Did you know HealthPro offers several eLearning classes?
You can sign up for the following courses:
ACLS Heartcode Online + Skills
BLS Heartcode Skills Session
BLS Healthcare Provider Online Part 1 Skills Part 2
Heartsaver CPR/AED Skills Session
Heartsaver First Aid Skills Session
PALS Heartcode Online + Skills
PALS Heartcode Skills Session
PHTLS Hybrid'Rapid STEMI ID (5 CEUs)
Register at hpec.org or give us a call at 951-279-6110.
Monday, September 22, 2014
Friday, September 19, 2014
Yo Ho Ho - It's time to learn CPR Mateys!
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Heart Attack 101
A Heart Attack occurs when the blood flow that brings oxygen to the heart muscle is severely reduced or stopped. This happens because coronary arteries that supply the heart with blood can slowly become thicker and harder from a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances, called plaque. This slow process is known as atherosclerosis. If the plaque breaks open and a blood clot forms that blocks the blood flow, a heart attack occurs.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Reducing Sodium in Children's Diets
The pressure is on to keep blood pressure down
September 2014
90%
About 90% of US children ages 6-18 years eat too much sodium daily.
10
10 common types of foods contributed more than 40% of the sodium eaten by children.
1 in 6
1 in 6 children has raised blood pressure, which can be lowered in part by a healthy diet, including less sodium.
About 9 in 10 US children eat more sodium than recommended. Most sodium is in the form of salt, as a part of processed foods. A high sodium diet can lead to high blood pressure. About 1 in 6 children ages 8-17 years has raised blood pressure. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Lowering sodium in children's diets today can help prevent heart disease tomorrow, especially for those who are overweight. The taste for salt is established through diet at a young age. Parents and caregivers can help lower sodium by influencing the way foods are produced, sold, prepared, and served.
As a parent and caregiver, you can:
- Model healthy eating for your children by having a diet rich in fruits and vegetables without added sodium.
- Compare Nutrition Facts labels to choose the lowest sodium option before you buy.
- Ask your grocery manager to provide more low sodium options of your family's favorite foods.
- Request restaurant nutrition information to make lower sodium choices.
HealthPro is offering a PALS Renewal course this Saturday, September 20, 2014 from
10am-2pm at our Orange County Location. Sign up at hpec.org or give us a call at 951-279-6110.
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
New Jersey becomes 19th state to require CPR in Schools
New Jersey becomes 19th state to require CPR in Schools
Published: 12:10 pm CDT, September 15, 2014
Laurie Heavener was talking with another mother outside her daughter’s Girl Scout meeting in Randolph, New Jersey, when her eyes rolled back in her head and she collapsed from cardiac arrest. A high school sophomore administered CPR, just one day after he received training.
More than six years later, Heavener was there to watch New Jersey’s Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno, serving as acting governor, sign a bill into law making the state the 19th in the nation to require students learn CPR to graduate high school.
“Put simply, this law will save lives,” said Guadagno at the bill signing. “These critical skills are easy to learn and can make all the difference in the world to someone in cardiac arrest. These skills can be learned in 30 minutes or one class period. Frankly, I can’t think of a better use of a half hour.”
The efforts to pass a CPR in Schools law in New Jersey began last year, when volunteers traveled to Trenton to speak with their legislators.
“We had been trying to get legislators to sponsor a CPR in Schools bill,” said Corinne Orlando, the American Heart Association’s government relations director in New Jersey. “Laurie shared her story with legislators during the June 2013 Lobby Day, and Sen. Diane Allen, R-Edgewater Park, agreed that day to sponsor a bill.”
A few months later, bills were introduced in the state House and Senate.
Then on May 15, Heavener returned to the statehouse to testify before the Assembly Education Committee. 
“This law means that all of our kids will learn CPR. We are empowering all of our students to save lives. The boy who saved me knew CPR because his school thought outside of the box and taught it,” she said.
The bill passed with only one dissenting vote.
Cardiologist Dr. William Tansey III, an advocate for the law, said that “by teaching high school students this important skill, New Jersey will be creating a generation of lifesavers.”
“This bill is important not just to me, but to the 424,000 people like me who suffer sudden cardiac arrest each year,” said Heavener, a mother of four. “It’s amazing that only 11 percent survive. The only thing to save people is CPR or an AED. I can’t believe New Jersey is only the 19th state to pass this law. C’mon – all states should have this.”
