5 Common Heart Disease Myths You Shouldn’t Believe
Myth 1: Pain is the only warning sign of a heart attack
Fact: Heart attacks commonly present as chest pain, but not always. Older people with diabetes may not even experience chest pain during a heart attack. They may experience severe shortness of breath or sweating due to neuropathy. Sometimes people experience pain. in the neck, shoulder or forearm.
Myth 2: Heart disease runs in my family so I can’t do anything to improve my heart health
Fact: You can reduce your chances of developing heart disease regardless of your genetic inheritance. There are modifiable risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, diet, smoking, and a stressful lifestyle that must be identified and controlled to prevent or delay the onset of heart disease.
Myth 3: Heart failure means the heart stops beating
Fact: Heart failure is a term used to describe reduced pumping of the heart. Nowadays, there is a stock of medications and devices to treat heart failure and improve outcomes.
Myth 4: As long as I take my medication, diabetes will not affect my heart
Fact: When starting treatment for patients with diabetes or high blood pressure, doctors plan for specific goals (HBA1C less than 7, maintaining blood pressure 140/90) that must be achieved to minimize long-term complications caused by these disorders, so besides taking regular medications and following changes Lifestyle, concerned patients should consult his doctor periodically.
Myth 5: I shouldn’t exercise after a heart attack
Fact: It is forbidden to exercise for patients with acute heart attack until the healing process of diseased muscles is completed, which usually takes about six weeks.
Doctors recommend a gradual progression to symptom-limited exercise for all healthy patients, six weeks after cardiac arrest.