Cardiomyopathy Prevention Tips And Treatment Measures And AHA CPR Nashville Classes

Individuals who have cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease) but no signs and symptoms may not need treatment. There are different types of cardiomyopathy. Dilated cardiomyopathy that come on suddenly sometimes, may even go on its own. Treatment is needed in other instances that depends on a few factors including the type of cardiomyopathy, severity of symptoms and complications, your age and overall health. The objectives when treating the condition includes stopping the disease from worsening, managing conditions that cause or contribute to the disease, lowering complications and the risk of a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), controlling symptoms in order to live as normally as possible.

You cannot predict the occurrence of a sudden cardiac arrest. What you can do is stay prepared to handle such emergencies efficiently. Proper application of the CPR procedure (a combination of chest compressions and rescue breaths) can restore the life of a cardiac arrest victim. To sign up for an American HeartAssociation CPR class Nashville, don’t look beyond the AHA certified CPR Nashville in Tennessee. Classes are conducted through a series of audio and video lectures and hands-on practice.

Treatments for Cardiomyopathies:

Lifestyle Changes:

1.      A healthy lifestyle includes a healthy diet and regular physical activity. Your diet should include a variety of fruits, vegetables and grains where half of your grains should be coming from whole-grain products. Go for foods that are low in saturated and trans fats with some healthy choices being lean meats, poultry without skin, non-fried fish, beans as well as fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products. Prepare foods with little salt as too much salt can raise your risk of high blood pressure. Opt for foods and beverages that are low in added sugar. Avoid alcohol. Maintain a healthy weight by staying within your daily calorie needs. Be as physically active as you can, talk to your doctor with regards to the most appropriate activity for you.

2.      Quit smoking

3.      Avoid alcohol and illegal drugs

4.      Reduce stress

5.      Get enough sleep

6.      Treat underlying conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes

Medications:

1.      Medicines that lower blood pressure include ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, beta blockers and calcium channel blockers.

2.      Medicines that slow the heart rate include beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, and digoxin.

3.      Antiarrhythmics, help prevent arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats).

4.      Prevent blood clot formation if you have dilated cardiomyopathy with Anticoagulants (PDF), or blood thinners.

5.      Medications like corticosteroids are used to reduce inflammation.

6.      Remove excess fluid and sodium from the bodywith Diuretics, or “water pills”.

Surgical and Nonsurgical Procedures for Cardiomyopathy:

1.      Septal Myectomy- This open-heart surgery is considered for people who have obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and severe symptoms.

2.      Surgically Implanted Devices-Surgeons can implant several types of devices in the body to help the ticker work better, including pacemaker, implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), left ventricular assist device, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device.

3.      Heart Transplant- This is a last resort for individuals who’ve end-stage heart failureduring which a person’s diseased heart is replaced with a healthy heart from a deceased donor.

Preventing Cardiomyopathy:

Inherited types of cardiomyopathy cannot be prevented. But there are steps you can take to lower your risk for conditions that may lead to (or complicate) cardiomyopathy, such as coronary heart disease, high blood pressure and heart attack. An underlying disease or condition can also lead to the condition. You can prevent complications presented by cardiomyopathy by treating the initial problem early enough.

Get regular checkups with your doctor, follow your healthcare provider’s advice about lifestyle changes, take your medications exactly as prescribed by your doctor- to control the underlying conditions of high blood pressure, diabetes and high blood cholesterol.

For more information or to sign up for a CPR course at CPR Nashville, call us on 615-397-9316.

Facts about Sleep and Heart Disease and AHA CPR Classes in Nashville

Sleep, apart from exercise and eating nutritious foods, is an extremely important factor that can help increase heart health. The better night’s sleep you get, the healthier your heart will be. As per the American Heart Association, poor sleep quality is linked to an increased risk of high blood pressure, a potential cause of heart disease. 

