Post from: Blisstree

AED: Have you seen them in action?

A cardiac arrest can hit you when you least expect it, with no warning whatsoever, and at times, the first attack itself is fatal. If your family has a history of heart diseases, if you’re beset by diabetes, hypertension or high cholesterol, or if you’re overweight and a regular smoker, then your risk factor is much higher than the average human being. The only way you can protect your heart and thereby your health is to ensure that you follow a disciplined diet and a sensible exercise program. You don’t have to wait for the first signs of a problem before you start to effect a change in your diet and lifestyle; after all, prevention is better than cure.
There’s a general consensus on the amount of calorific sustenance you need to receive from each component (proteins, carbohydrates and fats) of the food we eat –experts recommend that fat must comprise only 30 percent or less of your total daily intake, with only 7 percent of this amount contributed by saturated fat and 1 percent from trans fat. You’re also asked to limit the sodium (salt) you eat to between 2400 and 3000 milligrams and cholesterol to 300 milligrams a day.

It’s not easy to keep track of the numbers or measure the food you eat, especially when you’re hungry or in a hurry. The best thing to do is to fill up on vegetables and fruits that are not too sweet. While protein is good in any form, most dieticians recommend that you limit yourself to the complex carbohydrates that are more filling, take a longer time to digest, and release sugar gradually into your blood stream. Simple carbohydrates like colas, sugar, chocolates, sweets, honey, treacle, and similar items give your body an instant sugar boost which means your liver goes to work overtime producing enough insulin to keep your blood sugar at normal levels.
Avoid foods that are processed, contain preservatives and artificial agents or fried. Stay away from fast food joints – the food there is filled with calories that end up clogging your arteries and accumulating fat deposits on your body. Stick to meals made with whole grain cereal, fish, lean meat like chicken, legumes like beans and chick peas, and low fat dairy products. Egg whites are good if consumed in moderation as are nuts like almonds that are healthy for your heart.

While cigarettes and other tobacco products are a definite no-no if you’re prone to heart diseases, alcohol and caffeine products can be consumed in moderation. A mild to moderate exercise routine depending on your age and health conditions keeps cardiac arrest at bay. In addition to this, experts recommend a relatively stress free life to keep your heart healthy and pumping till you reach a ripe old age.

Post from: Blisstree

Have a Heart – Treat your Heart with Care… Guest post by Heather Johnson

With that being said, are you prepared to administer CPR at home if need be?

According to the American Heart Association 80% of all out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen at home so being trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation can mean the difference between life and death for a loved one.    

This is very important as it is pool and water season among the Northern hemisphere.  It is important to stay current with CPR as well- as it changes every so often based on research and clinical trials and practices. The number of chest compressions has increased as of late. Are you prepared?

via KTEN.com

Post from: Blisstree

Are you prepared to administer CPR?

Researchers have found that a drug that is used in cases of angina can safely help to treat QT syndrome…

In the current, pilot study, researchers found that a drug, ranolazine (brand name Ranexa, CV Therapeutics) shortens the QT interval by about 5 percent; just enough to reduce symptoms and risks associated with one form of LQTS (LQT3-deltaKPQ)

What happens in long QT syndrome? Changes to ion channels cause channel proteins to leak charged particles which alters the timing of the heartbeat. Isn’t it really crazy how our body functions- amazing!

The drug in the pilot study, Ranolazine, was found to block late sodium ion current in those patients with mutations of the long QT in these circumstances.

via Science Daily 

University of Rochester 

Post from: Blisstree

Angina drug proves to treat long QT syndrome

Adam was rushed to Monticello Hospital where he was stabilized, then, moved quickly to North Memorial in Robbinsdale, where doctors, led by Emergency Physician Marc Conterato, hurried to protect Adam’s brain by using what must be medicine’s “coolest” procedure. “What we’ve learned in recent years is if we can cool them down relatively quickly, take the patient’s core body temperature down to about 90 degrees Fahrenheit (89.3 degrees) and keep them there for about 24-48 hours and slowly re-warm them, we can markedly improve patients’ outcome and minimize or completely alleviate any sort of brain injury.”

Remarkable, he will recover and lose no capacities. Basketball will forever be put on hold but even the 18 year old said himself, “what’s more important, sports or living?”. Adam has a primary arrhythmic problem called ‘Long Q.T.’ It affects just 1 in 100,000 people his age.

via KARE 11TV

Post from: Blisstree

Young basketball player alive due to AED and ‘cooling’ procedure after cardiac arrest