Six heart myths that could cost lives: Cardiologist Zahed Ullah Khan explains the facts

Myth 1: Young people don’t get heart disease

Fact: Contrary to popular belief, heart disease is not exclusive to older adults. While age increases risk significantly, young people are increasingly affected by cardiovascular problems. Family history of early heart disease serves as a major risk factor, and some individuals are born with congenital heart defects.

The rising rates of obesity, Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure among younger populations are leading to earlier onset of the disease. Stimulants like cocaine or amphetamines can trigger heart attacks even in otherwise healthy young individuals, while inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus increase cardiovascular risk at younger ages.

Myth 2: Heart disease is only a man’s problem.

Fact: Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women worldwide. For decades, this incorrect perception has led to underdiagnosis and undertreatment in women.

Women often experience atypical heart attack symptoms, including nausea, back or jaw pain and profound fatigue, rather than the classic crushing chest pain. These different presentations can lead to critical delays in seeking medical help.

Specific conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome and menopause, along with pregnancy-related complications such as preeclampsia, increase a woman’s lifetime risk of developing heart disease.

Myth 3: A normal ECG means your heart is healthy

Fact: While an ECG is a valuable diagnostic tool, it has significant limitations. The test records the heart’s electrical activity for only a few seconds, meaning it can appear normal despite serious underlying conditions.

A normal ECG does not rule out blocked arteries, as significant blockages often don’t show up on a resting ECG. The test also cannot detect soft plaque, which can rupture and cause a heart attack. Further testing, such as stress tests or CT coronary angiograms, is often necessary for individuals with risk factors.

Myth 4: Going to the gym or lifting weights can trigger a heart attack

Fact: For the vast majority of people, regular exercise lowers the long-term risk of heart attack. However, for a very small subset of individuals with undiagnosed, pre-existing heart conditions such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or severe coronary artery disease, the sudden, intense demand of exercise can act as a trigger.

In these rare cases, exercise serves as the ‘last straw’ rather than the actual cause. The long-term benefits of exercise for heart health are overwhelming, and the risk of a cardiac event during exercise remains extremely low for healthy individuals.

Myth 5: Pink Himalayan salt is better for your heart than regular salt

Fact: Pink Himalayan salt is not better for heart health than regular table salt. Both consist of over 98 per cent sodium chloride, and high sodium intake is linked to elevated blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart disease.

The trace minerals present in pink salt exist in minuscule amounts that are nutritionally irrelevant. No scientific evidence supports claims that pink Himalayan salt provides any cardiovascular benefits compared to regular table salt.

Myth 6: A heart attack and cardiac arrest are the same

Fact: A heart attack is a ‘plumbing problem’ that occurs when a blocked artery prevents oxygen-rich blood from reaching the heart muscle. The person is usually conscious and experiencing symptoms.

In contrast, cardiac arrest is an ‘electrical problem’ that occurs when the heart’s electrical system malfunctions, causing the heart to stop beating properly. This halts blood flow to vital organs, causing the person to collapse and become unresponsive. While a heart attack can trigger cardiac arrest, many cardiac arrests occur due to other primary electrical problems of the heart.

Dr Zahed Ullah Khan, MD (Internal Medicine), DNB (Cardiology), Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, Olive Hospital, Nanal Nagar, Hyderabad