly and success depends on how early you see a doctor regardless of your age. Timely treatment is key. The longer you wait, the more advanced the disease, and the worse the outcome.