Advocates continue to push in the rest of the nation for similar laws. In neighboring New York, a CPR in Schools bill passed the state Assembly and the state Senate this year – the farthest it’s ever gotten.
It currently needs Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s signature. From there, it must go to the New York State Commissioner of Education, who has 180 days to make a recommendation to the state Board of Regents to include it in the curriculum.
“Most sudden cardiac arrest happens in the home,” said Dan Moran, president of Next-Act in Colonie, New York, and chair of the New York State Advocacy Committee. “We need this law so that everyone has access to CPR.”
Access is a point on why advocates push for CPR to be taught through the school system.
“Our continued research shows disparities exist in learning and performing CPR, and we are ready to move beyond documenting gaps to finding solutions to fix them,” said Dianne Atkins, professor of Pediatrics at the University of Iowa. “School is a great equalizer, which is why CPR in schools is an integral part of the solution and will help increase bystander CPR across all communities and save more lives.”
Latinos and African-Americans are 30 percent less likely to have bystander CPR performed on them in an emergency, according to AHA research. People who live in lower-income, African-American neighborhoods are 50 percent less likely to have CPR performed.
The AHA is training students, teachers and parents via CPR in Schools to help eliminate inequities. Ross Dress for Less is supporting AHA’s efforts to help save more lives by providing free CPR training resources to public schools in lower-income areas
The AHA’s goal is to pair each Ross Dress for Less store with a nearby public school that has at least 50 percent of their students receiving free or reduced lunch.
Under the program, more than 1,100 schools in the U.S. will receive a CPR in Schools Training Kit, teaching materials and a tool that will track how many students they have trained. Teachers also have access to AHA resources, volunteers and CPR in Schools staff throughout the program.
For more information:
Source: AHAHealthPro offers:
Instructor, Provider and Renewal Courses, Combo Course Options, Online Education, EMS and Nursing CEU’s. Sign up at hpec.org or give us a call at 951-279-6110.
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Basic Disaster Supplies Kit
Basic Disaster Supplies Kit
A basic emergency supply kit could include the following recommended items:
- Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
- Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Whistle to signal for help
- Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- Manual can opener for food
- Local maps
- Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger
HealthPro is an AUTHORIZED TRAINING CENTER - align your training site with HealthPro today! Contact us at hpec.org or 951-279-6110.
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
National Preparedness Month Is Here!
Be Ready, Nat´l Preparedness Month is Here!
Would you be ready if there were an emergency? Be prepared: throughout September there will be activities across the country to promote emergency preparedness.Throughout September there will be activities across the country to promote emergency preparedness. More than 3,000 organizations – national, regional, and local public and private organizations – are supporting emergency preparedness efforts and encouraging all Americans to take action.
Join the effort! Visit our Web site for "Emergency Preparedness and Response" and follow these four steps:
September 2014 marks the eleventh annual National Preparedness Month, sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the US Department of Homeland Security. One goal of Homeland Security is to educate the public about how to prepare for emergencies, including natural disasters, mass casualties, biological and chemical threats, radiation emergencies, and terrorist attacks.
During September, emergency preparedness will focus on:- Home and family preparedness, including pets, older Americans, and individuals with disabilities and special needs (Ready.gov)
- Back-to-school (Ready Kids/Sea Un Héroe)
- Business preparedness (Ready Business)
- Preparación en Español (Listo America)
- Developing a family disaster plan
- Gathering emergency supplies
- Learning how to shelter in place
- Understanding quarantine and isolation
- Learning how to maintain a healthy state of mind
Get an Emergency Kit
If disaster strikes your community, you might not have access to food, water, or electricity for some time. By taking time now to prepare emergency water supplies, food supplies and a disaster supplies kit, you can provide for your entire family.Review the items recommended for a disaster supplies kit or print the Homeland Security Emergency Supply checklist.
Make an Emergency Plan
Make plans with your family and friends in case you're not together during an emergency. Discuss how you'll contact each other, where you'll meet, and what you'll do in different situations. Read how to develop a family disaster plan or fill out the Homeland Security Family Emergency Plan.Ask about planning at your workplace and your child's school or daycare center. The US Department of Education gives guidelines for school preparedness. Workers at small, medium, and large businesses should practice for emergencies of all kinds. See Ready Business for more information.
