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Why Cardiac Arrest Survival Odds are Better in Public Places

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011

Cardiac arrest is when the heart ceases to function. A heart attack, which is the blockage of a vessel supplying a heart muscle, can cause the heart to stop. But nearly 80% of cardiac arrests are not caused by a heart attack. Instead, they are what EMT’s call “shockable arrests.” That is when the heart’s electrical signals have gone haywire, but can be reset by the delivery of a powerful electric shock. Most people die within minutes from cardiac arrest; the survival rate is an abysmal eight percent. But an individual’s chance to recover is significantly higher if the arrest occurs in public. That’s because people trained in CPR, meaning cardiopulmonary resuscitation, are more likely to be around. Better yet the little machine designed to provide that critical electric shock could be nearby, too. Minutes and even seconds are critical in rescuing somebody from cardiac arrest.

“Shockable Arrests”

Electrical signals from the brain tell the heart when to beat. Similar to the action of a timing belt, these signals control which parts of the heart does its job and when. For a variety of reasons, the heart goes into what’s called ventricular tachycardia or VT. This is when the heart goes into hyper-drive, beating from 120 to over 200 times a minute. A normal heart rate at rest is 60 to 80 beats per minute. The lower heart chambers, or ventricles, begin to beat blood out faster than they can fill. If VT continues, the heart can then advance to deadly VF, or ventricle fibrillation. VF is when the ventricles can only twitch uselessly, stopping the blood flow to the brain. This is the point of no return. Unless electric shock is applied within less than five minutes, asystole, better known as flat line, follows. Usually after then even electric shock has no effect because the heart has died. If cardiac arrest happens at home, chances are slim that machine and those trained people are available.

Automated External Defibrillator

That little machine is a godsend to people who have gone into VF. Designed to be used by anybody able to follow a few brief directions, the automated external defibrillator, or AED, delivers that critical shock to restore normal rhythm. Leads are simply and easily attached to the chest. They then inform the machine if indeed the heart has arrested and it it’s because of VF. If it determines the need for shock it can be delivered immediately. The shock actually stops the heart completely. It then rests momentarily before it hopefully resumes beating at a more normal rhythm. The AED can confirm this.

These life-saving machines are found in more and more locations every day. They’re in many places; airports, office buildings, restaurants, courthouses, schools and even bars are stocking them. There’s good reason for this. More than a third of people who suffer cardiac arrest in public and treated with an AED survived. That’s much better odds than the national average of only eight percent.

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Posted in Cardiac Arrest, CPR, Defibrillator News, Defibrillator Training, Defibrillators, Heart Disease, Survival Stories

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Defibrillators in Public Places Increase Survival Rates

Thursday, May 19th, 2011

Many years ago, if a person had a heart attack and was in a public place, the results could be devastating if emergency medical treatment was not provided in time. Whether the person would make it or not was simply a coin toss up, depending on how severe the heart attack was.

Luckily, many public places now have portable defibrillators available in case of a medical emergency. This has drastically decreased the number of deaths that occur in public places. Malls, community centers, airports, and other large places where large numbers of people pass through are now making defibrillators available for public use. Finding a defibrillator in a public place is now as common as finding a fire extinguisher.

Automatic External Defibrillators have long been used by medical professionals to shock a person’s heart and re-set the heart rhythm back to a normal rate. Commonly referred to as AEDs, defibrillators are portable devices that deliver a shock to the heart, and are made to recognize abnormal heart rhythms.

Receiving training and certification to use a defibrillator is easy to obtain, and the American Heart Association offers training along with CPR certification. Using a defibrillator is actually easier than performing CPR, so medical experts as well as the American Heart Association actually recommend that people use a defibrillator before trying CPR. Performing CPR can immediately help regain a normal blood pressure and flow, but it’s even more important to restore a normal heart rate through the use of a defibrillator. Since these are so easy to use, it is extremely wise for public places to carry a defibrillator. Not only are they simple to use and lightweight, they also have extremely high success rates.

