Health – Heart health myths busted

Can you feel it, when your blood pressure is high? Is sea salt better than table salt? Here are six myths about heart health busted for you.

MYTH #1:If you don’t feel any symptoms, then you don’t need your blood pressure checked. While 1 in 5 Kiwis has high blood pressure, about a third of people are undiagnosed. This is because most people do not feel any symptoms. High blood pressure is known as “the silent killer” because it can lead to heart attacks and strokes without the person being aware they even have a problem.

MYTH #2: Heart failure means your heart has stopped beating. 

If you are diagnosed with heart failure, this means that your heart is having trouble pumping your blood through your body. This can cause you to suffer from things such as shortness of breath or swelling in your feet or ankles. This is a condition that can be managed with the help of your GP.

MYTH #3: Sea salt is healthier than table salt. 

All salts are made from sodium chloride. The sodium in the salt can cause your body to retain fluid. This increases the volume of your blood and thus can increase your blood pressure.

MYTH #4: If your doctor checks your blood pressure, then you don’t need to check it from home.

Blood pressure can fluctuate, so recording your blood pressure readings at home can provide your GP with valuable information to figure out whether you actually have high blood pressure and if you do, whether your medication is working for you.

MYTH #5 If you have high cholesterol you shouldn’t eat eggs. 

Current research shows that eggs only have a small effect on blood cholesterol levels when eaten as part of a balanced diet. It seems actually how they are cooked (eg. fried in oil is not good) and what they are served with (eg. bacon) is more of a problem. The Heart Foundation NZ recommends eating six eggs per week as part of a healthy heart diet.

MYTH #6 If you have heart disease, eat as little fat as possible.

While this is true for low saturated, partially hydrogenated and trans-fats, other fats such as unsaturated fats in vegetable oils like avocado and olive oil are actually good for your heart. Fish Oil contains Omega 3s which have been shown to lower the risk of heart disease.