Heart Disease Myths Busted
Six Common Myths You Should Know To Protect Your Heart
Dr. Tim Johnson exposed heart disease myths on "Good Morning America" today.
February is National Heart Month, a time to raise awareness about heart disease, which remains the leading cause of death for American men and women.
Ask yourself if you're taking care of your heart, and do not be fooled by these common myths.
Myth 1
If I exercise and maintain a healthy lifestyle, I will not get heart disease. -- False
Eating healthy and exercising is a great start, but does not guarantee health.
Risk of heart disease increases with several uncontrollable factors: You are more at risk if you are a man, if you are older and if you have a genetic history of diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure.
It is important to follow up with your doctor at least once a year to test your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, even in your 20s.
If you are predisposed to high blood pressure or high cholesterol, you may need to take medication to prevent heart disease.
Myth 2
I won't have to worry about heart disease until I'm much older. -- False
Coronary artery disease can start to develop in our teenage years, and many of the bad habits we develop as young adults persist as we get older.
Children who are obese, have high blood pressure and a family history of heart disease are at higher risk.
Although rare, some children (usually due to genetic differences) can have unusually high cholesterol and thus an increased risk for heart disease.
Myth 3
A little bit of alcohol is good for the heart. -- True
Recent studies show a small amount of alcohol every day, such as one glass of wine or a little bit more, can actually be beneficial for the heart.
There is debate as to what type of alcohol is best. There are benefits associated with red wine, but other types may be beneficial as well.
Too much alcohol can pose problems though. Binge drinking on weekends, for example, can be very damaging to the heart. Alcohol in large amounts has a toxic effect on the heart muscle cells, and can lead to heart failure.
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