Part 2 of 4 – Heart Health Myths and Real Facts by Dr Harshad Sanghvi, Medical Director, ICC Lifestyle Program
As part of our “Health and Wellness Awareness – Education with a purpose” series, we plan to publish every Friday in February two Heart Health Myths and real facts to debunk the myths by Dr. Sanghvi, MD, FACC, experienced Cardiologist and ICC’s Lifestyle Program’s Director of Health.
We hope you will read and reflect on the facts surrounding heart disease and more importantly, act on improving your heart health.
This Friday February 10th, we are publishing two additional Myths and real facts behind them.
Myth#3 – I would know if I had high blood pressure because there would be warning signs.
Fact: High blood pressure (Hypertension) is called the “silent killer” because you don’t usually know you have it until you present with any of the complications of uncontrolled high BP like a heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney problems or eye symptoms. So, don’t wait for your body to alert you that there’s a problem. You’ll only discover your blood pressure by using a blood pressure cuff. Early treatment of high blood pressure is critical because, if left untreated, it can cause serious health problems listed above. High blood pressure and high cholesterol are both major silent, but more importantly reversible, risk factors for the heart disease that you can control with lifestyle modifications and drug therapy to impact your risk favorably unlike family history where you have no choice.
Understanding BP readings
Myth#4 – I am too young to worry about heart disease.
Fact: How you live now affects your risk for cardiovascular diseases later in life. As early as childhood and adolescence, plaque can start accumulating in the arteries and later lead to clogged arteries. One in three Americans has cardiovascular disease, but not all of them are senior citizens. It’s true that Heart disease is more common among older adults, but even young and middle-aged people can develop heart problems – especially now that obesity, type 2 diabetes and other risk factors are becoming more common at a younger age.
Also, unfortunately heart disease is much more prevalent and occurs very prematurely in Indians. For example, 25% of the first heart attacks occur before the age of 40 in Indians compared to 5% for Caucasians, and 50% of the first heart attacks occur before the age of 50 in Indians compared to 10% for Caucasians. This is the disease that can largely be prevented with constant healthy lifestyle changes involving diet, exercise, and meditation.
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ICC as a consortium partner of South Asian Heart Center is offering a proven program with documented results to South Asians in New England area. Over 128 community members from New England area have already joined the program and have benefited from it. South Asian Heart Center has been offering this program for the past 12 years and the evidence they have collected makes it clear that besides medical care, these risks and conditions can be improved by Lifestyle changes. To be effective these programs need to be culturally tailored, evidence-based and sustainable. To learn more about this program, benefits and participants testimonials, please visit – https://ouricc.org/lifestyle-program/
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