Be Informed
Being prepared means staying informed. Check all types of media – Web sites, newspapers, radio, TV, mobile and land phones – for global, national and local information. During an emergency, your local Emergency Management or Emergency Services office will give you information on such things as open shelters and evacuation orders. Check Ready.gov community and state information to learn about resources in your community.
Get Involved
Look into taking first aid and emergency response training, participating in community exercises, and volunteering to support local first responders. Contact Citizens Corps, which coordinates activities to make communities safer, stronger and better prepared to respond to an emergency situation. Contact the Medical Reserve Corps, (MRC). MRC are community-based units and function as a way to locally organize and utilize volunteers who want to donate their time and expertise to prepare for and respond to emergencies and promote healthy living throughout the year.Homeland Security promotes emergency preparedness all year round via the Ready America campaign. Checklists, brochures, and videos are available in English and in Spanish online and by phone (1-800-BE-READY and 1-888-SE-LISTO).
More Information
More Information
- CDC’s Emergency Preparedness and Response
- Ready.gov (US Department of Homeland Security)
- Preparedness e-Cards
September Is National Preparedness Month - Are You Ready?
Be Ready! September is National Preparedness Month
Would you be ready if there were
an emergency? Be prepared: throughout September there will be activities across
the country to promote emergency preparedness.
Throughout
September there will be activities across the country to promote emergency
preparedness. More than 3,000 organizations – national, regional, and local
public and private organizations – are supporting emergency preparedness
efforts and encouraging all Americans to take action.
Join the
effort! Visit our Web site for “Emergency
Preparedness and Response” and follow these four steps:
September 2013
marks the tenth annual National Preparedness Month, sponsored by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency in the US Department of Homeland Security. One goal
of Homeland Security is to educate the public about how to prepare for
emergencies, including natural disasters, mass casualties, biological and
chemical threats, radiation emergencies, and terrorist attacks.
During
September, emergency preparedness will focus on:
·
Home and family
preparedness, including pets, older Americans, and individuals with
disabilities and special needs (ready.gov)
·
Preparación en Español (Listo America)
In
collaboration with the American Red Cross, CDC's Web site, Emergency Preparedness and You identifies and
answers common questions about preparing for unexpected events, including:
The Emergency Preparedness and Response offers
additional information and resources under topics such as hurricane
preparedness, extreme heat, and bioterrorism. CDC continually updates
information on recent outbreaks and incidents, and lists emergency resources
for the general public as well as for clinicians and public health
professionals.
If disaster
strikes your community, you might not have access to food, water, or
electricity for some time. By taking time now to prepare emergency water
supplies, food supplies and a disaster supplies kit, you can provide for your
entire family.
Review the
items recommended for a disaster
supplies kit or print the Homeland Security Emergency
Supply checklist.
Make an
Emergency Plan
Make plans with
your family and friends in case you're not together during an emergency.
Discuss how you'll contact each other, where you'll meet, and what you'll do in
different situations. Read how to develop a family disaster
plan or fill out the Homeland Security Family Emergency Plan.
Ask about
planning at your workplace and your child's school or daycare center. The US Department of Education gives
guidelines for school preparedness. Workers at small, medium, and large
businesses should practice for emergencies of all kinds. See Ready Business for more information.
Be Informed
Being prepared
means staying informed. Check all types of media – Web sites, newspapers,
radio, TV, mobile and land phones – for global, national and local information.
During an emergency, your local Emergency Management or Emergency Services
office will give you information on such things as open shelters and evacuation
orders. Check Ready America community and
state information to learn about resources in your community.
Get Involved
Look into
taking first aid and emergency response training, participating in community
exercises, and volunteering to support local first responders. Contact Citizens Corps, which coordinates activities to
make communities safer, stronger and better prepared to respond to an emergency
situation. Contact the Medical Reserve Corps, (MRC). MRC are
community-based units and function as a way to locally organize and utilize
volunteers who want to donate their time and expertise to prepare for and
respond to emergencies and promote healthy living throughout the year.
Homeland Security
promotes emergency preparedness all year round via the Ready America campaign.
Checklists, brochures, and videos are available in English and in Spanish online and by
phone (1-800-BE-READY and 1-888-SE-LISTO).
More
Information
CDC works 24/7
saving lives and protecting people from health threats to have a more secure
nation. A US federal agency, CDC helps make the healthy choice the easy choice
by putting science and prevention into action. CDC works to help people live
longer, healthier and more productive lives.
