Quiz: Heart Fact or Heart Myth?

That’s not quite right…

A heart attack is not the same as a cardiac arrest. 

A heart attack occurs when one of the coronary arteries becomes blocked. Because of the blockage, the heart muscle can’t get its vital blood supply. During a heart attack a person remains conscious and keeps breathing. 

A cardiac arrest is when a person’s heart stops pumping blood around their body. They stop breathing and lose consciousness almost immediately. Unless action is taken within minutes, a cardiac arrest can be fatal.  

A heart attack and a cardiac arrest are both emergency situations. Call 111 immediately.

Correct! A heart attack is not the same as a cardiac arrest. 

A heart attack occurs when one of the coronary arteries becomes blocked. Because of the blockage, the heart muscle can’t get its vital blood supply. During a heart attack a person remains conscious and keeps breathing. 

A cardiac arrest is when a person’s heart stops pumping blood around their body. They stop breathing and lose consciousness almost immediately. Unless action is taken within minutes, a cardiac arrest can be fatal.  

A heart attack and a cardiac arrest are both emergency situations. Call 111 immediately.

Correct! Broken heart syndrome, also called takotsubo cardiomyopathy, happens when part of the heart muscle suddenly becomes weakened or “stunned”, causing symptoms like a heart attack. It’s often as a result of severe emotional or physical stress.

That’s not quite right...

Broken heart syndrome is a real condition and is also called takotsubo cardiomyopathy. It happens when part of the heart muscle suddenly becomes weakened or “stunned”, causing symptoms like a heart attack. It’s often as a result of severe emotional or physical stress.

Correct! The spike in heart attacks around the build-up to Christmas is likely linked to the increased emotional stress and activity during this time.

That’s not quite right... 

The risk of suffering a heart attack is highest around 10pm on Christmas Eve. The spike in heart attacks around the build-up to Christmas is likely linked to the increased emotional stress and activity during this time.

That’s not quite right... 

The risk of suffering a heart attack is highest around 10pm on Christmas Eve. The spike in heart attacks around the build-up to Christmas is likely linked to the increased emotional stress and activity during this time.

That’s not quite right... 

The risk of suffering a heart attack is highest around 10pm on Christmas Eve. The spike in heart attacks around the build-up to Christmas is likely linked to the increased emotional stress and activity during this time.

Correct! The first heart pacemaker had to be wheeled around on carts and plugged into a wall mains socket outlet. They were portable only in name since they could only go as far as the nearest electrical outlet!

That’s not quite right… 

The first pacemakers had to be wheeled around on carts and plugged into a wall mains socket outlet. They were portable only in name since they could only go as far as the nearest electrical outlet!

That’s not quite right…

An octopus actually has three hearts. Two peripheral hearts pump blood through the gills, where it picks up oxygen. A central heart then circulates the oxygenated blood to the rest of the body to provide energy for the organs and muscles.

Correct! An octopus actually has three hearts. Two peripheral hearts pump blood through the gills, where it picks up oxygen. A central heart then circulates the oxygenated blood to the rest of the body to provide energy for the organs and muscles.

That’s not quite right… 

While flavonoids (a type of antioxidant) in dark chocolate have been shown to have heart health benefits, the extra fat and sugar that chocolate contains means that any type of chocolate is best enjoyed in moderation. There are other foods, in particular fruit and vegetables, which also give us the antioxidants without the added saturated fat and sugar that chocolate contains.

Correct! While flavonoids (a type of antioxidant) in dark chocolate have been shown to have heart health benefits, the extra fat and sugar that chocolate contains means that any type of chocolate is best enjoyed in moderation. There are other foods, in particular fruit and vegetables, which also give us the antioxidants without the added saturated fat and sugar that chocolate contains.

That’s not quite right… 

The term heart failure can be frightening, but it doesn’t mean that your heart is going to stop working. Having heart failure means that your heart is not pumping blood around your body, or relaxing to refill, as well as it should. It happens when your heart muscle has been damaged.

Correct! The term heart failure can be frightening, but it doesn’t mean that your heart is going to stop working. Having heart failure means that your heart is not pumping blood around your body, or relaxing to refill, as well as it should. It happens when your heart muscle has been damaged.

That’s not quite right… 

Heart disease can affect anyone, anywhere, at any time. More than one in 23 adults in New Zealand are currently living with heart disease, and this ranges in both causes and age affected.

Correct! Heart disease can affect anyone, anywhere, at any time. More than one in 23 adults in New Zealand are currently living with heart disease, and this ranges in both causes and age affected.

Correct! Chest pain or discomfort is the most common sign of a heart attack, but it’s important to remember that symptoms can vary, especially for women. A heart attack can occur when you feel pain, discomfort, tightness, heaviness or pressure in any of these areas – shoulders, arms, jaw, neck or back – not just the chest. You may also feel dizzy, extreme fatigue, short of breath, sweaty or sick.  

If you have any of these symptoms you may be having a heart attack. Call 111 immediately.

That’s not quite right… 

Chest pain or discomfort is the most common sign of a heart attack, but it’s important to remember that symptoms can vary, especially for women. A heart attack can occur when you feel pain, discomfort, tightness, heaviness or pressure in any of these areas – shoulders, arms, jaw, neck or back – not just the chest. You may also feel dizzy, extreme fatigue, short of breath, sweaty or sick.  

If you have any of these symptoms you may be having a heart attack. Call 111 immediately.

That’s not quite right… 

While using small amounts of butter every now and then shouldn’t be a problem for most people, the clear, unequivocal evidence remains that there are far healthier fats for our heart. It is better for our hearts to replace saturated fats with unsaturated fats. Making the simple swap from butter to an oil-based spread – or even using avocado, nut butters or hummus – is one way to do this.

Correct! While using small amounts of butter every now and then shouldn’t be a problem for most people, the clear, unequivocal evidence remains that there are far healthier fats for our heart. It is better for our hearts to replace saturated fats with unsaturated fats. Making the simple swap from butter to an oil-based spread – or even using avocado, nut butters or hummus – is one way to do this.