About the size of a closed fist, the human heart isn’t one of the biggest structures in the human body. The liver, lungs, stomach, and intestines all take up more space than the heart, yet the heart remains one of the most important organs in the human body. It’s what we all consider when we’re in love.

Heart disease happens to be the leading cause of death in the United States, which means that many of us seem to have numerous misunderstandings about the heart. Here are some common heart health myths.

1. You’d know if you had high blood pressure or cholesterol.

Many people are under the assumption that, if they had high blood pressure or high cholesterol, they would feel it. As it turns out, the only way to really know—before it’s too late—is to get a blood or cholesterol test. Your cardiologist can use cardiology equipment like a stress test to further examine your heart health as well. Risk factors are actually silent and have no obvious symptoms. The “normal” blood pressure is 120/80, but your doctor will be able to determine if your blood pressure is healthy for you, weather it’s close to that number or not.

Most people with hypertension don’t know they have it until the headaches or renal failure, at which point the high blood pressure is harder to control, even with all the used operating room equipment your doctor has. High levels of cholesterol are the same. You can actually be perfectly thin and in great physical shape and still have high cholesterol.

2. Aspirin and omega-3 fatty acids are good for the heart.

For the most part, this is true. Aspirin and omega-3s are generally good for the heart by preventing blood clots and inflammation, thus reducing the risk of heart attack.

However, aspirin and omega-3 fatty acids can cause various problems. Aspirin can exacerbate stomach problems, not to mention the fact that some people are allergic to it. The greatest potential danger caused by these blood thinners is excessive bleeding. Depending on your age and preexisting conditions, regularly taking aspirin or omega-3 supplements could lead to worse problems. Consult your doctor before taking any kind of supplement or medication.

3. Heart attacks are easy to identify.

In movies, heart attacks are dramatic and sudden. It’s true that pain in the left arm and left side of the chest indicate a heart attack, but only sometimes. Many people suffering a heart attack simply wave it off as fatigue or heartburn.

Heart attack symptoms can differ from person to person and only identified using EKG supplies. Women in particular can experience heart attacks differently. They won’t suffer chest pains but will instead feel back, jaw, stomach, or neck pains accompanied by nausea and overwhelming fatigue.

4. Only middle-aged adults and beyond have to worry about heart problems.

As you get older, you are more susceptible to heart disease or heart attack, but even young people need to take care of their hearts. Teenagers can potentially develop coronary artery disease, and people as young as 20 have been known to suffer from heart attacks.

Parents should encourage kids to live heart-healthy lifestyles that include exercise and well-balanced meals.

5. Fit people don’t have to worry about heart problems.

While it’s true that people who exercise are less likely to develop heart problems, remember that heart health is also affected by genetics. A family history of heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, or hypertension still puts you at risk for the same. Make sure you see your doctor regularly to monitor your heart health.