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Arquivos Brasileiros de CardiologiaResumos das Próximas Publicações
Ano 2001Myths About Cardiovascular DiseasesRuy Laurenti, Cassia Maria Buchalla
English version by Stela Maris C. Gandour
This study aims to present the myths about cardiovascular diseases, particularly those about ischemic heart diseases. Among the many widespread false conceptions about cardiovascular diseases, we can cite the following: ischemic heart diseases prevail among rich people, they affect males almost exclusively, and they do not constitute a public health problem in developing countries. These ideas, on which our study is based, have been discussed by Martin 1, who is responsible for the area of cardiovascular diseases at the World Health Organization. We tried to present data that highlight the real situation of this group of diseases in our country and, therefore, to destroy false myths. A great amount of scientific information reaches the public via the lay press that rapidly popularizes medical terms, practices, and behaviors. The influence of the lay press is great and especially well explored in regard to concepts and novelties in the area of health. Print and other communication media should be used more effectively by public health agencies because an interested public thirsty for health information exists. Even though the findings of numerous epidemiological, clinical, and anatomicopathological studies, stressing the most varied characteristics of cardiovascular diseases, have been published in recent decades, a few false conceptions and notions persist about cardiovascular diseases, mainly about ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular diseases, also generically known as cerebral stroke. These false notions were analyzed in a synthetic but interesting and didactic manner by Martin1, who is responsible for the area of cardiovascular diseases at the World Health Organization, in a study titled "To end the myths about heart diseases." The author emphasizes that to prevent heart diseases, public health initiatives should be fomented, which can only be achieved with true notions guiding preventive attitudes. The author begins her article as follows: "Mistaken concepts about cardiovascular diseases – heart attacks, cerebral strokes, and hypertension – have persisted for years, resulting in myths. Most of these myths were based on concrete observations in the initial phase of the current world epidemic, and they are deeply rooted in the minds of those responsible for health, professional, and public policies. As these mistaken concepts reflect negatively on resources offered and on prevention and control measures for cardiovascular diseases, we need to definitively eliminate them". These points are interesting and pertinent because in professional activities, either teaching or clinical, mention of mistaken concepts about cardiovascular diseases by health professionals, including physicians, is frequent. The author of the previously cited article presents 6 myths in regard to cardiovascular diseases, commenting on each of them and stating that we need to eliminate them. Because of the importance and current nature of this topic, we found it interesting to compare that study to the existing reality in Brazil. The author agreed with the use of her idea as a base for our study with data from our country. Therefore, our study aims to discuss the myths related to cardiovascular diseases prevailing in Brazil.
Mailing address: Ruy Laurenti – Rua Edmundo Scanapicco, 102 – 05516-070 – São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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