Debunking 5 Common Myths about Heart Health - Dr Kunal Sinkar
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In India, heart failure is a growing concern, with factors such as the shift to Western lifestyle choices and genetic predisposition contributing to the steady increase in cardiovascular diseases. As a result, the process of raising awareness of heart failure in India requires one to dismiss the common myths and to be proactive about heart health.
Myth 1: Heart failure is a condition that affects the elderly.
This belief is prevalent in the Indian context. Yet thanks to the current trend of living a sedentary lifestyle, along with poor dietary choices, heart-related health issues are increasingly becoming common in the younger generation. The fact is, it can strike anyone at any time of life, and therefore different campaigns need to be put into place.
Myth 2: Genetic Factors Alone Determine Heart Health
Heart disease is not determined by genetic factors alone. A family history of heart problems does increase the risk, but it doesn’t mean that the individual will necessarily develop heart disease.
With the wide genetic diversity and different lifestyles in India, a number of factors contribute to cardiovascular health, and public education needs to emphasize the importance of heart-healthy habits for everyone, regardless of family history. This will promote prevention across the whole population.
Myth 3: Only Obesity Puts You at Risk
The notion that only the obese are at risk for heart failure is another myth. There is a significant contribution from various factors such as unhealthy dietary habits, high cholesterol, diabetes, and hypertension, which are either independent of obesity or can occur in individuals of normal body weight.
It’s important to debunk this myth, as it will prevent everyone from understanding the gamut of risk factors that manifest in our population.
Myth 4: Heart Failure Always Comes with Noticeable Symptoms
Another prevalent myth is that heart failure always comes with telling symptoms. Because such symptoms can be so subtle or not present at all, regular health check-ups are a must. With access to healthcare differing so vastly across the country, it is just as essential to streamline and encourage routine screenings to ensure early detection and intervention.
Myth 5: Traditional Medicine Alone Can Cure Heart Failure
Heart failure isn't curable by traditional medicine alone. Although India has a deep and rich tradition of alternative medicine, with the right support and treatment, Ayurvedic practices and others can complement conventional methods, not replace them.
Integrating these practices with contemporary, evidence-based medical approaches ensures a broader, wholistic and more culturally sensitive route to overall heart health.
Navigating Heart Failure Awareness in India
Heart health, and patient education efforts demand addressing issues concerning language, culture and the specific needs of different regions within the country. In addition to tailoring awareness campaigns dealing with the matter specifically, collaborative efforts among healthcare professionals, community leaders and policymakers are fundamental to creating and implementing awareness initiatives that are both effective and culturally relevant.
However, the activities focused on heart health and wellness should be integrated into school curricula. By doing so, we can begin to promote behaviours in youth that we can be sustained throughout life, Especially because heart failure does occur in younger people as well.
Addressing access to care, mobile health units and community health camps in India’s megacities and beyond can help bridge deep gaps in care, and reach those in both urban and rural areas to begin to address concerns associated with the country’s growing incidence of heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases.
In short, dispelling myths surrounding heart failure and navigating awareness in India requires a focused and culturally sensitive effort. Promoting preventive measures and creating community centric, “culturally congruent care,” are key.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are of the author and not of Medical Dialogues. The Editorial/Content team of Medical Dialogues has not contributed to the writing/editing/packaging of this article.
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