Source CDC
Come Get Prepared at HealthPro in honor of
National Preparedness Month. We offer
several courses that will enable you to respond to those in need in the event
of a life threatening situation. Sign up
online at hpec.org or give us a call at 951-279-6110.
New Pediatric Indication for the Arrow EZ-IO Intraosseous Vascular Access System
Recently Teleflex received FDA 510(k) clearance to restate the Indications for Use statement and labeling to modify insertion sites for the ARROW EZ-IO System to include the distal femur for pediatric patents .
Revised ARROW EZ-IO System Indications for Use:
For intraosseous access any time where vascular access is difficult to obtain in emergent, urgent or medically necessary cases for up to 24 hours.
Revised ARROW EZ-IO System Indications for Use:
For intraosseous access any time where vascular access is difficult to obtain in emergent, urgent or medically necessary cases for up to 24 hours.
| Adults | Pediatrics |
|
|
This indication provides expanded pediatric vascular access options in appropriate clinical situations and was developed with input from our clinicians and customers.
Friday, September 5, 2014
Soothing A Sore Throat
What To Do When Your Throat Hurts
We’ve all had sore throats around this time of year. Your throat feels scratchy and may hurt when you swallow. What can you do to soothe a sore throat? And when is it a sign of a more serious infection?
Most sore throats are caused by
viral infections such as the common cold or the flu. These throat problems are
generally minor and go away on their own.
To soothe your irritated throat,
keep it moist. “Ever notice that a sore throat seems worse in the morning? It’s
because your throat gets so dry overnight,” says Dr. Valerie Riddle, an
infectious disease expert at NIH. “Having lozenges or hard candies—or anything
that stimulates saliva production—will keep your throat moist. It’s also
important to drink plenty of fluids.” For young children who might choke on hard candies or lozenges, try cold liquids and popsicles. Throat pain might also be soothed by throat sprays and over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen or aspirin, but don’t give aspirin to young children.
Contact a doctor if your sore throat is severe, doesn’t feel better after a few days, or is accompanied by a high fever or swollen glands. These symptoms could be signs of a bacterial infection, such as strep throat. Taking antibiotics won’t help at all if your sore throat is caused by viruses, but they’re essential for fighting bacterial infections like strep.
Strep is the most common bacterial throat infection. Although it can occur in adults, strep throat is more common in children between ages 5 and 15. Riddle says strep can be harder to detect in younger children, because it can cause a runny nose and other symptoms that make it seem like a cold. “If your child has severe throat pain, a fever above 100.4 degrees, or swollen glands, you should get medical attention right away,” advises Riddle. Children with strep also may experience nausea, vomiting and stomach pain.
To see whether you have strep throat, the doctor will take a throat swab. If test results confirm strep, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics. After 24 hours of taking them, you should no longer be contagious. You’ll likely begin feeling better within a couple of days, but to fully recover it’s important to finish all of the medicine.
Strep is highly contagious. Treat it quickly to prevent it from spreading to others. Riddle says, “Not only can the infection be transmitted, but there are potential complications from untreated strep throat.” These include ear infections, rheumatic fever and kidney problems.
Another fairly common throat infection is tonsillitis, which occurs when you have sore, swollen tonsils. It’s caused by many of the same viruses and bacteria that cause sore throats. If you have frequent bouts of tonsillitis or strep throat, you may need surgery (called a tonsillectomy) to have your tonsils removed.
The best way to protect yourself from the germs that cause these infections is to wash your hands often. Try to steer clear of people who have colds or other contagious infections. And avoid smoking and inhaling second-hand smoke, which can irritate your throat.
Source:NIH
HealthPro has an Orange County and Inland Empire
campus. Call to schedule a class at any
location or sign up online at hpec.org.Thursday, September 4, 2014
Surviving Sepsis
Surviving
Sepsis
Taming a Deadly Immune Response
Taming a Deadly Immune Response
Many people have never heard of sepsis, or they don’t know what it is. But sepsis is one of the top 10 causes of disease-related death in the United States. The condition can arise suddenly and progress quickly, and it’s often hard to recognize.
Sepsis was once commonly known as “blood poisoning.” It was almost always deadly. Today, even with early treatment, sepsis kills about 1 in 5 affected people. It causes symptoms such as fever, chills, rapid breathing, and confusion.
