Sudden Cardiac Death 02/20/2012
Sudden Cardiac Death Sudden cardiac death is a sudden, unexpected death caused by loss of heart function. It is the largest cause of natural death in the U.S., causing about 250,000 adult deaths each year. Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) occurs most frequently in adults in their mid-30s to mid-40s, and affects men twice as often as it does women. SCD is rare in children, affecting only 1 or 2 for every 100,000 children each year. Is Sudden Cardiac Death a Heart Attack? No. Sudden cardiac death is not a heart attack. Heart attacks occur when there is a problem with the "plumbing" of the heart; for example, a blockage in one or more of the arteries to the heart, preventing the heart from receiving enough blood. If the oxygen in the blood cannot reach the heart muscle, the heart becomes damaged. In contrast, during sudden cardiac death, the electrical system to the heart suddenly becomes irregular. The ventricles may flutter or quiver (ventricular fibrillation), and blood is not delivered to the body. Of greatest concern in the first few minutes after an episode ensues is that blood flow to the brain will be reduced so drastically, a person will lose consciousness. Death follows unless emergency treatment is begun immediately. Emergency treatment includes cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and, if possible, defibrillation. CPR is a manual technique using repetitive pressing to the chest and breathing into the person's airways that keeps enough oxygen and blood flowing to the brain until the normal heart rhythm is restored with an electric shock to the chest, a procedure called defibrillation. Emergency squads use portable defibrillators and frequently there are public access defibrillators (AEDs, ambulatory external defibrillators) in public locations that are intended to be available for use by citizens who observe cardiac arrest. Add Comment Can Sudden Caradiac Death Be Treated. 02/13/2012
Can Sudden Cardiac Death Be Treated?
Yes, SCD can be treated and reversed, but emergency action must take place immediately. Survival can be as high as 90% if treatment is initiated within the first minutes after SCD. The rate decreases by about 10% each minute longer it takes to initiate therapy. Those who survive do well in the long-term. What Do I Do if I Witness Sudden Cardiac Death? If you witness someone experiencing sudden cardiac death, dial 911 or your local emergency personnel immediately and initiate CPR . If done properly, CPR can save a person's life, as the procedure keeps blood and oxygen circulating through the body until help arrives. If there is an AED available, the best chance of rescuing the person includes defibrillation with that device. The shorter the time until defibrillation, the greater the chance the person will survive. It is CPR plus defibrillation that saves a person. After successful defibrillation, most people require hospital care to treat and prevent future cardiac problems. Warning Signs of Heart Failure 02/08/2012
By themselves, any one sign of heart failure may not be cause for alarm. But if you have more than one of these symptoms, even if you haven't been diagnosed with any heart problems, report them to a healthcare professional and ask for an evaluation of your heart. If you have been diagnosed with heart failure, it's important for you to keep track of symptoms and report any sudden changes to your healthcare team. This table lists the most common signs and symptoms, explains why they occur and describes how to recognize them. Watch our interactive heart failure signs and symptoms animation. Sign or Symptom People with Heart Failure May Experience... Why It Happens Shortness of breath (also called dyspnea) ...breathlessness during activity (most commonly), at rest, or while sleeping, which may come on suddenly and wake you up. You often have difficulty breathing while lying flat and may need to prop up the upper body and head on two pillows. You often complain of waking up tired or feeling anxious and restless. Blood "backs up" in the pulmonary veins (the vessels that return blood from the lungs to the heart) because the heart can't keep up with the supply. This causes fluid to leak into the lungs. Persistent coughing or wheezing ...coughing that produces white or pink blood-tinged mucus. Fluid builds up in the lungs (see above). Buildup of excess fluid in body tissues (edema) ...swelling in the feet, ankles, legs or abdomen or weight gain. You may find that your shoes feel tight. As blood flow out of the heart slows, blood returning to the heart through the veins backs up, causing fluid to build up in the tissues. The kidneys are less able to dispose of sodium and water, also causing fluid retention in the tissues. Tiredness, fatigue ...a tired feeling all the time and difficulty with everyday activities, such as shopping, climbing stairs, carrying groceries or walking. The heart can't pump enough blood to meet the needs of body tissues. The body diverts blood away from less vital organs, particularly muscles in the limbs, and sends it to the heart and brain. Lack of appetite, nausea ...a feeling of being full or sick to your stomach. The digestive system receives less blood, causing problems with digestion. Confusion, impaired thinking ...memory loss and feelings of disorientation. A caregiver or relative may notice this first. Changing levels of certain substances in the blood, such as sodium, can cause confusion. Increased heart rate ...heart palpitations, which feel like your heart is racing or throbbing. To "make up for" the loss in pumping capacity, the heart beats faster. Heart Murmurs 01/22/2012