Now commonly found in public places, the average person can now save a life in places like schools, malls, and airports. Almost anyone can operate a defibrillator, as all it requires is that you turn it on by moving the lid, and then follow the voice instructions that come directly from the defibrillator. Each step is instructed by the defibrillator, telling the person what to do, including when it is time to stop and start CPR. In the event of a medical emergency, one should always call 9-1-1, but using a defibrillator can help save a life while waiting on medical responders to arrive.

The American Heart Association states that 294,851 of 9-1-1 calls are made each year for cardiac arrest. If more people know how to use a defibrillator, they could be saving a life. A person who is experiencing some sort of heart failure has a better chance of surviving when they are revived within the first four minutes, meaning that having access to a defibrillator in a public place increases the chance of survival more than anything else that could be done.

Although medical responders try to reach medical emergencies quickly, public places that carry portable defibrillators are helping to insure that a life has a better chance of being saved.

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Recovering From a Heart Attack

Tuesday, May 17th, 2011

Recovering from a heart attack may take two or three months. You may only be in the hospital for a week, perhaps even less, but it may take a while before you can return to all the activities you were involved with before your attack.

Many hospitals and other medical facilities will provide rehabilitation programs to help educate you on steps you need to take in recovering from your heart attack. The chances of a future attack for some are lessened by a third by implanting a pager-sized defibrillator which will check for abnormal beats and zap the heart back to normal if necessary. Former Vice President Dick Cheney has had just such a defibrillator in him.

The cardiac rehabilitation programs provide exercise programs to many heart attack victims to aid in recovery and prevent future attacks. The programs will also show you how to lessen the stress in your life, teach you how to recognize if you might need further treatments, the proper diet for you, about sexual activity, and additional issues a heart attack victim might face. Such programs may also give you the chance to talk about with other heart attack victims about what you are feeling and how your life has been affected.

All of these issues will be important in your recovering from a heart attack. How long your personal recovery will take will depend on what your daily activities were previously, how severe your attack was, and how your body has responded. Keeping stress out of your life will quicken the pace of your recovery from the heart attack. Avoiding extremely hot or cold temperatures will hasten your recovery as well.

Doctors say heart attack victims need to take a look at their lives. Of course, smokers should quit smoking. It is important to begin an exercise program recommended by your doctor. You may have to make changes to your diet. Some people may even need to consider whether they need to make changes in their jobs. You will need to take all medications you doctor has recommended at the prescribed times. If changes are not made, there will be a greater chance of a future attack.

Additional procedures may be necessary to avoid future attacks. These can include additional medications you are not yet taking, bypass surgery, and percutaneous coronary interventions.

The use of a defibrillator may also lessen your chances of another heart attack. While 250,000 people have a heart attack annually while not in a hospital, and more than 90 percent of such people die, a defibrillator may prevent many such deaths. Some doctors estimate two to three million people could be helped by a defibrillator.

While a defibrillator may cost $20,000, and the total cost of a night’s hospital stay, surgery to install the device, and receiving a defibrillator can cost $40,000 to $60,000, higher demand could drive costs down.

The good news is, if you have had a heart attack, there are things that can be done to prevent another one.

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Posted in Cardiac Arrest, Defibrillators, Heart Disease, Implantable Defibrillators, Survival Stories

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Strategies for Proactively Avoiding Heart Disease

Tuesday, May 10th, 2011

Whether dealing with abnormal heart rhythm or the consequences of poor health, it is essential to begin taking steps to start proactively avoiding heart disease. Medical innovations like the anti-tachycardia pacing defibrillator help patients who suffer from arrhythmia find a balanced and ideal heart rhythm. This can result in less stress, wear and tear on this vital organ. In addition to researching the different defibrillator models and the benefits that they can provide to individuals with specific heart issues, there are many necessary lifestyle changes that must be made as well.

Choosing to stop smoking is one of the most advantageous steps that you can take when proactively avoiding heart disease. The numerous toxins that are introduced into the body as well as the many physiological changes that take place when you smoke are easily avoided by immediately committing to an assisted smoking cessation program. There are numerous methods that are commonly successful in helping short and long term smokers find relief from this addiction. The key to success however, often lies in a willingness to get assistance, whether in the form of physical aids such as nicotine patches, lozenges or gum, medication, acupuncture or any one of many others.