Anyone can get sepsis, but the elderly, children, and infants are most vulnerable. People with weakened immune systems, severe burns, physical trauma, or long-term illnesses (such as diabetes, cancer, or liver disease) are also at increased risk.
At one time, sepsis was thought to arise from an overgrowth of bacteria or other germs in the bloodstream. We now know that sepsis actually springs from 2 factors: first an infection (such as pneumonia or a urinary tract infection) and then a powerful and harmful response by your body’s own immune system.
“With sepsis, the fight between the
infection and the body’s immune response makes the body like a battleground,”
says Dr. Derek Angus, a critical care physician at the University of Pittsburgh
School of Medicine. “In the case of severe sepsis, that fight results in vital
organ dysfunction, which puts one’s life in peril.”
Severe sepsis can damage essential
organs like the liver and kidneys. An even more extreme disorder occurs when
blood pressure plummets—a condition known as septic shock. “With septic shock,
the immune response that’s trying to fight infection can actually lead to a
dangerous drop in blood pressure,” Angus says. As blood pressure falls, tissues
become starved for oxygen-rich blood. Organs can fail, which could lead to
death.By some estimates, severe sepsis or septic shock strikes nearly 1 million Americans each year. At least 200,000 of them die in the hospital shortly afterward. Many who survive recover completely. But others have lasting problems, including permanent organ damage and thinking difficulties (such as problems with planning, organizing, and multitasking).
Sepsis can be triggered by many types of infections. “But the most common cause of sepsis is community–acquired pneumonia,” Angus says. Scientists are still working to understand why some people with infections develop severe sepsis or septic shock while others don’t.
Researchers are exploring new ways
to diagnose, reverse, or prevent this serious and costly condition. Treatment
for sepsis is most successful if the condition is spotted early and then
treated quickly with antibiotics to fight the infection and fluids to maintain
blood pressure.
In a large NIH-funded clinical trial
of sepsis care, Angus and his colleagues found that a relatively simple
strategy worked as well at preventing deaths as did more complex and costly
approaches. “The study helped to clarify that a lot of the treatment steps we’d
been using are essential, but the extra steps with sophisticated and invasive
procedures aren’t always necessary to improve survival,” Angus says.
Sepsis is a health emergency that
requires swift medical care. See a doctor or get emergency assistance if you
feel unwell and have a combination of the symptoms listed in the “Wise Choices”
box.
Reference: A randomized trial of protocol-based care for
early septic shock. ProCESS Investigators, Yealy DM,
Kellum JA, Huang DT, Barnato AE, Weissfeld LA, Pike F, Terndrup T, Wang HE, Hou
PC, LoVecchio F, Filbin MR, Shapiro NI, Angus DC. N Engl J Med. 2014 May
1;370(18):1683-93. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1401602. Epub 2014 Mar 18. PMID:
24635773.Source: NIH
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Happy Self-Improvement Month
September is self-improvement month; Karen Duffy offers
tips on how to keep learning and growing
There's no doubt about it
– September brings an energetic, back-from-holiday, back-to-school feeling
September is the 'schoolest' month: Take a tip from Adam Sandler in the dopey 1995 film 'Billy Madison' -- it's never too late to learn new things.
We may not be the ones getting the new school
supplies and backpacks, but there's no doubt about it – September brings an
energetic, back-from-holiday, back-to-school feeling.
It is the month to make changes, embrace a fresh outlook and take advantage of all the new opportunities ahead of us. Plus, all those memories of wanting this school year to be better than the year before – do they ever go away?
The difference between January resolutions and autumnal resolutions is that New Year's vows are about will: losing weight, getting in shape, quitting smoking. September resolutions are about adjusting and reevaluating our goals. These ninth-month reflections do not declare themselves with noisemakers, confetti and champagne. They are reinvigorated steps towards a positive change.
Lucky for us, September is also Self-Improvement Month.
My friend Allison Carman, a life coach, business consultant and author, told me that September is her busiest time of the year. She calls it the "Power Month," the month to take action.
"People's resolutions in January are dreamy, wide and broad. Fall is the time we reevaluate them, adjust and make new plans." She sees the most progress in her clients from September to December. Most people want to accomplish their goals before the end of the year.
A few years back, when my son started kindergarten, I decided to return to class as well.
