Heart Smart Tips for People and AHA CPR Classes in Nashville

Heart attacks and cardiac arrests occur all of a sudden without any prior intimation. Anyone can be at the receiving end of it. A victim would require immediate medical attention. It is important to dial 911 to call for the emergency medical services. 

The most effective way to handle cardiac emergencies in out-of-hospital cases is by properly applying the life-saving CPR techniques. The procedures comprise chest compressions and rescue breaths. Proper administration can revive the life of a victim involved in a life-threatening cardiac emergency. For an American Heart Association CPR class Nashville, you can sign up at the AHA certified CPR Nashville in Tennessee. Certified instructors conduct the classes through a series of audio and video lectures and hands-on practice. Become AHA certified at the end of a training program. There are courses for both healthcare and non-healthcare providers.

Remember regardless of what you eat, when it comes to the heart, every bite counts. Eat healthy to keep your ticker in good shape and to keep cardiovascular disease at bay. Perform regular exercise for fitness and heart health. 

What about Beverages!

The beverages you consume each day may add up to increased risk for heart attack. According to a new study, men who frequently drink sodas and other sugar-sweetened beverages may be at greater risk for heart attack than those who don’t. It is important for individuals to take note of how much sugar they may be drinking each day in keeping with this finding combined with earlier evidence linking sugary foods, especially sodas, with increasing rates of obesity and diabetes.

As per the American Heart Association, men should consume no more than 9 teaspoons of sugar per day, and women no more than 6 teaspoons. One 12-ounce can of regular soda contains about 9 teaspoons of sugar. Most fruit juices are loaded with sugar, too.

Ways to reduce sugar intake:

1.      Limit regular soda to no more than 3 cans (36 ounces) per week.

2.      Change from regular soda or fruit juices to no-calorie, diet beverages.

3.      Use water or seltzer to dilute fruit juices.

4.      Try to avoid adding sugar to your coffee or beverage as much as possible. It is advisable that you switch to non-nutritive sweeteners.

5.      Consume more water. Make it a rule in your house to drink water with meals.

6.      There should only be sugar-free drinks with you which will encourage you to consume more water and fewer calories and less sugar.

A good way to get some flavors into water without sugar is by consuming fruit water which is not only refreshing but also is easy to make with some of the popular fruit water combinations being cucumber strawberry water and lime mint cucumber water.

Eating well and staying fit should be your life’s motto which will help you to live long. To sign up for a CPR course at CPR Nashville, either register online or call on 615-397-9316 for the same.

Effect of Tea on Heart and CPR Renewal Classes in Nashville

The heart being the most important organ in the body should be kept in good shape to keep cardiovascular disease and through that cardiac emergencies at bay. Regardless of the age, an individual can be at the receiving end of a cardiovascular disease. The most life-threatening of all cardiac emergencies include cardiac arrest and a heart attack.

Going for a CPR class is the best way that can help in handling cardiac emergencies efficiently in out-of-hospital cases. Make sure to select a certified training center for obtaining training such as the AHA certified CPR Nashville. The procedures comprise chest compressions and rescue breaths. Proper administration of the procedures can revive the life of such a victim. There are courses for both healthcare and non-healthcare providers. The courses for healthcare providers include Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support. The fees are different for different programs. Become certified at the end of the training classes after successfully passing a written exam and skills test. Keep in mind, an AHA certification comes with a validity of 2 years which means you need to go for timely CPR renewal Nashville classes for extending the validity of your card. 

CPR Renewal courses at CPR Nashville:

Basic Life Support Renewal Classes- Every two years healthcare providers that are already certified in Basic Life Support (BLS) for healthcare providers must renew their skills in order to maintain their certification which is essential, as the American Heart Association is constantly doing research to improve survival rates after cardiac arrest.  Students will get to practice compressions and rescue breathing for infants, children, and adults. There will also be a detailed review for all age groups of how to operate an AED, compression/ventilation ratios, and rescuing the choking victim. The course fee is $70.

ACLS Renewal Classes- The Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) recertification class can be taken by any provider who has already successfully completed the initial ACLS course where students will get to review key changes made by American Heart Association to their guidelines for treating cardiovascular and respiratory emergencies. Students will also receive a guided review of the algorithms, electrical therapies, pharmacology, and team dynamics. The course fee is $199.