What causes heart murmurs? Heart murmurs are most often caused by defective heart valves. A stenotic heart valve has a smaller-than-normal opening and can't open completely. A valve may also be unable to close completely. This leads to regurgitation, which is blood leaking backward through the valve when it should be closed. Murmurs also can be caused by conditions such as pregnancy, fever, thyrotoxicosis (a diseased condition resulting from an overactive thyroid gland) or anemia. A diastolic murmur occurs when the heart muscle relaxes between beats. A systolic murmur occurs when the heart muscle contracts. Systolic murmurs are graded by intensity (loudness) from one to six. A grade 1/6 is very faint, heard only with a special effort. A grade 6/6 is extremely loud. It's heard with a stethoscope slightly removed from the chest. What are innocent heart murmurs? Innocent heart murmurs are sounds made by the blood circulating through the heart's chambers and valves or through blood vessels near the heart. They're sometimes called other names such as "functional" or "physiologic" murmurs. Are innocent heart murmurs normal? Innocent murmurs are common in children and are quite harmless. In any group of children, a large percentage is likely to have had one at some time. Innocent murmurs also may disappear and then reappear. Most innocent murmurs disappear when a child reaches adulthood, but some adults still have them. When a child's heart rate changes, such as during excitement or fear, the innocent murmurs may become louder or softer. This still doesn't mean that the murmur is abnormal. Sometimes, when a doctor first hears the murmur through a stethoscope, he or she may want to have other tests done to be sure the murmur is innocent. After that, there's no need for a cardiac reevaluation unless the patient or doctor has more questions. The child doesn't need medication, won't have cardiac symptoms, and doesn't have a heart problem or heart disease. A parent doesn't need to pamper the child or restrict his or her diet or activities. The child can be as active as any other normal, healthy child. Read about heart murmur en espanol. Order a Brochure about innocent heart murmurs. Read a response from the Pediatric Cardiologist about innocent heart murmurs.
How does high blood pressure lead to a heart attack?
How does HBP lead to heart failure? When you control your blood pressure, you help your heart maintain a manageable workload. What is metabolic syndrome? 01/07/2012
Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of metabolic risk factors. When a patient presents with these risk factors together, the chances for future cardiovascular problems are greater than any one factor presenting alone. For example, high blood pressure alone is a serious condition, but when a patient has high blood pressure along with high fasting glucose levels and abdominal obesity, this patient may be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. There is a greater chance this patient will have cardiovascular problems because of the combination of risk factors. Metabolic syndrome is a serious health condition that affects about 35 percent of adults and places them at higher risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke and diseases related to fatty buildups in artery walls. The underlying causes of metabolic syndrome are obesity, being overweight, physical inactivity and genetic factors. What are the risk factors? Metabolic syndrome occurs when a person has three or more of the following measurements:
AH New Years Resolutions 01/01/2012
Ah, New Years Resolutions… Posted on January 1, 2012 Rick Schmitt May I first start by saying happy New Year! I hope your year is filled with blessings and happiness. So, are you sick of making new years resolutions that you never stick to? Making that vow to organize your house…and keep it that way. Or, loose those extra pounds that crept up on you over the past…few…years. Perhaps we are all going about this new year’s resolution thing all wrong. Just maybe if we make day resolutions instead of year resolutions we will find ourselves successful. So, then we must decide what our “list” of resolutions must be. As you may have guessed, I have some ideas. Item number 1, get that cholesterol checked! There are two types of cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), this is the bad cholesterol that causes arteries to fill with plaque; and HDL, or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), this is the good cholesterol that seems to protect the heart from hardening arteries. It is important to know both numbers. First resolution, make that appointment, next…GO! This is a simple blood test; no biggie; and then you can check one off your “list!” Have your doctor educate you about your numbers and what you may need to do to protect your heart. Then, add it to your daily list! We are on a roll here! Item number 2, the big E…EXERCISE! I know, I know, but this is part of your resolution every year, and I said this year is different…ugh. Well, it is; after you have checked with your doctor (at that cholesterol appointment) and you are free to exercise; get movin! It is recommended to have 30 minutes of ACCUMULATED exercise 5 days per week. Why have I made “accumulated” stand out? Simple, because you can add 10 minute exercise bouts throughout the day to equal your 30 minutes of activity. How easy is that! Park further away, go down the grocery store isles – even though you don’t need anything on it, go for a walk…you get the idea. Keep it simple, you don’t have to join an expensive gym, just think outside the box! Item number 3…eat healthy. This is when the idea of daily resolutions really comes into play. This is good news, and bad news. The good…every meal and every snack is a chance to re-resolution, if you may. In other words, if you ate 3 helpings of mac-and-cheese at lunch, you have a chance to redeem yourself at dinner. Bad news, this is probably the