Diagnostic Tests for Cardiomyopathy and AHA CPR Classes in Nashville, TN

Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body. Cardiomyopathy can lead to heart failure. The main types of cardiomyopathy include dilated, hypertrophic and restrictive cardiomyopathy. Treatments range from medications, surgically implanted devices to a heart transplant in severe cases which depends on which type of cardiomyopathy one has and how serious it is.

The best way to handle cardiac emergencies in out-of-hospital cases is by going for an American Heart Association CPR ClassNashville in Tennessee. You can sign up for a program at the AHA accredited CPR Nashville. Certified instructors conduct the classes through a series of audio and video lectures and hands-on practice. At the end of the classes, a student becomes eligible for a certification after successfully passing a skills test and written exam. 

Diagnostic Tests:

A healthcare provider may recommend one of the following diagnostic tests:

Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG): An EKG records the heart’s electrical activity, which shows how fast the heart is beating and whether its rhythm is steady or irregular. An EKG can be used to detect cardiomyopathy as well as other problems like heart attacks, arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) and heart failure. 

Chest X-ray- A chest X-ray takes pictures of the organs and structures inside the chest, and also shows whether the heart is enlarged. 

Echocardiogram (Echo)- An echocardiogram (echo) is a test that uses sound waves to create a moving picture of the heart which shows the size and shape of the heart as well as how well or not well the heart is working. There are several types of echocardiography which include “stress echo” with another type being “transesophageal echo (or TEE)” that provides a view of the back of the heart.

Holter and event monitors- Both these devices record the heart’s electrical activity during the normal day-to-day activities. While a Holter monitor records the heart’s electrical activity for a full 24- or 48-hour period, an event monitor records the heart’s electrical activity only at certain times.

Stress Test- Stress tests may include nuclear heart scanning, echo, and positron emission tomography (PET) scanning. The main objective is to make the heart work hard (and beat fast) while tests are performed.

Some of the diagnostic procedures involves:

1.      Myocardial biopsy- This procedure involves the doctor removing a piece of the heart muscle, which can be done during cardiac catheterization which is then studied under a microscope to see whether changes in cells have occurred, that may indicate cardiomyopathy.

2.      Cardiac catheterization- This procedure helps in checking the pressure and blood flow in the heart’s chambers.

3.      Genetic Testing- Genetic testing can show how Cardiomyopathy runs in families and can reveal the chances of parents passing the genes for the disease on to their children. A healthcare provider may suggest this procedure to look for signs of the disease in your parents, brothers and sisters or other family members.

Contribute towards the safety of cardiac arrest victims by joining a CPR program today. You can either register for a course online at CPR Nashville or call on 615-397-9316.

Risks of High Cholesterol and AHA CPR Class Nashville, TN

According to a recent study, relatively young individuals with slightly abnormal cholesterol levels have a real risk of developing signs of heart disease by the time they are 45 years old. High cholesterol and high blood pressure are the biggest risk factors of heart disease. Heart disease can lead to life-threatening cardiac emergencies like a cardiac arrest or heart attack. A victim would require immediate treatment for survival with the only form of appropriate treatment being proper application of the CPR techniques that comprises chest compressions and rescue breaths.

The only way to get properly trained in the techniques is by going for an American Heart Association CPR class Nashville. Make sure to select an accredited training center such as the AHA certified CPR Nashville. Certified instructors conduct the classes through a series of audio and video lectures and hands-on practice. A student will be eligible for a certification at the end of the training classes after successfully passing a skills test and written exam.

Cholesterol is a fat (lipid) which is produced by the liver and is crucial for normal body functioning. Cholesterol exists in the outer layer of every cell in our body and has many functions. It is a waxy steroid and is transported in the blood plasma of all animals. It is the main sterol synthesized by animals (including humans). Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), also known as bad cholesterol levels is the main factor behind coronary artery disease. As per the researchers, individuals with higher LDL levels were at greater risk of accumulation of calcium in the coronary arteries - a strong predictor of heart disease.

LDL levels are considered as good if they are below 100.

Some of the risks include:

Angina - chest pain or discomfort that occurs when your heart muscle does not get enough blood.

Higher coronary heart disease risk - an abnormality of the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the heart.

Atherosclerosis - narrowing of the arteries.

Stroke and mini-stroke - occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery or vein, interrupting the flow to an area of the brain. Stroke also takes place when a blood vessel breaks. Brain cells begin to die.