An improved diet and routine exercise are also key to gaining optimal heart health. A good nutritional plan will include plenty of good cholesterol such as that found in olives, olive oil, avocados and fish, while eliminating or dramatically reducing the bad cholesterol that is commonly found in fast food, processed food and animal fats. Proactively avoiding heart disease requires you to consume a fiber-dense diet that contains a vast selection of fresh fruit and vegetables. One good rule for heart healthy eating is to begin consuming foods that are closest to their natural form. A baked potato is preferable to french fries and fresh fruit juice is preferable to fruit flavored sodas and other fruit flavored beverages.

Exercise does not have to be extensive, but should be regular. A brisk, thirty minute walk each day can have a phenomenal effect on heart health. People that do not exercise routinely should not commit to a physically exhausting workout that they cannot maintain. In addition to taking daily walks you can also make minor changes in the way that you proceed about your day in order to bring about higher levels of physical activity all around. This can include taking the stairs rather than the elevator and opting to bike short distances to the store rather than drive. By making small but effective modifications to your lifestyle you can easily adapt better behaviors and health.

There are numerous other natural methods of proactively avoiding heart disease. A regular, twice yearly detoxification program can help to reduce the level of built up toxins within the body. Not only will this result in less stress for all major organ systems, but improved health and functionality overall. A juice fast, fruit fast or any other special diet that relieves the digestive tract and promotes efficient toxin removal will typically suffice. Including regular doses of red pepper in the diet will supply the body with capsaicin which has the natural ability to help fight off heart disease. This can be found in capsule form in order to avoid the spicy taste.

If you currently suffer from a fast or otherwise irregular heartbeat, it is necessary to speak with your doctor about your defibrillator options. Taking determined steps towards relieving the heart of unnecessary strain is essential to your goal of proactively avoiding heart disease. The right unit for your specific medical needs will not only stimulate regulated heartbeats but can detect potentially fatal cardiac arrhythmia, which is the first and best prevention for sudden cardiac death.

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Public Fear of Defibrillators Could Cost Lives

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011

Thanks to popular medical dramas such as Grey’s Anatomy, House, and the late ER, we are all vaguely familiar with defibrillators. However, there is still a lot of fear and misinformation about defibrillators, which results in reluctance on behalf of the public to use them. In fact, a research study published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine surveyed 978 passengers from 38 countries in Amsterdam’s Central Station found that nearly half of respondents (43%) were unfamiliar with defibrillators and as such would not use one on someone experiencing cardiac arrest. Common reasons included:

-Lack of training
-Lack of familiarity with AED’s
-Fear of harming the victim
-Fear of being held legally liable for a poor outcome

However, defibrillators can save lives. Most people who experience sudden cardiac arrest die within minutes, and survival rates decrease for each minute that a person is left untreated. During a sudden cardiac episode, the heart stops beating and blood and oxygen are not delivered to the brain and other organs. Therefore, early detection and intervention by bystanders is crucial while waiting for emergency medical services (EMS) to arrive.

Now that the importance of defibrillators has been established, it is important to refute some of the misconceptions associated with defibrillators. The first misconceptions are lack of training and lack of familiarity with AED’s. Often times, we see only trained medical professionals on TV using defibrillators, whereas, the layperson is limited to using CPR. This sends a message defibrillators are complicated devices that only a trained professional can use. However, there are defibrillators available for laypeople to use. These are called automated external defibrillators, or AED’s. The name of an AED is self-explanatory; the defibrillator checks the victim’s pulse and determines if a shock is needed and how much. All the administrator needs to do is:

-Make sure the person is in a safe, dry location
-Turn on the AED
-Attach the pads, or electrodes
-Follow the directions to defibrillate or administer CPR where appropriate

Additionally, CPR was once a feared procedure. However, thanks to cartoons showing characters performing CPR, many children have been able to save a friend or family member from merely witnessing it on TV. If children can successfully administer CPR, surely an adult can use an AED to save a life as well.

