Death By Sudden Cardiac Arrest - All The Facts You Don't Want To Know, And A few You Do

Of the many diseases that afflict mankind, sudden cardiac arrest is among the most insidious. Basically, it is the sudden, unexpected cessation of all regular heart activity. As you'll read later, there is a little more to it than that - but this is a good, workable definition for now.

The Problem

Sudden cardiac arrest, or SCA, although more common among the elderly, is not limited to a particular age group. Children, athletes, people in the prime of life, just about anyone can experience SCA. The reason lies in the fact that there are a number of different triggering factors. One of the more common is the regular heart attack, where one or both of the coronary arteries become blocked by fatty deposits and plaque, causing reduced blood supply to the heart muscle. In fact, sudden cardiac arrest is often preceded by one or more heart attacks. Other triggering factors include: congestive heart disease; sudden, heavy impact to the chest area; and congenital (present at birth) heart defects.

Survival rates among sudden cardiac arrest victims are quite dismal. Less than five per cent of people suffering cardiac arrest outside of a medical facility survive. This is in great part due to the fact that a person only has approximately four to six minutes to receive medical attention before the onset of brain and body death. The time-frame is painfully short because of what happens to the heart during sudden cardiac arrest.

Unlike a heart attack, in the case of sudden cardiac arrest an electrical malfunction occurs in the lower chambers of the heart, causing it to "fibrillate". Fibrillation is a condition where the heart ceases to beat, instead going into a chaotic quivering motion. Because this happens in the lower chambers of the heart known as the ventricles, it is known as the ventricular fibrillation. At this point the body and brain are no longer receiving oxygen and unless the heart resumes normal beating within several minutes, brain damage then body death will follow.

Over 250,000 deaths a year occur in the US due to sudden cardiac arrest. So what can we do about it? Well, in the first place, a knowledge of CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), is great for anyone to have under their belt - especially those of us who live with people who have known heart disease and are at high risk of heart problems. This can be used on a victim of sudden cardiac arrest, but it's rate of success is poor.

So What Can Be Done?

The ideal solution would be to have a defibrillator near the victim at the time of the crisis. But home-use, portable defibrillators are very under-used today, mainly because the public is not as aware of them as they should be. This is the same basic device paramedics use on victims of sudden cardiac arrest once they reach the scene. Unfortunately, due to the small widow of opportunity open to save the person's life, these attempts often arrive too late.

Automated external defibrillators are not new, but, in their present form (since about the mid 90's) they really have become a new and revolutionary device. Once only seen in the hands of trained professionals, they can now be bought for less than the cost of an overnight stay at your local hospital (Ok, I know, so can a trip to the Bahamas or a hundred year old Ming Vase - well why don't I be a little more specific). You can pick one up for well under $1,500, possibly even under a thousand if you're willing to shop around.

They are able to talk a non-trained rescuer through the entire defibrillation process - and that after determining if defibrillation is even necessary. Some units will even talk the rescuer through CPR if it is needed.

So what does this mean for people at most risk?

It means they don't have to worry about the paramedics' arriving "too late". These devices are portable. If they want to go out to dinner or the movies, they can take it along. If the worst does happen they can rest easier in the knowledge that survival rates increase from 5% to around 75% if defibrillation is administered within several minutes of the onset of sudden cardiac arrest.

Sudden cardiac arrest has been tamed by the introduction of this new breed of defibrillator. What we need now is more public awareness and education. And we need to see more portable defibrillators in homes (where 80% of victims are when SCA strikes) and offices around the county.

We also need to see portable defibrillators available in schools, colleges, and universities. It's not uncommon to hear of young athletes or college students suffering cardiac arrest and dieing because medical crews couldn't reach the scene in time.

What to expect

Given that some of the above positives happen, we should someday see mortality rates from sudden cardiac arrest begin a dramatic decline. But let's hope it happens sooner rather than later.
Spread the word won't you!?

And On That Note:

if you would like to increase awareness of this subject, copy and email this article to your local congressman or congresswoman - in fact anyone you know who might benefit from the information.