PALS Renewal Classes- The Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) recertification class in Nashville can be taken by anyone who has previously completed the initial AHA PALS course. The PALS renewal class will review changes and updates that have been made to the pediatric treatment algorithms. Students will get to review algorithms for respiratory emergencies, shock, and cardiovascular emergencies. Students will then practice their skills to demonstrate their ability to manage cases and finally take an exam. The program fee is $199.

Effect of Tea on Heart:

Out of all types, it is green tea which is considered to be “healthy tea” as it has been linked with improved blood vessel function and lowering the risk of dying of cardiovascular disease. The benefits of green tea can be attributed to presence of a greater number of catechins (a type of flavonoid) than black tea. Drinking a lot of green tea or black tea (possibly up to six cups a day) may help prevent cardiovascular disease. But more research is needed as these studies aren’t conclusive. It is better to consume tea in moderate amounts and it is silly if you begin to drink either of the two for the sake of heart health. It is advisable that you consult your doctor about caffeine and whether you should avoid or restrict it. Try and use a sugar substitute.

To join a CPR course at CPR Nashville, call us on 615-397-9316.

Effect of Performance Enhancing Drugs on the Heart and CPR Nashville

Performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) are quite widespread in high schools, colleges and gyms across United States. The drugs are very popular among the youngsters which they see as an easy means to achieve what they want which involves improving their competitive performance, losing weight or for improving their body image. Doping increases the risk for a number of serious health problems like heart-related death and long-term cardiovascular damage.

Before going ahead with our discussion about the effect of PEDs on heart, read to know more about the CPR classes. The CPR procedures comprise chest compressions and rescue breaths. Proper application of the techniques can lead to the survival of a victim involved in a cardiac emergency which can either be a cardiac arrest or heart attack. It is advisable to choose an accredited training center for acquiring training such as the AHA certified CPR Nashville. Both theoretical and practical training are imparted at the center. At the end of an American Heart Association CPR class Nashville, a student will be eligible for a certification after successfully passing a skills test and written exam.

Performance-enhancing Drugs:

Anabolic androgenic steroids are the most commonly used PEDs which builds and strengthens muscles alongside reducing body fat. Some of the other PEDs include

1.      Human Growth Hormone is used for improving performance and increasing muscle.

2.      Human chorionic gonadotropin

3.      Erythropoietin- it is mainly used by endurance athletes to increase the number of Red Blood Cells in the body. 

4.      Stimulants- Amphetamines – including attention deficit- hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications – can function as PEDs when they are used to enhance mental performance and physical functioning.

As per reports, athletes at less competitive levels – including high school and college-level sports – may feel pressured to dope to improve their chances of winning at their sport or being recruited which means doping is not only prevalent among professional athletes. Teenage girls resort to doping for losing weight whereas teenage boys use them for the purpose of building muscle in order to conform to a certain conventional body image.

Cardiovascular Risks- Use of anabolic steroids significantly increases the risk of potentially fatal conditions, including heart attack and heart rhythm problems. Not only that, the steroids can raise bad cholesterol while lowering good cholesterol levels which contributes to long-term cardiovascular disease. The risk is the highest for the young athletes who have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy which is an inherited thickening of the heart muscle. The steroids have also been shown to thicken the main pumping chamber of the heart, could worsen hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. 

Warning signs of PEDs:

Physical Changes- A few of the drastic changes in appearance to look out for include big gains in muscle in boys or breast enlargement; increased acne in boys and girls; and quick weight loss, excess body hair growth, and a deepening voice in girls.

Too Much Concern with Performance in Sports- An individual who’s an athlete may show extreme pressures to win. He or she may make sudden gains in athletic performance that training alone can't quite explain.

Too Much Concern about Appearance- A teen or young adult expressing feelings of being too weak or overweight, accompanied by sudden physical changes can be a warning sign.

Emotional Changes- Anabolic steroids can cause emotional changes, including angry outbursts.

Join a CPR program today at CPR Nashville and contribute towards the safety of cardiac arrest victims in out-of-hospital cases. You can either register online or call on 615-397-9316 for the same.