The health of the heart is of the utmost importance for everybody. Heart diseases can affect a person of any age, even people who eat right and today it has become quite easy to be mistaken or wrong about heart conditions, simply because of the abundance of misconceptions and confusions when it comes to this organ. Heart conditions are dangerous but even more so if one starts to put their trust in false beliefs and assumptions. However, you can always work on improving your knowledge by learning how to differentiate between facts and fiction.
Myths About Heart Conditions
A lot of common myths are believed to be facts when it comes to matters associated with the heart. Regardless of whether one is a patient of a heart condition or not, such confusions can prove to be fatal. So, here is some perspective and some clearer insights into several heart conditions and what you may know wrong about them:
1. Myth: You Need To Take It Slow If You Have A Heart Disease
Fact: It is actually the opposite. People who have heart diseases should not have a sedentary lifestyle. This is because blood clots could form in their legs and negatively impact their entire health. Movement and physical activity help in blood flow improvement and help the heart become stronger. But one should first consult with their doctor to know about the types of exercises that would be best for them and their condition.
2. Myth: Men Need To Worry More About Heart Diseases
Fact: Although heart diseases are considered to be the greater evil for men, women too are not immune to them. Heart diseases are the chief cause of death for women over 65 years of age, which is the same as it is for men. So, regardless of an individual being a woman or a man, they should follow the advice of their doctor and ensure they go for regular heart examinations and screenings.
3. Myth: You Need To Reduce Your Fat Intake If You Suffer From A Heart Disease
Fact: Your diet should include low levels of saturated fat and should completely avoid trans-fats. However, not all types of fat need to be avoided. In fact, saturated fats present in vegetable oils, lean meat, salmon, nuts, etc. are actually good for your heart if taken twice a week.
4. Myth: Heart Failure And Heart Attack Are The Same Thing
Fact: They are not. A heart attack cuts off the blood supply to the heart and can happen due to blood clots or plaque build-up. But, in heart failure, the heart fails to pump enough blood that the body needs. A heart attack may in some cases lead to heart failure, but they are separate conditions.
5. Myth: If Your Family Has Been Susceptible To Heart Diseases, So Will You
Fact: If you have family members who have a history of heart conditions, it is not necessary that you have the same fate. All this means that you have a higher risk of suffering from a heart condition. Here, there is something you can do. You can decrease the health risk dramatically by better managing your cholesterol, following a healthy diet, controlling your blood pressure and diabetes, and by avoiding smoking.
6. Myth: Leg Pain is Probably Just a Sign Of Ageing
Fact: Having pain in the muscles of the leg may not always be a sign that you are ageing. It can also be a sign that you have peripheral artery disease. This disease is caused due to blocked arteries and can cause a stroke or heart attack.
7. Myth: You Can Easily Feel an Irregular Heartbeat Caused By Atrial Fibrillation
Fact: It is not easy. Sometimes, you may not even notice the symptoms of the condition at all. Or you may just feel shortness of breath or slight dizziness. The heart test known as the electrocardiogram (ECG) is the best way to let your doctor know whether or not you have this condition.
8. Myth: You Cannot Tell if You Are Having a Heart Failure
Fact: It is possible. There are a few initial signs like feeling tired, wheezing or coughing when you lay down, swollen feet or ankles, loss of appetite, nausea, and confusion, that are quite easy to spot. If you notice more than one of these initial signs, you should consult your doctor at the earliest.
Symptoms of Different Heart Conditions: Know Them Better
There are many types of heart diseases. The confusion lies in the fact that many of them have several signs and symptoms common among them. That is why contacting the doctor and getting the right diagnosis is crucial. It is also very important to be aware of some of the most common heart conditions and their common symptoms.
• Chest pain: This symptom can indicate any heart condition including atrial fibrillation, heart attack, heart failure, coronary artery disease, or even arrhythmia.
• The discomfort that travels to the back: If the pain spreads towards the jaw, throat, arm, or back, it may indicate a heart attack.
• Recurrent lung infections and cyanosis: These are chiefly symptoms of congenital heart defects in children.
• Cough with white sputum: May lead to heart failure.
• Swelling in the lower extremities: May be caused by the heart muscle disease called cardiomyopathy or heart failure.
• Sudden weight gain: Gaining two to three pounds suddenly in a day may point towards heart failure.
• Palpitations and Dizziness: A rapid, fluttering heartbeat or light-headedness may indicate atrial fibrillation, arrhythmia, coronary artery disease, heart failure, or heart valve disease.
• Choking feeling: An oncoming heart attack can cause indigestion or a feeling of fullness.
• Fever and chest pain: In heart conditions, chest pain is a common symptom. However, if it is a sharp pain that originates from the centre of the chest and radiates to the neck and is accompanied by a fever and coughing, then it indicates pericarditis.
Whenever the body suffers from heart conditions, it tends to give signs and symptoms to warn you. However, because of a casual approach to health or something as plain as ignorance, one may fail to notice the symptoms or may even incorrectly interpret them. In the end, this can lead to an even more serious situation that may even turn fatal, especially when an organ like the heart is involved. So, it is best that you know how to identify correct symptoms and seek professional consultation when you feel it is required.
Want to book a health check-up appointment, please click here
To know more about the Precautions for patients suffering from heart ailments amid COVID19, watch the below-mentioned video by Dr. Rajeev Kumar Rajput, from Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi.