Alternative Blood Pressure Treatment - The Hawthorn Option

Every year millions of people are diagnosed with hypertension, or high blood pressure, and millions more develop it without ever being diagnosed. If you are someone trying to cope with high blood pressure, you know that it is not as simple as finding a safe and effective medication, and returning to business as usual. You realize that your doctor and/or pharmacist can advise you on an appropriate medication. You, however, are more interested in an alternative blood pressure treatment.

Your big concern with the traditional high blood pressure medications is that they all put you at risk of side effects, even if they are simultaneously lowering your blood pressure. You do not want to trade one known health problem for a possible host of other unknown ones.

Finding an alternative blood pressure treatment to replace your medicating will relieve you of the side effects issue, but if the natural treatment you choose is not effective, you will be back where you started. And natural treatments, if taken in excess for a lengthy period, can cause severe health issues of their own.

But if you have done you homework, and researched the safety of the various alternative blood pressure treatments, you probably know that one of the safest and most effective is hawthorn. Hawthorn has long been used in Europe and Asia as an alternative high blood pressure treatment, and recent scientific research has verified its efficacy.

How Hawthorn Works

Hawthorn reduces blood pressure [http://www.lower-highbloodpressure.com/Blood_Pressure_Machine/] by inhibiting an enzyme, angiotensin-converting enzyme, or ACE, which constricts the blood vessels. The newly dilated blood vessels let blood circulate more freely, reducing the blood pressure. Hawthorn also has a mild diuretic action, which decreases the volume of the blood, again lowering blood pressure. As an alternative blood pressure treatment, hawthorn has a double kick.

Implementing Other Measures

If your blood pressure reading is in the 140/90 to 160/100 range, but your overall health is good, you can discuss with your doctor the possibility of giving a hawthorn supplement a chance as an alternative blood pressure treatment. Even if he or she agrees, you will have to implement other lifestyle changes, like adjusting your diet to include more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products.

You'll also have to cut back on salt, caffeine, and fats, and increase your daily intake of water to one-half ounce for every pound of your body weight. If you use alcohol and tobacco, stop, and if you don't walk for between thirty and forty-five minutes a day, start. An alternative blood pressure treatment, if it is to work, requires a commitment from you.

Why You Need CPR Training

Over the weekend I was coming home from a night out, when somebody said "call 911" directly at me. I did it right away.

In CPR training they will tell you not yell out "Call 911" in to a crowd but to select somebody specific. In large groups, everybody assumes somebody else will take responsibility and nobody acts fast enough. You have to point or speak directly to specific people to have help arrive as quickly as possible. Fortunately the incident over the weekend did not require CPR and the injured man will most likely be okay.

Having CPR and first aid training can be necessary at any time. It's important to be trained to protect yourself, your family and strangers in need of assistance.

Five Reasons to get CPR training

1. By the time someone needs CPR they are dead. Their heart has stopped and they are no longer breathing. CPR at this point can only help a person until professionals arrive at the scene.

2. Being helpless in a crisis situation is a horrible feeling. When the victim is a friend or family member you will want to know how you can help. CPR is a life saving skill that can be crucial in a life or death situation. CPR training will also teach you what not to do in an emotional situation. For example, sometimes it's best not to move an injured person. If you are a parent your first instinct might be to pick up your child. This might not be the right thing to do and with proper training, you will learn what is helpful and what is potentially harmful.

3. CPR training teaches you how to handle a situation where you need to take control and give commands. "Hey you, in the yellow shirt call 911." "Hey you, with the glasses, wait over there to flag down the ambulance."

4. CPR training teaches you how to use a defibrillator. Defibrillators are located in many public spaces such as community centres, swimming pools and senior centres. They are good to have in public spaces but they are even better, if there are people around who are trained to use them.

5. CPR training will teach you how to keep yourself safe in an emergency situation. If something horrible has happened you need to know how to quickly analyze the scene for your own safety. Broken glass, possible explosions and bodily fluids are things you might not think about if you are running toward someone to help them out.

Being trained in CPR is crucial for anyone. More trained citizens means a safer and faster acting community.

Many organizations offer CPR training. Red Cross and St. John Ambulance as a couple of examples. The courses are not very long or expensive. It's definitely worth it!

Get Trained!