Top ten myths on cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the world’s number one killer, resulting in 18.6 million deaths a year, and it affects the heart or blood vessels. It’s frequently linked to fatty deposits in the arteries and an elevated risk of blood clots.

Coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular illness, rheumatic heart disease, and other heart and blood vessel problems are all classified as CVDs. Heart attacks and strokes account for more than four out of every five CVD deaths, with one-third of these deaths occurring before the age of 70.

In conjunction with World Heart Day 2021, the conversation is about how to improve awareness, prevent and manage your heart health.

Dr. Ika Faizura, Consultant Cardiologist at KPJ Ampang Puteri, discusses the top ten myths about cardiovascular disease which are:

Age – the young and old can develop heart problems especially obesity, type 2 diabetes and other risk factors become more prevalent at a younger age.
Warning signs of high blood pressure.
Heart attack if there is chest pain. Not necessarily true as subtle symptoms like shortness of breath, nausea, lightheaded, discomfort on your arms, jaws, neck or back are signs to a heart attack.
Diabetes will not threaten my heart.
Genetic.
Do not need to check cholesterol level until middle age.
Heart failure means the heart stops beating.
Leg pains a sign of aging, nothing to do with the heart.
Arrhythmia, an abnormal or irregular heartbeat means heart attack.
Abstain from exercise after a heart attack.