February is American Heart Awareness Month. There’s typically a lot of hype around this month, and rightfully so. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in American adults. There’s plenty of facts about heart disease, but myths abound, too. Read further to debunk some commonly held beliefs that may not be so true after all.
Cigarettes
Myth #1: If I have heart disease and smoked cigarettes, the damage is done and there’s no point in quitting.
Fact: Quitting smoking has profound health effects on your heart health and so many other aspects of health. In fact, the benefits are immediate! And after only one year of being tobacco-free, the risk of a myocardial infarction event (AKA heart attack) is reduced by up to 50%. After 10 years of tobacco-free living, it’s as if you’ve never smoked.
Avoid eating fat
Myth #2: If I have heart disease, I need to avoid eating fat
Fact: Trans fats and hydrogenated oils (including partially hydrogenated oils) SHOULD be avoided at all costs. These can be found in commercial food products – think packaged foods like pastries, cookies, fried foods, stick margarine, etc. However, unsaturated fats including nuts, seeds, salmon and other fatty fish varieties, olive oil, etc. are beneficial to heart health. They should be eaten in conjunction with a diet full of fruits and vegetables, lean meats and dairy, and moderate whole grain consumption.
Heart attack
Myth #3: I should take it easy if I have heart disease or have had a heart attack
Fact: Just the opposite! The heart is a muscle, and it must be exercised to get stronger. Harvard Medical College provides a great overview of heart health and exercise. Work with a trusted health care team if you have concerns about your cardiovascular fitness. There are health professionals who work with those with heart concerns and cardiac rehabilitation.
Stents and surgery
Myth #4: I can just get stents or bypass surgery to fix my heart when I need it
Fact: Bypass and stents help with symptom relief, but they will not fix the culprit of why these interventions were necessary in the first place – atherosclerosis (AKA hardening and narrowing of arteries). The only “fix” for heart disease is lifestyle management combined with proper medication management by a trusted team of healthcare professionals. Additional beneficial lifestyle factors include avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol consumption, eating a balanced diet, and getting regular exercise.
Symptoms
Myth #5: If I don’t have any symptoms of heart disease, I don’t have heart disease and can’t have a heart attack.
Fact: There’s a reason heart disease is called a silent killer. Though commonly depicted in movies as someone falling to the floor with horrific chest pain, the reality is over 60% of people who die from a heart attack don’t have any prior symptoms. Heart attacks occur from a combination of lifestyle factors and lack of positive lifestyle management. Heart disease leading to a heart attack can be lurking within the body for years or even decades relatively unnoticed. That’s why regular exams and blood work with your healthcare provider are an essential piece to heart disease assessment and prevention.
All in all, heart disease can feel scary to navigate when there’s a sea of information to navigate and plenty of myths and misconceptions. But with a trusted health care team and reputable sources of information, the sea becomes less murky and there’s clear information ahead!