Another fear that holds people back from administering AED’s is fear of harming the victim and legal liability for a poor outcome. Witnessing an individual have a sudden cardiac episode is a terrifying and stressful situation, and finding an unconscious and unresponsive person is no less so. Often times, people can feel helpless in these situations, and believe that they are powerless to do anything to help. However, it is more harmful not to render aid in cases of cardiac arrest, as the victim could die while waiting for EMS to arrive. Although it is unlikely, there are Good Samaritan Laws in all 50 United States protecting the layperson from liability if there is a poor outcome.

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Sudden Cardiac Arrest: What You Can Do to Help

Monday, May 2nd, 2011

Heart attacks or cardiac arrest are killers. These killers are often silent and appear with little to no warning. The heart muscle is a unique muscle of the body. The skeletal muscles need direct impulses from the nervous system in order to perform the required duty. The smooth muscles of the body, the ones responsible for breathing and digesting foods, also need impulses from the body. The heart does not need any outside source to tell it when and how to beat. This is the definition for automaticity. The heart has pacemaker cells which work in unison with each other to ensure the complete filling and expulsion of blood with each heartbeat. The heart will beat on its own over 40 million times a year. This is until something convinces the heart to stop working. Poor diet, genetics, cigarette smoking are just a few outside elements which can help to weaken the heart. Even the high energy drinks which make your heart race can cause the heart to enlarge just like a body builders muscles get bigger with each work out. This takes away from the needed elasticity of the heart muscle. When any portion of the heart is outside of normal conditions it threatens the life of the person it is in.

Contrary to television, a flat line, asystole, isn’t when you deliver an electrical shock. Ventricular Fibrillation, the most common rhythm of a cardiac insult, and Ventricular Tachycardia are the only two conditions the heart can tolerate and benefit from an external electrical push. Electricity is needed during these times to help “re-set’ the automatic conduction cells of the heart, preferably the Sino-Atrial Node. External defibrillators are the only device approved for this emergency.

Many different companies make various styles of these important machines. It does not matter the make or the model, all of them are equally important during a cardiac arrest. AED’s or defibrillators are fool proof. Turn them on and they will tell you what to do each step of the way. This is probably the most critical event to happen during an arrest, CPR is not as important as the delivery of the electricity, as long as the defibrillator tells you “shock advised”. Defibrillation’s the one event which may take a quivering heart out of one of the two fatal rhythms. CPR buys time for the defibrillator to arrive and to be attached to the victim.

In a simplistic explanation of what an AED or defibrillator will do is as follows:
After ensuring you are safe and the patient is not wet, turn the device on, some power up once the case has been opened. The defibrillator will tell you to attach pads, then to press analyze. Once a rhythm has been identified it will tell you “shock advised” or “continue CPR.” Make sure no one is touching the victim when you press “analyze” or “shock,” defibrillators will interpret the rhythm incorrectly and will deliver a shock to the person touching the victim.

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Cardiac Arrest: Three Steps to Recovery

Friday, April 29th, 2011

Cardiac arrest can be described as a sudden decrease or complete cessation of cardiac function. In other words, the heart stops beating or stops beating effectively and efficiently, and causes a decrease or complete loss of circulation, which then leads to decreased or arrested breathing. Cardiac arrest can, and often does lead to death because every minute that passes affects the eventual outcome for that person. However, there are several things a bystander can do, specifically three important steps that can be taken when someone has gone into cardiac arrest.

The first step is to begin administering CPR as quickly as possible. CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and it is the artificial breathing for another person while simultaneously performing chest compressions to pump the heart manually. To begin administering CPR, roll the person onto their back. Next raise the chin and be sure their airway is clear. If the airway is blocked use a finger to swipe any obstruction from the back of the throat and be sure to pull the tongue forward as to ensure it does not become an obstruction. Then begin mouth-to-mouth resuscitation by manually blowing air into the affected person’s mouth and observing that the lungs inflate and the chest expands.