most difficult resolution to keep, at least in my personal opinion. Back to that first resolution, talk to your doctor about healthy eating specifically for you. Then stick to it! There are all kinds of sites with heart healthy recipes, check them out, and try something new; this could be fun ya’ll! Last, but definatly not least. For some of you, this is easy, and already done; ya! For others, this may be the most difficult thing you have ever done in your life. Item number 4…stop smoking. Some heart disease risk factors are genetic, but smoking is not. This is such an important issue; I think you should hear it right from the American Heart Association. know smoking is hard to quit, but you are worth the effort, and so is extra time with your family and friends. I hope you find yourself successful each and every day of the coming year. I am sure you have some resolution ideas of your own, and I would love to hear of them! Have a heart healthy day! Rick Schmitt Sea Salt Vs. Table Salt 12/25/2011
Sea salt has some health benefits – but won’t lower your sodium content one bit. Sea salt has boomed in popularity in restaurants and supermarket aisles across the country. Many gourmet chefs say they prefer it over table salt for its coarse, crunchy texture and stronger flavor. Manufacturers are using it in potato chips and other snacks because it’s “all natural,” and not processed like table salt. And some health-conscious consumers choose it because it contains minerals like magnesium. Each of the above-mentioned characteristics may set sea salt apart from table salt, but in one other very important respect there’s absolutely no difference between the two: sodium content. Sea salt and sodium content Both sea salt and table salt contain about 40 percent sodium. Unfortunately, many consumers haven’t gotten that message. In an April 2011 survey by the American Heart Association, 61 percent of respondents said they believed sea salt is a low-sodium alternative to table salt. “It’s very important for people to be aware that sea salt has as much sodium as table salt,” said Rachel K. Johnson, Ph.D., R.D., an AHA spokeswoman and the Bickford Professor of Nutrition at the University of Vermont. “One of the keys to maintaining a heart-healthy diet is to control your sodium intake,” she said. “If you’re consuming more sea salt than you otherwise would because you think it has less sodium, then you may be placing yourself at higher risk of developing high blood pressure, which raises your risk of heart disease.” What’s the difference? Sea salt is obtained directly through the evaporation of seawater. It is usually not processed, or undergoes minimal processing, and therefore retains trace levels of minerals like magnesium, potassium, calcium and other nutrients. Table salt, on the other hand, is mined from salt deposits and then processed to give it a fine texture so it’s easier to mix and use in recipes. Processing strips table salt of any minerals it may have contained, and additives are also usually incorporated to prevent clumping or caking. While these attributes may make sea salt more attractive from a marketing standpoint, Johnson says there are no real health advantages of sea salt. “The minute amounts of trace minerals found in sea salt are easily obtained from other healthy foods,” Johnson said. “Sea salt also generally contains less iodine than table salt. Iodine has been added to table salt since the 1920s to prevent the iodine-deficiency disease goiter.” The next time you find yourself choosing between sea salt and table salt, remember that it’s probably mostly a matter of letting your tastebuds decide. But whichever option you choose, keep in mind that both contain the same amount of sodium, and remember that the American Heart Association recommends limiting sodium intake to no more than 1,500 milligrams a day. Heart Attack 12/18/2011
Dial 9-1-1 Fast Heart attack and stroke are life-and-death emergencies — every second counts. If you see or have any of the listed symptoms, immediately call 9-1-1 or your emergency response number. Not all these signs occur in every heart attack or stroke. Sometimes they go away and return. If some occur, get help fast! Today heart attack and stroke victims can benefit from new medications and treatments unavailable to patients in years past. For example, clot-busting drugs can stop some heart attacks and strokes in progress, reducing disability and saving lives. But to be effective, these drugs must be given relatively quickly after heart attack or stroke symptoms first appear. So again, don't delay — get help right away! Understanding Childhood Obesity 12/11/2011
Today, about one in three American kids and teens is overweight or obese, nearly triple the rate in 1963. Among children today, obesity is causing a broad range of health problems that previously weren’t seen until adulthood. These include high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and elevated blood cholesterol levels. There are also psychological effects: Obese children are more prone to low self-esteem, negative body image and depression. And excess weight at young ages has been linked to higher and earlier death rates in adulthood. Use the resources below to help you understand childhood obesity and what you can do to fight it. Understanding Childhood Obesity - Statistical Sourcebook Understanding Childhood Obesity is an American Heart Association sourcebook on child nutrition and physical activity. Both the full and condensed downloadable PDF versions are an update of the 2005 version, A Nation At Risk. It’s a great resource for media, policymakers, health professionals, school officials and other stakeholders to begin meaningful dialogue toward concrete solutions to the obesity epidemic. |
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