Heart attack or Myocardial Infarction (MI) - occurs when the supply of blood and oxygen to an area of heart muscle is blocked, usually by a clot in a coronary artery which causes heart muscle to die.

High cholesterol gives rise to other cardiovascular conditions like diseases of the heart and blood vessels.

Eating a proper and healthy diet, performing an exercise on a regular basis and proper weight maintenance significantly reduces the chance of coronary heart disease by keeping your cholesterol in control.

Keep yourself fit and healthy to keep your ticker healthy. For a CPR program at CPR Nashville, you can either register online or call on 615-397-9316 for registration. The experienced American Heart Association instructors of CPR Nashville are trained to ensure the highest quality training experience possible. We want all of our students to be successful and leave feeling confident in the skills they have learned. All our instructors are AHA certified and then complete additional training that focuses on our stress-free philosophy. Each of our instructors focus on students having fun, being relaxed, and becoming proficient in the skills they are taught during each of our classes.

Link between Inflammation and Heart Attack and Heart Disease Risk in Nashville

Inflammation can be both good and bad as far as arteries are concerned. In its negative role, it can aid atherosclerosis, the plaque-forming process that clogs up arteries and raises the risk of heart attacks and strokes. But as per a new research, during the advanced stages of atherosclerosis, inflammation helps to keep the plaques stable, which reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Prior to moving ahead with our discussion, let us discuss a bit about the life-saving CPR techniques. 

The procedures comprise chest compressions and rescue breaths and proper application can revive the life of a victim involved in a cardiac emergency which can either be a cardiac arrest or heart attack. Select an accredited training center for acquiring training such as the AHA certified CPR Nashville where certified instructors conduct the classes through a series of audio and video lectures and hands-on practice. There are courses for both healthcare as well as non-healthcare providers so go through the course curriculum prior to signing up for a course. Read to know more about a “healthcare provider CPR Nashville” program.

Basic Life Support Training Classes- The Basic Life Support for Healthcare Provider course is designed to prepare individuals working in healthcare, and those going to school who are planning a career in healthcare. Students will learn how to provide chest compressions, deliver rescue breaths, operate an AED, and many other skills necessary to treat cardiac and respiratory emergencies. 100% AHA certified!

The BLS class should be taken by:

1.      Nursing, Dental and Medical Students
2.      Doctors, Nurses
3.      Respiratory therapists
4.      Dentists, Dental Hygienists
5.      Pharmacists, Radiology and Laboratory Technicians
6.      Physical / Occupational Therapy Assistants
7.      EMTs, Paramedics
8.      Nurse Practitioners, CRNAs
9.      Anesthesiologists
10.  and ALL OTHER Healthcare Professionals.
 

The program fee is $70.

Atherosclerosis and plaques:

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 795,000 people have a stroke and 790,000 have a heart attack each year in the United States. They mostly occur as the result of the complex process of atherosclerosis. The process builds up plaques in the inside walls of arteries, or blood vessels that supply the heart and other organs and tissues with oxygen and nutrients. The plaques are made of calcium, fats, cholesterol, and other bloodborne substances which harden and cause the affected arteries to narrow and impede blood flow with advancement in atherosclerosis which significantly increases the risk of heart attack if the artery nurtures heart muscle, or stroke if it is one that feeds the brain.

Heart Disease Risk:

The biggest risk factor includes high cholesterol and high blood pressure. As per a new research, iron may have a protective effect against cardiovascular disease which means iron deficiency may raise heart disease risk. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among people in the United States, responsible for approximately 610,000 deaths each year. CAD occurs when the flow of blood is blocked or slowed down and becomes unable to reach the ticker properly. As per estimates, more than 370,000 U.S. adults die as a result of CAD every year. CAD may lead to angina or even a heart attack which is often a consequence of atherosclerosis.

Previous studies have suggested a link between iron levels and cardiovascular disease, but it has been difficult to pick this apart from other confounding factors.

Iron may Protect Against CAD:

A team of some of the best doctors examined the genetic data of more than 48,000 people where they specifically focused on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which are the most common sort of human genetic variation, in an attempt to identify those that indicated a low or high iron status. SNPs can serve as biological markers, enabling scientists to find genetic locations for certain diseases which can increase or decrease the level of iron in a person's body. The results confirmed higher levels of iron reduce the likelihood of developing CAD.

Hope, you find this information useful. Contribute towards the safety of cardiac arrest victims by undergoing CPR training at CPR Nashville. You can either register for a program online or call on 615-397-9316 for the same.