I enrolled in a contemplative care training program in spiritual care to attend to the sick and dying. It was a hospice-training program and it was an academic, yearlong commitment.
The experience was so illuminating and inspiring that I am continuing my studies.
Here are a few ways to pep up your September with activities that will enrich your life -- and the lives of those around you.
September is National Preparedness Month, and as a CERT volunteer, I highly recommend enrolling in the Office of Emergency Management's Community Emergency Response Team training. Help your family, your neighbors and your city in the case of catastrophe.
Get stretchin': It's National Yoga Month, and studios all over the city are offering introductory packages of classes.
It's also National Chicken Month! Let this inspire you to look into a cooking class, eat more (or less) chicken or decide to hide from the people who are constantly ruffling your feathers.
Be an urban cowboy or cowgirl! Grab a partner, International Square Dancing Month is the perfect time to get your do-si-do on.
Not nearly as much fun but necessary for homeowners in damp climates -- Mold Awareness Month isn't some anyone wants to celebrate. Except, maybe mold.
Source: Daily News
HealthPro offers e-learning. Set out on your self-improvement journey this September by learning how to save a life....sign up at
hpec.org or give us a call at 951-279-6110.It is the month to make changes, embrace a fresh outlook and take advantage of all the new opportunities ahead of us. Plus, all those memories of wanting this school year to be better than the year before – do they ever go away?
The difference between January resolutions and autumnal resolutions is that New Year's vows are about will: losing weight, getting in shape, quitting smoking. September resolutions are about adjusting and reevaluating our goals. These ninth-month reflections do not declare themselves with noisemakers, confetti and champagne. They are reinvigorated steps towards a positive change.
Lucky for us, September is also Self-Improvement Month.
My friend Allison Carman, a life coach, business consultant and author, told me that September is her busiest time of the year. She calls it the "Power Month," the month to take action.
"People's resolutions in January are dreamy, wide and broad. Fall is the time we reevaluate them, adjust and make new plans." She sees the most progress in her clients from September to December. Most people want to accomplish their goals before the end of the year.
A few years back, when my son started kindergarten, I decided to return to class as well.
I enrolled in a contemplative care training program in spiritual care to attend to the sick and dying. It was a hospice-training program and it was an academic, yearlong commitment.
The experience was so illuminating and inspiring that I am continuing my studies.
Here are a few ways to pep up your September with activities that will enrich your life -- and the lives of those around you.
September is National Preparedness Month, and as a CERT volunteer, I highly recommend enrolling in the Office of Emergency Management's Community Emergency Response Team training. Help your family, your neighbors and your city in the case of catastrophe.
Get stretchin': It's National Yoga Month, and studios all over the city are offering introductory packages of classes.
It's also National Chicken Month! Let this inspire you to look into a cooking class, eat more (or less) chicken or decide to hide from the people who are constantly ruffling your feathers.
Be an urban cowboy or cowgirl! Grab a partner, International Square Dancing Month is the perfect time to get your do-si-do on.
Not nearly as much fun but necessary for homeowners in damp climates -- Mold Awareness Month isn't some anyone wants to celebrate. Except, maybe mold.
Source: Daily News
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Every Moment Counts
Can You Recognize a Heart Attack or Stroke?
What To Do When Every Moment Counts
How would you react to a medical emergency? When it comes to life-threatening conditions like heart attack or stroke, every minute counts. Get to know the signs and symptoms of these health threats. If you think you or someone else might be having a heart attack or stroke, get medical help right away. Acting fast could save your life or someone else’s.
Heart disease and stroke are 2 of the top killers among both women and men in the U.S. Nationwide, someone dies from a heart attack about every 90 seconds, and stroke kills someone about every 4 minutes, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Quick medical help could prevent many of these deaths. Fast action can also limit permanent damage to the body.
Heart attack and stroke are caused by interruptions to the normal flow of blood to the heart or brain—2 organs that are essential to life. Without access to oxygen-rich blood and nutrients, heart or brain cells begin to malfunction and die. This cell death can set off a series of harmful effects throughout the body. The changes ultimately lead to the familiar symptoms of a heart or brain emergency.
You might know the most common symptoms of heart attack: sustained, crushing chest pain and difficulty breathing. A heart attack might also cause cold sweats, a racing heart, pain down the left arm, jaw stiffness, or shoulder pain.
