Medical Myths about Heart Disease

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Sometimes it can be hard to separate fact from fiction, especially when so many of the “facts” we’ve spent our whole lives believing are actually enduring myths and misconceptions. These common myths seem true because we’ve heard them time and time again—we may have even learned them from our parents, or been taught them at school.

Nevertheless, it’s more important than ever to call out the false facts that far too many people still believe, whether they’re related to our furry friends or the current pandemic. Read on to discover the truth behind some of the most persistent common myths surrounding heart disease.

This topic will focus its beams on the many half-truths and misconceptions that surround heart disease. Among other topics, we cover smoking, coughing, exercising, supplements, and statins.

Globally, heart disease is the number one cause of death. It is responsible for 17.9 million deaths each year.

According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the United States, one person dies every 36 seconds from cardiovascular disease. Heart disease accounts for 1 in 4 deaths in the U.S.

According to the findings published on medicalnewstoday, listed below are the most common myths about heart failure:

Myth 1: Young people do not need to worry about heart disease

It is true that heart disease is more likely to affect people over the age of 65, but 4–10 per cent of heart attacks occur in people under the age of 45 years, mainly in men. In addition, it is how we live our lives as children, adolescents, and adults that lays the groundwork for heart health as we age.

For instance, eating a diet that is high in Trans and saturated fats or smoking tobacco slowly increases the risk of heart disease as we age. Changes to lifestyle today build the foundation for a healthier heart in later life.

In the U.S. as a whole, heart disease mortality has slowly dropped since the 1970s, although the trend seems to be slowing. However, in some regions, rates have increased.

One study that investigated heart disease mortality in different age groups in the U.S. found that “over 50 per cent of counties [experienced] increases in heart disease mortality from 2010 through 2015 among adults aged 35–64 years.”

Myth 2: People should not indulge in exercise if they have heart disease

This is a myth. Exercise helps strengthen the heart muscle and improve blood flow around the body.

In August 2020, the European Society of Cardiology published guidelines on exercise in patients with cardiovascular disease. Prof. Sanjay Sharma, who was involved in creating the guidelines, explains:

“The chance of exercise triggering a cardiac arrest or heart attack is extremely low.” However, he also adds a note of caution: “People who are completely inactive and those with advanced heart disease should consult their doctor before taking up sports.”

Myth 3: Because I take cholesterol-lowering drugs, so I can eat whatever I like

Some drugs, such as statins, reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood. However, this does not mean that a person who is taking statins can consume foods containing saturated fats with abandon.

Cholesterol is either consumed in the food that you eat or produced in the liver. Statins block an enzyme in the liver that is necessary for producing cholesterol, reducing overall blood cholesterol levels. However, this means that ingested cholesterol can still make it into the blood.

In short, statins may just be able to override the adverse effects of a poor diet, but a poor diet will increase risk of other independent risk factors for heart disease, such as obesity, hypertension, and diabetes.

Myth 4: Heart disease runs in my family, so I can’t do anything to increase my heart’s health.

If close family members have experienced heart disease, it could mean that you have an increased risk. However, it is not set in stone, and there are a number of ways to reduce the risk, even for people with a genetic susceptibility.

These include eating a healthful diet, stopping smoking, managing blood pressure, and exercising regularly.

It is also worth noting that if heart disease runs in the family, it may not be a sign of genetic susceptibility. Families tend to share lifestyle factors, such as diet and exercise habits, both of which can impact the risk of heart disease.

Actually, you can do many things to help your heart’s health! Moderate exercise a few times a week, eating a healthy diet that’s low in fatty foods and cholesterol, and maintaining a healthy weight are all within your control and can help your heart to be healthier even though you’re at risk for heart disease. Just as importantly, if you’re a smoker, the sooner you stop smoking the better it is for your heart and your overall health.

Myth 5: My heart is beating very fast. This is certainly heart attack.

Your heart rate increases with moderate to strenuous exercise – even after walking briskly up a few flights of stairs! You may also feel as if your heart is “racing” after having too much caffeine. And sometimes people experience palpitations or an irregular heartbeat, called an arrhythmia, once in a while. This is not a cause for concern unless it’s very frequent and affects how well your heart works. If this is the case, you should see a cardiologist for treatment.

Myth 6: Vitamins is likely to prevent heart disease

Although most vitamins, taken at the recommended doses, are unlikely to be bad for heart health, there is no evidence that taking any vitamin supplements can reduce the risk of heart disease. And they certainly cannot replace a healthful diet and regular exercise.

For instance, a systematic review and meta-analysis looked for associations between multivitamin and mineral supplements and a number of cardiovascular outcomes, including coronary heart disease and stroke.

The analysis, published in 2018, took data from 18 existing studies, including 2,019,862 participants.

The authors concluded that multivitamin and mineral “supplementation does not improve cardiovascular outcomes in the general population.”

According to Victoria Taylor, the nutrition lead at the British Heart Foundation: “There are no shortcuts when it comes to nutrition — supplements are not a replacement for healthy food. You might be prescribed a vitamin or mineral supplement by a health professional for other reasons, but we do not recommend people take multivitamins to help prevent heart and circulatory diseases.”

Myth 7: Smoking is my habit, and it’s been for years, there is no point stopping now

This is a myth. Smoking tobacco is a major cause of heart disease. As soon as a person stops smoking, the health benefits begin. The National Institute on Aging write:

“It doesn’t matter how old you are or how long you’ve been smoking, quitting smoking at any time improves your health. When you quit, you are likely to add years to your life, breathe more easily, have more energy, and save money.”

They also explain that you will lower the risk of heart attack and stroke and have better circulation.

Myth 8: Heart disease only affects men, women are left out

This is a myth, as heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women. In 2017 in the U.S., 24.2 per cent of men and 21.8 per cent of women died from heart disease.

However, when strokes, which have similar risk factors, are added in, the figures are even more similar between men and women: 28.7 per cent of men and 28 per cent of women died from heart disease or stroke.

It is a common misconception that only men are affected by heart disease. It is true that men tend to develop cardiovascular disease at an earlier age than women and have a greater risk of coronary heart disease. However, women have a higher risk of stroke.

One paper explains, “Although the incidence of [cardiovascular disease] in women is usually lower than in men, women have a higher mortality and worse prognosis after acute cardiovascular events.”