Some myths related to cardiology busted

Myth: I am healthy. I do regular exercises, I don’t smoke, I have healthy food habits can’t get heart disease

Truth: Unfortunately even if you have a healthy lifestyle you can get heart diseases- heart diseases have multifactorial causes. Genetics play a major role. Of course you must adopt a healthy food habit and do exercises- otherwise the extent of your disease will be worse. But in spite of it, if you get diagnosed with a heart disease, there is no point denying it. Listen to your doctor, get treated.

Myth: I suffer from Chest discomfort occasionally, especially after carrying loads.Must be gas.

Truth: Maybe you are suffering from gastric acid reflux (GERD). But it’s also likely you are suffering from chronic stable angina or acute coronary syndrome-the chest pain that one experiences due to blocked arteries of the heart. Especially if the pain occurs after some exertion like climbing stairs or carrying a heavy load, or even walking hurriedly on plain ground, you can be dealing with a heart disease. Don’t blame everything on gas. Gas is not as omniscient as we think it is.

Myth: My cardiologist said I need a pacemaker for my heart block. My life will never be the same.

Truth: Your life will be exactly the same after implantation of a pacemaker. You will be able to use electronic and electrical appliances, you can swim, you can go close to switchboards, you can even get an MRI done as most pacemakers today are MRI compatible. Pacemaker is just a silent, life saving friend. Your life can go on as usual.

Myth: I am suffering from lower jaw pain after walking hurriedly or climbing stairs. I need to visit my dentist.

Truth: Maybe. But definitely you need to visit your cardiologist. Why?Jaw pain is often a symptom of coronary artery disease popularly known as blocked artery disease of the heart. This is because the heart and the lower jaw are supplied with the same vagus nerve.

Myth: I am getting dizzy at times. I even lost consciousness once. Must be my cervical spondylitis .

Truth: Dizzy spells are not one of the common symptoms of spondylitis . They may occur. But dizziness is most frequently caused by diseases of the inner ear, brain, heart and sometimes autonomic neuropathy. Loss of consciousness never occurs due to spondylitis. If you have a blackout or a fall, it can be due to an electrical block in your heart, a treatable but a serious condition. Visit your cardiologist and get diagnosed.

Myth: Yesterday I was having a headache. I checked my blood pressure was 150 by 80. Now I need to have medicines for high BP.

Truth: One episode of high blood pressure need not be treated by medications. Blood pressure often rises in response to pain, after exertion, during emotions- This is a normal response. It's important to monitor the blood pressure, make a chart, look for a pattern and only if the blood pressure remains high after three or more occasions, we need to treat it. Starting blood pressure medication to one reading of elevated BP is a knee jerk reaction and should be discouraged.

Myth: I am 29. The chest pain I experience during my gym hours can't be due to my heart.

Truth: Unfortunately you can have heart disease even at a young age. We are increasingly getting young patients with major heart attacks in the emergency especially in the post COVID era. Possibly a stressful life, air pollution, fast food and eat outs are to blame. In India heart attack in young is more common than in the West. Also congenital heart diseases and rheumatic heart disease manifest more commonly in the young. So don't neglect the chest pain or excessive breathlessness you may be experiencing after exertion. Consult your cardiologist.

Myth: My cardiologist says Yoga, Pranayama can be beneficial for the heart. Sounds a little far fetched.

Truth: New robust researches are revealing a scientific basis to the oriental practices of Yoga, meditation, pranayama- these practices are healing heart diseases like – high blood pressure, inappropriate sinus tachycardia, atrial fibrillation. Researches are ongoing whether these practices can reduce coronary artery disease burden. The recommendations of Yoga, meditation and Pranayama have entered the mainstream guidelines and international textbooks. So yes, popping a pill is easy but one can side by side take control of our hearts by these practices.

By busting these common myths related to cardiology, I hope to empower you with accurate information and encourage you to take control of your heart health. Remember, knowledge is power, and when it comes to your heart, it's essential to separate fact from fiction.