Heart attacks or heart disease. These are scary words. You might be thinking my family has heart disease. You might have chest pain when you climb a flight of stairs. The common picture we have about heart disease or heart attacks, is an older person clutching their chest in pain.
Is this always the case?
The heart is a powerful muscle that pumps blood to every part of your body, giving it the oxygen and nutrients it needs. But if it doesn’t get what it needs to work properly (like healthy food, enough exercise, and a balanced lifestyle), problems can arise. Unfortunately, there are many myths about heart disease that people continue to believe. These myths can make us overlook serious risks or ignore helpful advice.
Let’s look at ten of the most common myths related to heart disease and heart attacks.
Myth 1: heart disease only happens to older people.
A lot of teens and younger adults think that heart disease is an “old person’s disease.” But that’s not entirely true. While it is correct that your risk of heart disease often goes up as you age, the beginnings of heart problems can start much earlier in life. For example, behaviors like smoking, an unhealthy diet, and not getting enough physical activity can start damaging blood vessels or building up plaque in your arteries while you’re still young.
Some risk factors for younger individuals are obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Just sitting at home playing video games all day instead of going out does not help overall health. This can’t be good!. Here are some numbers you might be interested in:
Young Heart Attacks: According to the American Heart Association, roughly 4–10% of heart attacks happen to people under the age of 45. This number might seem small, but it clearly shows that younger adults can be at risk.
Risk Factors in Teens: Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that about 1 in 5 teenagers (ages 12–19) in the United States has at least one abnormal cholesterol level High cholesterol is a big risk factor for heart disease and can develop in early life.
Myth 2: Only men need to worry about heart attacks.
It’s true that for a long time, most medical studies focused on heart disease in men. That’s why many people believe that heart attacks and other heart problems mostly affect males. But heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women worldwide.
One reason this myth continues is that heart attack symptoms in women sometimes appear differently. Women might have more subtle signs like shortness of breath, extreme tiredness, nausea, or back or jaw pain rather than the “classic” chest pain. Because these symptoms can be less obvious, some women don’t realize they’re having a heart-related issue.
Heart disease can affect everyone—no matter who you are. Knowing the symptoms and risks is important for everyone’s health.
Myth 3: If I’m young and athletic, I can’t have heart disease.
It’s great to be young, active, and feel healthy. However, even if you’re a superstar athlete, you could still have hidden heart problems. Sometimes, certain heart conditions don’t show clear symptoms until something extreme happens, like when an athlete suddenly collapses during a game. We have all read or seen these sad stories on various media outlets. Why does this happen? Sudden cardiac attacks can be caused by a number of conditions, including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, coronary artery abnormalities, and commotio cordis. These conditions can cause sudden cardiac arrest, which is different from a typical heart attack, but still very serious and life-threatening.
Myth 4: Heart attacks always come with obvious chest pain.
When people think of a heart attack, they often imagine intense chest pain that feels like an elephant is sitting on your chest. While chest pain is indeed a major symptom, not all heart attacks present themselves that way. In some cases, people might feel discomfort in their upper body, arms, neck, jaw, or even their stomach area. They might also feel short of breath, nauseous, dizzy, or break out in a cold sweat.
Because the symptoms can differ from person to person, not everyone realizes they’re having a heart attack. Some people might not even have major chest pain at all—especially women. That’s why it’s so important to pay attention to any unusual signs your body gives you. If something feels off, don’t just brush it aside. Seek medical help as soon as possible.
Myth 5: Heart disease is only caused by being overweight.
It’s true that being overweight can increase your chances of heart disease. But it’s not the only factor. Heart disease can be influenced by a combination of genetics, lifestyle choices, environment, and other health conditions. Smoking, stress, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes are also important risk factors, and they aren’t always connected to body weight.
A person who is thin can still have high cholesterol or high blood pressure if they eat unhealthy foods all the time and never exercise. In the same way, someone who is overweight but exercises regularly and eats a balanced diet might have a healthy heart. Overall, you shouldn’t judge someone’s heart health just by how they look.
Myth 6: If heart disease runs in my family, there’s nothing I can do about it.
It’s true that genetics do play a role in determining how likely you are to develop heart disease. If close relatives have heart disease, you may be at higher risk. However, it’s not a guarantee that you will have heart problems, and it certainly doesn’t mean you’re helpless.
Lifestyle choices—like avoiding smoking, exercising regularly, eating healthy foods, and keeping your stress levels in check—can do a lot to protect your heart. Early and regular check-ups can also help you catch warning signs, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, before they become dangerous. Just because your family has a history of heart disease doesn’t mean you’re doomed. It just means you should be extra aware of your risk factors and take steps to lower them.
Myth 7: Heart disease always has obvious warning signs.
Sometimes, heart disease can be a “silent killer.” You might have high blood pressure or build-up in your arteries for years without feeling anything unusual. If you never get tested, you could be heading toward a heart attack or stroke without even knowing.
This is another reason why regular doctor check-ups are important. Simple tests—like measuring your blood pressure or checking your cholesterol—can uncover problems early on. If your doctor finds that you have high blood pressure, they can help you manage it with lifestyle changes or medication before you develop more serious problems.
The body is great at adjusting to different conditions, so it’s possible to have serious heart problems without feeling obvious signs. Don’t wait till it is too late to take care of your body. 
Myth 8: Once I have a stent or bypass surgery, my heart disease is fixed.
If someone has a blockage in an artery, doctors might place a stent (a tiny tube that helps keep the artery open) or perform bypass surgery (where they use a healthy blood vessel to create a detour around the blocked area). These procedures can definitely help improve blood flow to the heart. But they don’t “cure” heart disease.
Heart disease is often the result of a long-term process in which plaque builds up in your arteries. Fixing a single blocked area doesn’t stop the overall process. If a person goes back to an unhealthy lifestyle—like eating lots of junk food, smoking, and not exercising—new blockages can still form. That’s why doctors stress the importance of continuing medication, regular check-ups, and a healthy lifestyle—even after stents or bypass surgery. These procedures are lifesaving, but the real key to long-term success is changing the habits that caused the blockages in the first place.
Myth 9: Heart disease doesn’t affect mental health.
It might seem like heart disease only affects your physical body, but your mental health can also play a huge role. Stress, anxiety, and depression can make it harder to maintain healthy habits, such as exercising or eating well. If you’re stressed all the time, you might have higher blood pressure or overeat as a way to cope.
Moreover, being diagnosed with any serious illness can affect how you feel emotionally. People with heart disease can feel afraid or depressed about the future, which can make them less likely to stay active, take their medications, or go to follow-up appointments. On the flip side, learning to manage stress and improving your mental well-being can help your heart stay healthier. Activities like mindfulness, getting enough sleep, and talking to friends or a therapist can all help reduce stress levels and improve your overall health.
Myth 10: I don’t need to worry about my heart until later in life.
This myth is particularly common among young people, including teenagers. You might think, “I’m only 16—why should I worry about heart disease now?” But habits form early in life, and the choices you make today can affect your heart tomorrow. Eating a diet high in junk food, sugary drinks, and processed snacks can contribute to long-term health issues. Meanwhile, smoking or vaping can damage your lungs and blood vessels, raising the risk of heart disease down the line.
On the other hand, healthy habits—like regular exercise, balanced meals, and not smoking—can protect your heart for years to come. It’s much easier to maintain good habits you start early than to try to fix everything later. Your teenage years are a perfect time to develop a routine of physical activity and nutritious eating.
How to Keep Your Heart Healthy
Now that we’ve busted some of the biggest myths about heart disease, you might be wondering: “What should I do to keep my heart healthy?” Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Stay Active: Aim for at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day, whether it’s sports, dancing, biking, or even brisk walking. Exercise helps your heart grow stronger and lowers your risk of heart disease.
- Eat Balanced Meals: Your heart loves foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, fish, and nuts. Try to avoid eating too much junk food or sugary snacks and drinks.
- Avoid Smoking and Vaping: Cigarettes and e-cigarettes can damage your lungs and blood vessels, which puts a strain on your heart. If you don’t smoke or vape, don’t start. If you do, ask for help to quit as soon as possible.
- Get Regular Check-Ups: Even if you feel fine, regular doctor visits help catch problems early, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Early treatment can make a huge difference.
- Manage Stress: Find healthy ways to deal with stress—like talking with friends, exercising, practicing mindfulness, or playing a musical instrument. High stress can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms and raise your risk of heart problems.
- Watch for Warning Signs: If you notice unusual symptoms—like persistent chest pain, extreme fatigue, heart palpitations, or shortness of breath—tell an adult or doctor. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Here’s check out the video on YouTube!
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/high-blood-pressure/index.html
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4560449/
