Top 10 Myths About Heart Disease

The term “heart disease” (also called cardiovascular disease) describes a range of conditions and diseases that affect the health of your heart. Heart disease encompasses blood vessel disease, such as coronary artery disease, congenital (present at birth) heart defects, heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias) and heart valve disease.

While heart disease is very common, many aspects are misunderstood. The following are some of the more common misconceptions about the No. 1 killer of men and women in the United States.

Myth #1: If heart disease runs in your family, there’s nothing you can do to prevent it from happening to you.

Fact: Although people with a family history of heart disease are at higher risk, you can reduce your risk by staying active, eating healthy, maintaining a healthy weight, quitting smoking and monitoring and managing your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar.

Myth #2: Heart attack, cardiac arrest and heart failure are all the same thing.

Fact: While these terms are often used interchangeably, they describe different conditions. During a heart attack, blood flow to the heart is obstructed, usually by a blood clot or plaque build-up in the arteries. During cardiac arrest, a person’s heart stops beating due to electrical problems in the heart, and they lose consciousness. With heart failure, the heart keeps working but fails to circulate blood properly, depriving the body of essential blood and oxygen. Heart attack and cardiac arrest happen suddenly and are medical emergencies requiring immediate medical attention. Heart failure occurs gradually over time.

Myth #3: Heart attack is the most common type of heart disease.

Fact: Coronary artery disease (also called coronary heart disease) is the most common form of heart disease and occurs when the arteries supplying blood to the heart narrow or harden from the buildup of plaque. Coronary artery disease is the most common cause of heart attack (also called myocardial infarction) in both men and women.

Myth #4: You would know it if you had heart disease.

Fact: Heart disease develops over time and can be “silent,” often going undiagnosed until a person experiences signs or symptoms of a heart attack.

Myth #5: A heart attack always causes chest pain.

Fact: While some heart attacks cause chest pain or discomfort, symptoms can be more subtle and can vary greatly among men and women.

Myth #6: Only seniors get heart disease.

Fact: Heart disease affects people of all ages. While your risk of developing heart disease increases as you age, plaque can begin accumulating in your arteries early in life as a result of smoking, poor eating habits and lack of physical activity.

Myth #7: Only certain groups of people develop heart disease.

Fact: Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control, about half of all Americans have at least one of three key risk factors for heart disease—high blood pressure, high cholesterol or smoking. Diabetes and obesity are also key risk factors.

Myth #8: There are warning signs for high blood pressure.

Fact: High blood pressure is sometimes called the “silent killer” because it usually occurs without warning. Left untreated, however, it can lead to serious health problems, including damage to your heart and coronary arteries, heart attack, heart failure, stroke and kidney damage. It is important to monitor your blood pressure and to see your doctor regularly for preventive checkups and screenings.

Myth #9: Young people don’t need to worry about getting their cholesterol checked.

Fact: The American Heart Association recommends that all adults ages 20 or older have their cholesterol and other traditional risk factors checked every four to six years. People with cardiovascular disease and those at elevated risk may need to be checked more often. Ask your primary care doctor what tests are right for you.

Myth #10: If you are born with a heart defect, it will be diagnosed when you are an infant.

Fact: Congenital heart defects, which are heart defects present at birth, may be diagnosed before birth, right after birth, during childhood or adulthood, or never diagnosed at all. Symptoms in adults may include shortness of breath, poor tolerance for exercise and swelling of the hands, ankles or feet.