Many don’t know that women often have different heart attack symptoms than men. For instance, instead of having chest pain during a heart attack, women may feel extremely exhausted and fatigued or have indigestion and nausea.
“Many women have a vague sense of gloom and doom, a sense of ‘I just don’t feel quite right and don’t know why,’ ” says Dr. Patrice Desvigne-Nickens, an NIH expert in heart health.
The symptoms of stroke include sudden difficulty seeing, speaking, or walking, and feelings of weakness, numbness, dizziness, and confusion. “Some people get a severe headache that’s immediate and strong, different from any kind you’ve ever had,” says Dr. Salina Waddy, an NIH stroke expert.
At the first sign of any of these symptoms, fast action by you, someone you know, or a passerby can make a huge difference. NIH-funded research has helped ensure that more people survive heart attacks and strokes every year. We now have medicines, procedures, and devices that can help limit heart and brain damage following an attack, as long as medical help arrives quickly.
If the heart is starved for blood for too long—generally more than 20 minutes—heart muscle can be irreversibly damaged, Desvigne-Nickens says. “You need to be in the hospital because there’s a risk of cardiac arrest [your heart stopping],” which could be deadly. At the hospital, doctors can administer clot-busting drugs and other emergency procedures.
With stroke, Waddy says, “The longer you wait, the more brain cells are dying,” and the greater the chance for permanent damage or disability.
Emergency treatment for stroke depends on the kind of stroke. The most common type, ischemic stroke, is caused by a clot that clogs a blood vessel in the brain. The clot-dissolving drug tPA works best when given soon after symptoms begin. NIH research shows that patients who received tPA within 3 hours of stroke onset were more likely to recover fully.
Other strokes are caused by a hemorrhage—when a blood vessel breaks and bleeds into the brain. “The patient can have a larger hemorrhage within the first 3 hours,” Waddy says. A hospital medical team can help contain the bleeding, so every moment counts.
Even if you’re unsure, don’t feel embarrassed or hesitate to call 9-1-1 if you suspect a heart attack or stroke. “You should not go get your car keys. Your spouse shouldn’t be driving you to the hospital,” advises Desvigne-Nickens. “The emergency crew is trained to treat these symptoms, and it could mean the difference between life and death.”
Heart attack or stroke can happen to anyone, but your risk increases with age. A family or personal history of heart attack or stroke also raises your risk. But some risk factors for heart attack and stroke are within your control. Treating them can dramatically reduce your risk.
“If you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes, work with your doctor to get these conditions under control,” Waddy says. “Know your numbers [blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol] and what they mean.”
You can also prepare for a medical emergency, to some degree. A hospital may not have access to your medical records when you arrive. Keep important health information handy, such as the medicines you’re taking, allergies, and emergency contacts. It would be important for the medical team to know, for example, if you’ve been taking anticoagulants to help prevent blood clots; these blood thinners put you at increased risk of bleeding. You might consider carrying an NIH wallet card that lists heart attack symptoms and has room for your personal medical information.
NIH researchers are studying new drugs and procedures to help the heart and brain repair themselves and improve organ function. “But there is absolutely nothing that will save both your time and health as well as prevention,” says Dr. Jeremy Brown, director of NIH’s Office of Emergency Care Research. Studies show that making healthy lifestyle choices can help prevent these medical emergencies from happening in the first place. Eat a healthy diet rich in protein, whole grains, and fruits and vegetables, and low in saturated fat. Get regular physical activity and don’t smoke.
“I think one of the most important things we can do is to take a basic CPR and first aid course,” recommends Brown. “We know the majority of cardiac arrests happen outside of hospitals and of that many, many can be saved if we get people with basic training on the scene quickly. An ambulance can never get there as quickly as a citizen passing by.”
Whether or not you’re trained to offer help, if you see someone having symptoms of a heart attack or stroke, call for help immediately.
“If you’re even thinking about calling 9-1-1, you should call,” Desvigne-Nickens says. “Yes other conditions can mimic the signs and symptoms of a heart attack or stroke, but let the emergency physician figure that out in the emergency room.”
Reference: Tissue plasminogen activator for acute ischemic stroke. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke rt-PA Stroke Study Group.[No authors listed] N Engl J Med. 1995 Dec 14;333(24):1581-7. PMID: 7477192.
Source: NIH
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