Debunking the Myths About Heart Disease

February for many is a short but brutal month when winter storms continue to prevail and there is little to look forward to, except for Valentine’s Day.  And love it or leave it, this holiday has everyone seeing red, with hearts to spare.  That’s why February is also American Heart Month; an opportunity to raise awareness about heart disease, it’s causes, warning signs and new treatment options.

The Oldish has covered many of the bases regarding heart disease but we thought it might be interesting to take a closer look at some of the myths about heart disease and stroke that have been debunked.   Here are a few common myths that many people, especially older adults, may still believe hold true about cardiovascular disease. 

Heart Disease Myths – Old Ideas That May Increase Risk for a Heart Attack

1. People with heart disease should avoid physical activity.  While it’s important to follow doctor’s instructions about exercise, walking helps strengthen the heart, improve blood flow to the brain and prevent blood clots in the legs. 
2. Mostly older men have heart disease.  Over the past 30 years, more women have died each year from heart disease than men.   Women should get regular physical examinations that check blood pressure and cholesterol.
3. You should avoid all fats if you have heart disease.  Healthy fats such omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon can reduce the risk for heart disease.  Other healthy fats include low-fat dairy, nuts, and olive oil.
4. Quitting smoking after years won’t reduce risk for heart disease.  Even if you have smoked for a lifetime, one year after quitting your risk for a heart attack drops by 50 per cent.  After 10 year, the risk is the same as a person who never smoked.
5. Surgery can fix your heart permanently.  While bypass or angioplasty surgery will improve quality of life and relieve pain, without lifestyle changes that include a healthy diet, regular exercise and stopping smoking as well as controlling high blood pressure or cholesterol, arteries will again become blocked by fatty plaques.

Source:  Harvard Medical School

Just over a decade ago, menopausal women were frequently prescribed hormone replacement therapy which was thought to offer some protection against heart disease.  More recent, large scale research and systematic reviews (published in the Cochrane Library) have found that HRT offers no evidence of protection against heart disease but may actually increase the risk for stroke and blood clots.

To learn more about the prevention, treatment and myths surrounding cardiovascular disease follow this link to the American Heart Association website.