Debunking Heart Disease Myths

Heart disease is a serious condition that affects millions of people each and every year. In fact, heart disease is the number one cause of death for both men and women in the United States. For this reason, it is important to have accurate and actionable information about it, as well as shed ourselves of any potentially harmful disinformation.

• Heart disease isn’t a concern for women: The sad truth is that heart disease affects more women than men. It’s the leading cause of death for both genders, making it essential to see your doctor for regular screenings, tests, and checkups to manage your health and protect yourself. The arterial plaque that causes heart disease develops slowly over years, so being proactive and catching problems early on can save your life.
• It’s too late to quit smoking: The best time to quit is today. Stopping your smoking habit will reduce your risk of suffering a heart attack by 50% after just one year. And after ten years, your risk is the same as that of a non-smoker. The toxins in cigarette smoke is hard on not just your heart, it takes an exacting toll on your entire body. Quitting smoking is one, if not the most, healthy choice you can make.
• High blood pressure is normal: While a slight increase in blood pressure from what it was when you were twenty might be normal, having blood pressure high enough to qualify as hypertension is never normal.
• Chest pain is the only symptom: Heart disease has a whole host of symptoms, and just because you’re not experiencing one doesn’t mean you’re not having it. Jaw pain, arm pain, back pain, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, fatigue are all symptoms of heart disease too, and you could experience one of them, all of them, or any number in between.