It is a myth that cardiovascular is a disease of mainly old men. Both heart diseases and paralysis are leading causes of death in women and far more frequent than any form of cancer.

Though the vast majority of heart deaths are in middle aged and elderly women and it is not a rare even in young women. In US alone 35500 women die before the age of 65. This was stated by Dr. KK Aggarwal, President, Heart Care Foundation of India while delivering a lecture in a conference organized by Indian Menopausal Society, Jabalpur Branch.

It is also a myth, said Dr. Aggarwal that women don’t need to worry about cardiovascular disease before the menopause. In fact, the risk of heart disease in women starts before menopause.  Hormone replacement therapy is also as dangerous to the heart provided it is taken under supervision and is only estrogen based.   It is also a myth that Vitamin supplementation is a key to prevent cardiovascular diseases in women. In fact, artificial vitamins may be harmful and should not be taken.

 Another myth is that most women don’t experience chest pain during a heart attack. It is true that most women present with shortness of breath or fatigue but the commonest symptom is still the chest pain.

One need to exercise continuously to get the benefit is also not true. The fact is that even small efforts of walking are as beneficial as prolonged walking.