Health Myths
When it comes to your health, some easy-to-fall for beliefs just aren’t true. Here are two that we got from the researchers at Woman’s Day magazine.
- Myth #1: It’s normal to always be tired. We all have days when we feel exhausted, but if you’re dragging for longer than four weeks, it’s time to visit your doctor. That advice comes from Dr. Michelle Lentner Foye, an internist in Bethel, Connecticut. She says the same goes if you have a week or two of feeling so tired that you can’t keep up with your kids or perform at work. Fatigue can be a symptom of anemia, thyroid problems, sleep apnea – even heart disease. So get checked. Even if it turns out to be nothing serious, your doctor will be able to prescribe medication or offer drug-free suggestions to help you feel more rested.
- Myth #2: If you’re having a heart attack, you’ll feel chest pain. Both men and women tend to experience shooting chest pain that radiates to the left arm, and pressure that feels like an elephant sitting on your chest, but that’s not always the case. Dr. Jennifer Mieres is a cardiologist at NYU School of Medicine. She says that some people – women in particular – may have shortness of breath that seems to come out of nowhere, or pain in the neck, arms, jaw or back – usually on the left side - but no chest pain. Sweating, feeling anxious or extremely tired, and color draining from your face can also be signs that you’re having a heart attack. Mieres says never be embarrassed to go to an emergency room and say, “I think I’m having a heart attack.” Especially if you have a family history of heart disease or other risk factors, such as high cholesterol. Don’t hesitate to call 911. She says there’s a window of 6 to 12 hours during which getting help can save your heart muscle. After that, the damage may be permanent.
