Doctor debunks 3 common heart health myths

CTV Your Morning speaks with family physician Dr. Vera Kohut about three common heart disease myths and what steps to take to improve your heart health.

Heart disease is the second most common cause of death in Canada, and one doctor warns that there are a number of myths associated with cardiovascular health that people should be aware of.

Family Physician Dr. Vera Kohut joined CTV Your Morning on Friday to debunk three of them.

1. ‘Diabetes won’t harm my heart’

Kohut said that people with diabetes are at higher risk of having a heart attack or stroke, and while taking medication to control the condition may reduce or delay the risk of developing heart diseases, it won’t eliminate it.

“Diabetes causes changes in and damages blood vessels. When we have diabetes, our blood sugars aren’t always consistently the same, and it is the changes that occur in cells and in tissues that actually persist, even when the glucose levels come back to being normal,” she said.

Diabetes also promotes the production of small cholesterol particles that can penetrate arteries and help to form plaque there over time, explained Kohut.

“The bottom line is: you have the condition, and if you add some of the other risk factors that people may have with diabetes, like high-blood pressure or maybe their cholesterol is up, or if they smoke or have excess weight, those are all added risks,” she said.

2. Runs in my family, nothing I can do

While a family history of heart disease does typically mean a person is at higher risk of contracting it themselves, “it’s not a doomsday count,” Kohut said.

The first step, she said, is to talk to a health-care provider and give them as much information as possible regarding the family’s history with heart conditions.

“And then there’s lifestyle. Remember, what you do actually matters, so get regular exercise,” said Kohut.

She recommends getting at least 150 minutes of cardiovascular exercise per week as well as 20 to 30 minutes of weekly weight training, both of which will improve heart resilience.

“Then finally, what you eat matters,” Kohut said. “Stay away from things that are high in fat, high in sugar or high in salt.”

She added that following one of the Mediterranean or portfolio diets is advised.

“It is not the end, and it’s not doomsday,” said Kohut.

3. ‘Leg pain is not related to heart health’

While chest pain is a well-known indicator that something may be impacting a person’s heart health, leg pain is also something to watch for, according to Kohut.

“Some leg pains are related to cardiac conditions, and particularly something called peripheral vascular disease (PVD),” she said.

“PVD is associated with cardiac conditions and increased risk for heart attacks and strokes, and it is a condition where the blood vessels in your legs become narrow because of plaque, and what ends up happening is the circulation reduces.”

The disease leads to pain in the legs, as well as legs that can feel cool, numb or tingly, while also potentially not healing properly, Kohut said.

“(It’s) very much more associated with people who actually smoke,” she noted, “and so if you’re having these symptoms, even if they are new, they need to be looked at.”