| Poll Exposes 'Seven Deadly Myths' About Heart Disease |
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PRINT EDITION Linda Lewis was close to completing the Grouse Grind -- the popular but challenging hike up Grouse Mountain outside Vancouver -- when she felt a crushing pain in her chest. She was cold and clammy but after a brief rest carried on. "As a cardiologist, I'm really dismayed by these numbers," said Beth Abramson, a spokeswoman for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. "Anyone suffering from sudden chest pain should get emergency medical care as quickly as possible. You can't afford to wait: Time is heart muscle." The poll exposes what the foundation calls "seven deadly myths" about heart disease, and reveals that two-thirds of Canadians are "seriously misinformed" about the risk factors for heart disease. Only one-third of those surveyed could name one of the three principal risk factors: high blood pressure, elevated blood cholesterol and family history. "This is very concerning. It tells us a lot more education needs to be done," Dr. Abramson said. The poll, conducted by Ipsos-Reid, reveals that in addition to their laissez-faire attitude about getting treated, a large number of Canadians believe that plaque buildup in arteries begins only in adulthood, that only high-strung people are at risk of heart attack, that considerable weight gain is required to damage the heart and that heart and stroke risk is determined almost solely by lifestyle. Based on those beliefs, the Heart and Stroke Foundation gave Canadians failing grades on their heart-health report card. The only myth that those surveyed rejected in large numbers was the notion that exercise could counteract the damage done by smoking a pack of cigarettes daily. Ms. Lewis, who manages the employee-wellness program at Telus Canada (and, yes, she appreciates the irony of her situation) said that in her case, she knew the theory but had trouble personalizing it. She was not overweight, did not smoke, ate well and exercised regularly, so she could not imagine having heart problems, despite having high blood pressure and being under a lot of stress. Ms. Lewis said this attitude of disbelief is typical of women, one-third of whom will develop cardiovascular disease. As part of her cardiac rehabilitation program, she is learning to set priorities on her activities and reduce the stress in her life considerably, and is far more aware of warning signs. Robert Nolan, a Heart and Stroke Foundation researcher specializing in human behaviour, said that given all the demands on people, it is easy to understand how the heart-health message can be blurred, even for people such as Ms. Lewis who are concerned about their health and conscious of their lifestyle choices. "When we're bombarded with so many health messages, it can be a daunting task to prioritize the information that we will take action on," he said. "Myths can often become top of mind because they're repeated time and time again. So the longer they're around, the more we tend to believe them." The pollster surveyed 1,250 adult Canadians; the results are considered accurate within 4.2 per cent, 19 times out of 20. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Canada, killing almost 80,000 people annually. It is also the leading cause of disability and hospitalization, and the numbers are increasing due to the aging of the population and poor lifestyle choices. Notably, 22 per cent of Canadians smoke, 48 per cent of adults are overweight and 55 per cent are not physically active enough to benefit their heart. Seven deadly myths After 1,250 Canadians were polled to see if they held common myths about heart disease, it was found that almost two-thirds of them have some serious misconceptions. ...............................................Canadians who... Myth............................................Accept...Reject -*Only tense, irritable, people have to worry about developing high blood pressure 68% 32% -*At least 75% of heart and stroke risk is determined by lifestyle 55% 45% -*You have to gain a lot of weight before your health risk increases 58% 42% -*Plaque leading to heart disease and stroke begins in adulthood 75% 25% -*Exercise counteracts effects of smoking up to a pack a day 20% 80% -*Damage to heart tissue caused by a heart attack can be reversed by diet and exercise 89% 11% -*It is not necessary to sek immediate emergency care fo chest discomfort/pain 82% 18% SOURCE: HEART AND STROKE FOUNDATION |
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