The second aspect to CPR is chest compression that is performed by placing two hands, one on top of the other, in the center of the person’s chest and pushing down swiftly and firmly for a succession of at least five compressions. This will manually force the heart to pump and therefore create an artificial form of circulation to ensure blood is flowing to the person’s lungs and brain. While someone is performing CPR it is best to call 9-1-1 or the local emergency response center, as well as obtain an automated external defibrillator, or AED. While CPR is helpful and useful, an AED has been proven capable of turning an irregular heartbeat into a normal beat.

The AED functions by delivering an electrical shock to the heart muscle. Recently AED machines have been manufactured in a compact version and can be found in most public settings. They are easy to use and all have instructions on how to properly administer treatment. An automated external defibrillator has computerized instructions that will give step by step instructions to the user once turned on, and also supplies diagrams to show exactly where to place the pads and if a shock is needed to restore normal heart function. The AED also does an automatic evaluation of the affected person’s heart rate in the form of an EKG, or an electrocardiogram. If a shock is needed to restore normal cardiac rhythm the machine will instruct the user on exactly what steps to take to administer a shock, and will then immediately continue with EKG tracking to determine the effectiveness of the shock. It is important to take these steps immediately when someone is in cardiac arrest as life or death outcomes can be determined within minutes of its onset.

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Support Defibrillators in Your Local Community

Wednesday, April 13th, 2011

With the increased case of cardiac arrests being reported daily, it is evident that the problem needs to be addressed fast and correctly. Most people are suffering from the condition mainly as a result of changed ways of life although those who suffer from heart conditions and other medical conditions are more prone to the attacks compared to the rest of the people.

There are different types of defibrillators available in the market which have proven to essential in saving lives that could have otherwise be lost. It is no wonder that most public entities are purchasing the devices as well as individuals who feel there is a need to have the devices in the short and long term.

The medical devices are easy to use and require little or no medical knowledge to perform their functions. It does not take medical personnel to save a life using the defibrillators since any person who knows how to use the device can effectively use it when the situation calls. The Automated External Defibrillators are the most common today as they are portable and easy to use. There are however a few things that a person should know about the devices if he or she is to use them right in saving lives.

The very first thing that should be known is how to start the devices. Even though it is not that hard to start the device, people with no idea what should be done to have the device work might find it difficult to use it losing a life in the process. The device comes with a manual although people can also take the initiative of getting proper training on the use of the defibrillators.

The second thing that an individual needs to know is how to place the device on the patient. There is a proper way of placing the device onto to the important body parts of it is to work and perform its function which is resuscitating the heart. The manual coming with the device can be very helpful in this although there is a necessity to get the proper training if a life is to be saved quick and without exposing the brain to any damage that may come as a result of delay.

The last thing is the proper care and maintenance for the device especially for people who purchase it on personal level. Establishments as well should know how to take good care of the devices if they are to perform correctly when needed the most. Most of the available models in the market come with built in self-check systems and following the procedures provided will tell how good the device is in giving the right services. In case there is a faulty message, this means that some components of the device are not working and need to be checked out.

These three things are very important and should not be taken for granted as they could determine the fate of a needy person who is in a desperate situation that needs immediate attention.

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What you Need to Know about AEDs

Wednesday, March 30th, 2011

A defibrillator is a device that sends short electric shocks directly to the heart, enabling the heart to gain control and reset its pace to a normal rhythm. A defibrillator can be used externally or be implanted depending on what it is needed for. Generally, external defibrillators are most commonly used in health facilities, such as hospitals and ambulances.

AEDs regulate heart rhythms, and even those who have no medical training can easily use them, often without any training at all. They are in fact so easy to use that many states of the U.S. include a law under the Good Samaritan laws about “good faith” use of an AED by any person. One AED model, an “automatic operation” model, is extremely user friendly. To use this model, one simply opens the lid and follows the voice commands. Software in the AED will analyze the person’s heart rate and decide whether to employ a biphasic shock into the heart, which will attempt to restore the heart’s natural rhythm. There are many AED programs that offer free training and certification that complies with state laws and American Heart Association guidelines, providing a two year certification card upon completion of the course.

