Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States and the risk of heart disease increases with age and other health issues. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce your risk! Some risk factors are uncontrollable, like age, race, and family health history, but there are some health risk factors that can be managed.

There are lots of myths when it comes to your heart, and believing them can be dangerous to your health. Rumor and myths get started in the same way… at some point in time, someone stated their opinion as a fact and other people believed it and “spread the word.” Don’t believe everything you hear, especially when it comes to your health. Below are 8 common myths about heart attack prevention and the TRUTH about their tales.

Women can experience heart attack symptoms that are so subtle they can be easily misinterpreted (by the victim and medical staff) for other issues like indigestion, stress or fatigue. Most women don’t seek treatment for a heart attack because they don’t experience the classic warning signs (shortness of breath, tightening of the chest, and pain) says the American Heart Association’s 9th Scientific Forum on Quality care and Outcomes Research (QCOR) in Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke. When women experience heart attack symptoms, they may not seek medical support because they either self-diagnosed their symptoms as something else, decide not to use healthcare because of other preferences or their healthcare providers misunderstands their symptoms as well.

It is very important to understand heart disease, the risk factors for a heart attack and to recognize the signs of a heart attack. Heart disease kills more women each year than the next six leading causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer.