Misinformation About Heart Disease is Rampant
In many ways, heart disease is one of the most serious threats facing Americans today. One in four Americans will die from heart disease. Even so, there are rampant misconceptions regarding heart health. Nobody seems sure of what's good for their heart, bad for their heart, or even affecting their heart.
You might be surprised by some of the myths and facts circulating. Understanding your heart will help you make healthy lifestyle choices that lead to a longer overall lifespan. Heart disease is the top killer of Americans, according to the CDC. We spend a lot of time trying to prevent it, but many of us don't understand it very well.
Heart disease is an umbrella term used to describe a number of conditions that affect the heart and cardiovascular system. These might be blood vessel diseases, problems with heart rhythm, and heart defects you might be born with. "Heart disease" usually refers to the heart, while "cardiovascular disease" refers to diseases that block or narrow your blood vessels.
Even though heart disease is such a deadly phenomenon, many of its forms can be treated and prevented through healthy lifestyle decisions.
Top Myths About Heart Health Debunked
There are a great deal of different myths about heart disease. One myth is that you'll inevitably die from heart disease if you have a family history. But this isn't true. Family history comprises just one of many risk factors. Making healthy decisions will lower your overall risk. The American Heart Association encourages lifestyle choices like exercising, eating healthy foods, and not smoking.
Another myth is that you have to slow your activity after a heart attack. People believe that the heart is too weak to handle active wear. This is far from the truth, however. As soon as people go through their cardiac rehabilitation and get the all-clear from their doctor, experts recommend returning to an active lifestyle. Physical activity is good for the heart. The AHA even points out that exercising regularly after you have a heart attack can lengthen your lifespan.
One myth is that heart disease is much more common in men than women. While it's true that the majority of sudden cardiac events occur in men, heart disease continues to be the main cause of death for women. The CDC says that the same number of men and women tend to die from heart disease. Alarmingly, almost half of surveyed women indicated they were unaware of what a health risk that heart disease posed.
Yet another myth says that the symptoms of a heart attack are always obvious. But the CDC did a survey indicating that less than 30 percent of respondents recognized major heart attack symptoms. Chest pain is the most classic symptom. However, heart attacks also cause pain through your upper belly, jaw, neck, back, or arm. You should call 911 if your pain is combined with heart attack symptoms like nausea, inability to breathe, or cold sweating.
Questions and Answers
You probably have questions about what you know about heart disease. You'll want to make sure your information is up-to-date and correct. It could save your life. These are some common questions posed.
Q: Will cutting fats out of my diet protect me from disease?
A: Although doctors used to believe fat was the number one cause of heart disease, recent research has made them reevaluate this. Low fat diets have not been shown to reduce heart disease. In fact, unsaturated fats in fish and vegetable oils might lower heart disease risk.
Q: Are eggs bad for my heart health?
A: Eggs have received a bad reputation because of their cholesterol content. However, the cholesterol level in one egg shouldn't affect your heart, provided you only eat one egg per day. That is, as long as you don't have diabetes or high cholesterol. Eggs give you B vitamins, vitamin B12, protein, and vitamin D, all nutrients that might reduce your risk of a heart attack.
Q: At what age should I start worrying about heart disease?
A: Many people mistakenly think they don't need to worry about heart issues until they get older. Your risk of heart disease does get larger as you age. However, damaging your heart while you're young can cause early heart disease. When fatty plaque builds up and blocks your arteries, even children might have heart attacks. As type 2 diabetes and obesity increase, younger age groups are showing increasing signs of heart disease. Prevention is best done early.
