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Common Heart Health Myths Debunked

Over the past few years, we learned a great deal of information about the causes of heart attacks and how it can be prevented. But unless you closely follow the Singapore medical news, there’s a chance that you’ll have some mistaken beliefs about the risk factors, or the heart disease itself. Here, we’ve listed down some of the commonly known heart disease myths, as well as the truth behind them.

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MYTH 1: It’s best to take things easy if you’re diagnosed with a heart disease.

FACT: For majority of people with a heart disease, living a sedentary lifestyle is a bad idea. Being inactive often leads to blood clots in the leg area, and a decline in one’s overall physical condition. Engaging in physical activities like sports or exercise helps in improving the blood flow towards the internal organs and the brain, strengthening the heart muscle, and enhancing overall health and wellbeing. Simply consult your heart specialist Singapore as to what kind of exercise routines are right for you, and how much exercise you should perform every day.

MYTH 2: If you take drugs that lower cholesterol, it’s possible to eat anything.

FACT: The cholesterol in your bloodstream has two sources – your liver and certain foods you eat. Taking statin aids in lowering the cholesterol levels produced by your liver, which causes your cholesterol blood levels to drop and lessen the quantity of cholesterol deposits the arteries. If you’re thinking of taking statin, then limit your cholesterol and saturated fat intake so the drug will work, and to prevent your cholesterol levels from rising further.

MYTH 3: It’s normal to have a high blood pressure as you age.

FACT: Our blood pressure is inclined to rise as we get older, but the fact that this trend is seen as ‘normal’ doesn’t mean that it’s good for everyone. If you are interested in seeing a heart doctor, Harley Street has the best cardiologists in Singapore to diagnose your health issues. High blood pressure happens because our artery walls stiffen as we age – and these stiff arteries are what forces our heart to pump even harder in order to meet our body’s demand for blood. This vicious cycle is what damages our coronary arteries and invites fat into the artery walls, thus increasing the risk of having a heart attack and stroke.

To keep this from happening, make it a habit to regularly get your blood pressure examined. If it’s above 140/90 millimetres of mercury, do ask your heart specialist Singapore about what you can do to bring it to normal.

MYTH 4: Diabetes won’t contribute to any heart disease if you’re taking diabetes medication.

FACT: Maintaining a normal blood sugar level is crucial for preventing microvascular complications, such as erectile dysfunction, loss of vision, kidney disease, and nerve damage. However, control of blood sugar levels has lesser effect on your large blood vessels as these vessels only benefit from lowering your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Still, it’s important that you take your diabetes medicines to lower your risk of microvascular complications. Also, do everything that you can to maintain your cholesterol and blood pressure levels to reduce your risk of developing heart diseases and suffering from stroke.

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MYTH 5: Taking supplements and vitamins lower your risk of developing a heart disease.

FACT: While it’s true that beta carotene, and antioxidants in vitamins E and C factor into lowering one’s heart disease risk, clinical trials of vitamin supplementation failed to confirm its said benefit. Singapore health experts state that no scientific evidence supports the use of the said vitamins to prevent or treat cardiovascular diseases.

MYTH 6: It’s impossible to reduce your heart disease risk if you’ve smoked for several years now.

FACT: The benefits of giving up smoking start by the minute you quit, regardless of your age, how long you’ve smoked, or how many cigarettes you’ve smoked each day. Just a year after quitting, your heart attack risk will drop by 50 percent; in 10 years’ time, it’ll be the same as if you never smoked. Seek out professional help to make your resolve to quit smoking successful. Ask for stop-smoking aids like nicotine gum, patches or stop-smoking meditation to help you deal with your withdrawal symptoms.

MYTH 7: Heart disease is only a man’s problem.

FACT: Since 1984, more women have been reported to have died from heart disease, making it the leading cause of death among women over age 65. By retirement age, 70 percent of men and women become more prone to cardiovascular diseases like heart failure, hypertension, stroke and coronary artery disease. This risk continues to rise and by the age of 80, about 83 percent of men and 87 percent of women are already affected.

So whether you’re a man or a woman, make it a habit to regularly visit your heart specialist Singapore and to undergo certain heart screening Singapore tests. Other than that, you should also have your blood pressure and cholesterol levels checked to further monitor your heart and overall health.

MYTH 8: Experiencing a small heart attack is no big deal at all.

FACT: Having a small heart attack isn’t really a big deal in terms of how well your heart still functions. In fact, it may even pass unnoticed. However, a small heart attack can be a huge warning sign that you have a serious heart problem, and your next heart attack might kill you. Fortunately, you can minimize your heart attack by quitting smoking, keeping your weight, blood pressure and cholesterol level in the normal range, and visiting your heart doctor regularly to undergo certain heart screening Singapore test and ensure that no risk factors are elevated.
Replacing these mistaken beliefs with truths about heart health and cardiovascular diseases will surely help you and your doctor plan the best path to lowering your risk of any heart disease and achieving a healthy heart.

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