Is your heart healthy? Do you even know for sure? Let’s clear up some common heart health myths that could be keeping you from being as healthy as possible!
Heart health is a big deal these days. Everywhere you look, whether it’s on TV, in magazines, or even on the radio, there’s a flood of information on how to keep your heart in top shape. But with so much advice out there, it’s easy to get confused.
People often feel overwhelmed by all the heart health information available and can misunderstand the facts.
This confusion leads to heart health myths. Believing these myths could be putting your health at risk.
To help you out, here are the truths behind some popular heart health myths:
A lot of people think there must be physical symptoms if you have hypertension, which is just the medical term for high blood pressure. They believe if they don’t feel anxious, have a persistent headache, flush in the face, or feel nervous, they must not have high blood pressure. Sadly, that’s incorrect.
High blood pressure rarely shows any symptoms. Because of this, heart disease—which often stems from high blood pressure—is known as the silent killer. This nickname comes from the fact that many people don’t realize they have heart disease until it’s too late.
Even without symptoms, you shouldn’t just wait for something bad to happen. Here are a few steps you can take:
People with diabetes have a higher chance of getting heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, diabetics are 2-4 times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke than those without diabetes. Unfortunately, many people think that if they manage their diabetes well, they are no longer at risk.
The truth is, even with good diabetes control, you still face a higher risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and high cholesterol.
Managing your diabetes can help reduce your risks but won’t completely eliminate them. Here are some things you can do to lower your risk if you have diabetes:
Weight affects cholesterol levels, but it’s not the only thing that does. Factors like family history, ethnicity, stress, diet, sleep quality, and exercise also play roles in your cholesterol levels.
When it comes to managing your cholesterol, there are factors you can’t change, such as family history and ethnicity, but there are factors you can control. For instance:
Now that you know the truth about heart health, you can take steps to make healthy lifestyle changes. By working closely with your doctor, you can lower your risk of developing heart disease or having a heart attack or stroke.
