7 false facts about heart health that are thought to be true

Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for approximately 1/3 of all global deaths today. It is known that this rate is higher in our country. Approximately 20 million people under the age of 70 die annually due to cardiovascular diseases. Another disturbing fact is that the number of heart attacks at young ages has increased. So much so that 1 in every 5 heart attacks in our country occurs in people under the age of 45. Cardiology Specialist Assoc. Dr. Alper Karakuş pointed out that unscientific information puts heart health at risk, explained 7 incorrect information that is thought to be true about heart health, and made important suggestions and warnings.

1. I smoked for years, even if I quit smoking, I cannot reduce the risk of heart disease: FALSE!
TRUTH: Contrary to popular belief, the benefits of quitting smoking begin as soon as you quit, regardless of how long you smoked or how many cigarettes you smoke per day. No matter how old you are, your risk of heart attack decreases by 50 percent just one year after quitting smoking. With a single action, that is, quitting smoking, you reduce the risk of heart attack by half. 10 years after quitting smoking, you are completely free from the negative effects of smoking on the heart.

2. I have heart disease. The flu vaccine does not provide complete protection. This is why I don’t need to get the vaccine: WRONG!
TRUTH: According to the World Health Organization data, an average of 650 thousand people die every year around the world due to flu or flu-related conditions. Studies show that 90 percent of flu vaccines are effective. The main purpose of the flu vaccine is not to prevent catching the flu, but to ensure that the patient gets over this situation more mildly, without lower respiratory tract infection and without requiring hospitalization, even if the patient does catch the disease. Flu can be severe and lead to fatal consequences, especially in heart patients. Therefore, patients with serious cardiovascular disease or heart failure should receive a flu vaccine every year.

3. I have high blood pressure, but I have no complaints. So my high blood pressure is not harming me: FALSE!
TRUTH: High blood pressure disease is described as the ‘silent enemy’ because it usually does not show symptoms until the advanced stages. You may never experience symptoms of high blood pressure, so you should not wait for a complaint to occur in your body. Early treatment of high blood pressure is very important. High blood pressure, even if it does not cause any complaints; It can cause heart attack, stroke, kidney damage and many other serious health problems, and when you are diagnosed it may be too late.

4. I have heart disease. I can use Himalayan salt or diet salt instead of regular salt: WRONG!
TRUTH: The World Health Organization recommends that daily salt consumption should not exceed 5 grams, that is, one heaping teaspoon. While the average daily salt consumption in Turkey was approximately 18 grams in the early 2000s, this number could be reduced to 15 grams with practices in recent years. As a society, we need to consume less salt for heart health. Since dietary salts mostly contain potassium chloride, uncontrolled consumption of these salts may cause rhythm disturbances and undesirable consequences in some patients. For this reason, heart patients should not use dietary salt unless recommended by a doctor. Himalayan salt, on the other hand, contains 96-99 percent sodium chloride, as in ordinary salt, and its claimed benefits have no scientific basis.

5. Coughing violently during a heart attack can save your life: FALSE!
TRUTH: During some sudden abnormal heartbeats, conscious and sensitive people can cough forcefully and repeatedly to normalize the heart rhythm. This has led to the misinterpretation that severe coughing saves lives during a heart attack. If you think you are having a heart attack, you should first call 112 for emergency medical help.

6. Red wine is good for the heart. I should drink a glass every day for my heart health: WRONG!
TRUTH: Resveratrols contained in red wine have positive effects on increasing HDL, known as good cholesterol, and reducing LDL, known as bad cholesterol, due to its antioxidant properties. However, current information has not found a direct link between resveratrol levels and heart disease rates. What’s more, resveratrols aren’t just in red wine; It is also found in high concentration in red grapes, peanuts and pineapple.

7. The Omega 3 fatty acid supplement I take every day is good for my heart: FALSE!
TRUTH: Contrary to popular belief, many scientific studies conducted in the last 20 years show that Omega-3 fatty acid supplements (fish oil capsules) have no effect on preventing heart attacks or related problems in healthy people. Again, the results of large studies in recent years show that more definitive data is needed for the use of these supplements in people who already have cardiovascular disease.