There are more advanced AEDs being made, such as manual and semi-automatic defibrillators. The more advanced AEDs are most often used by medical professionals. If a patient is experiencing bradycardia (when a heart rate is too slow), a manual or semi-automatic defibrillator can function like a pacemaker would.

AEDs are generally very lightweight and easy to carry, making them a good option for the elderly or those that are very ill.

Automated External Defibrillators, commonly known as AEDs, are now being used in places other than medical facilities because they’re becoming cheaper and safer for the general public to utilize. Some AED models can even be bought as cheaply as $1000. It’s now common to see an Automated External Defibrillator in large public places, like convention centers, health clubs, and airports, being available for people to use in the event of an emergency. Many schools, churches, businesses and offices even carry an AED in case someone goes into cardiac arrest. Some organizations and health professionals recommend that every household, car, and business has an AED available for medical emergencies. Many medical experts even now recommend that an AED be used before CPR in the event that someone’s heart stops beating or if a person experiences an abnormal heartbeat. Generally, using an AED is easier than properly performing CPR, and often using an AED has better results.

Keeping an AED in one’s home or business is a very wise idea, and doing so is becoming as common as having a fire extinguisher. AEDs have saved many lives, so investing in one is well worth it. Search online for an AED or talk to a medical professional to determine what kind of AED to purchase, taking who it may be used on in consideration, as it may save their life.

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Preventing Heart Disease

Monday, March 28th, 2011

Heart disease prevention is one of the main primary concerns of people of all ages. The reason for the concern about heart disease is due to the fact that heart disease is increasingly affecting people of younger ages year after year. So taking precautions to prevent heart disease has become an imperative importance of to so many people in the world. In order to take these precautions, people must consider maintaining a healthy diet, balancing calorie intake, and performing regular daily exercise.

Maintaining a healthy diet is not just a simple as shopping for foods that are marked ‘heart healthy’ in the supermarket. One of the reasons for looking out for different foods that are contributors to a healthy diet is so that your body can maintain a normal daily balance of essential vitamins and minerals that are crucial to daily bodily maintenance. Buying foods that are marked as ‘heart healthy’ does not always necessarily mean that they are particularly healthy for a person’s heart. In fact, without proper moderation of these particular foods that promote heart health, these foods can work to become an adverse effect on a person’s body. Foods that are great to look out for are foods that are rich in color such as dark green, red, and purple vegetables that provide an adequate amount of minerals and antioxidants that work to protect the body from harm.

As noted in the previous paragraph, overindulging on ‘heart healthy’ foods can definitely cause more harm than good. The reason for this is that calories should be moderated over a long period of time in order to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight. This can help to significantly reduce the effects of obesity which cause a number of significant and extremely harmful heart diseases which can cause quick mortality. A number of these diseases include hypertension, high cholesterol, type II diabetes, high blood pressure, and related cancers such as breast, endometrial, kidney, mouth, larynx, and esophagus cancers.

However, most heart diseases and bodily diseases are particularly the onset by the over consumption of foods which are chemically processed and contain a high amount of sodium, sugars, and trans fats. These kinds of foods include carbonated sugar filled soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, fast food hamburgers and fries, potato chips, crackers. Excessive consumption of meat and dairy like whole milk and cheese can also contribute to the possibility of having heart disease.

Another important thing that people should consider in heart disease prevention is to start and maintain a daily exercise routine. Research shows that adults between the ages of 18 and 64 should increase exercise activity to at least 225 min. of moderate to intense exercise activity. This will significantly reduce the risks of contracting heart diseases. Three important types of exercise can be included in a person’s daily physical activity routine. These exercises include aerobic, muscle strengthening, and bone strengthening activities. It is not necessary to join a gym in order to get these type of exercises accomplished. Many of these exercises can be found online at YouTube or various their friends sports advocating websites. In addition, having a heart defibrillator on hand can also be of great assistance to people who are in need of monitoring their heart.

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