It is a heart disease that leads to life-threatening cardiac emergencies like a cardiac arrest or heart attack. Such a victim would require immediate treatment for survival. Each and every individual should sign up for an American Heart association CPR class Nashville for learning the valuable life-saving procedures. The techniques comprise chest compressions and rescue breaths. Proper application can increase the survival rates among cardiac arrest victims. Make sure to select a certified training center for acquiring training such as the AHA certified CPR Nashville in Tennessee.

The biggest risk factors of cardiovascular disease include high blood pressure and high cholesterol. As per a study, poor quality sleep puts individuals at significantly increased risk of developing high blood pressure.

Amount of Sleep Recommended- The amount of sleep required by an individual varies from person to person. But most people need at least seven hours of sleep per night. Youngsters need more than that compared to older adults who may need less. As per the American Heart Association, most people need six to eight hours of sleep each day and that too little or too much can increase the risk of cardiovascular problems.

Positive Effects- People who get seven to eight hours of sleep have more alertness and better focus. They have less depression and anxiety. Getting a good night’s sleep has a positive impact on the metabolism and also provides weight loss benefits. 

Negative Effects of Lack of Sleep- Lack of sleep impacts the ticker in a big way. Individuals who are sleep deprived have slower metabolism and face more difficulty losing weight.

Effect of Sleep on Menopausal Women- Sometimes the sleep gets affected in women especially the ones who go through menopause which can often be attributed to hot flashes and night sweats which again can be due to their activity level and metabolism.

Ways to improve sleep habits:

1.      Avoid Excess Caffeine- Avoid excess stimulants, such as caffeine, particularly before bed as they may keep you awake.

2.      Physical Activity- You need to get adequate exercise. Any form of physical activity would do. As per the AHA’s exercise standards, it is important to schedule in 40 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise at least three to four times per week.

3.      Develop a Proper Evening Routine- Develop an effective evening routine of preparing for bed that includes turning off electronic devices and having soothing activities such as a hot shower or bath. Some other things that can be helpful in inducing sleep are drinking chamomile or herbal sleepy-time tea, reading, praying or meditating.

4.      Say ‘no’ to Sleep Medications- Sleep medications can be harmful, even if used infrequently. As per a latest study, those using prescription sleeping pills as few as 18 times per year—less than twice a month—were more than three times more likely to die. It is advisable that you take sleeping medications only with medical supervision as clearly indicated. Your doctor should know about all your medications.

At CPR Nashville, you can either register for a class online or call on 615-397-9316 for the same.

Facts about Chest Pain you should know and AHA CPR Nashville Classes

Angina, in simple words, is chest pain, discomfort or tightness which may present in the form of an angina attack, pain, or discomfort in the chest that typically lasts from 1 to 15 minutes. It is not a disease, but a symptom of heart disease. Attacks are caused by reduced oxygen in the blood reaching the heart. Treatment options include adopting a few healthy lifestyle measures and medications.

The best way to keep heart disease at bay is by managing high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Heart disease can lead to life-threatening cardiac emergencies like the occurrence of a cardiac arrest or heart attack. The best form of treatment is proper application of the life-saving CPR techniques that comprise chest compressions and rescue breaths. For an American Heart Association CPR class Nashville, select an accredited training center for acquiring training such as the AHA certified CPR Nashville. Certified instructors conduct the classes. There are courses for both healthcare and non-healthcare providers. 

Types of Angina:

Stable or chronic angina- Stable angina occurs when the heart is working harder than usual like during exercise. It has a regular pattern and can be predicted to happen over months or even years. Rest or medication relieves symptoms.

Unstable angina- Unstable angina does not follow a regular pattern. It can occur when at rest and is considered less common and more serious because rest and medication do not relieve it. This version can signal a future myocardial infarction within a short time.

Variant and microvascular angina- Variant or Prinzmetal's angina and microvascular angina are rare and can occur at rest without any underlying coronary artery disease which is usually due to abnormal narrowing or relaxation of the blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the heart. Medicine can provide relief.

Some of the symptoms include:

It is felt in the chest region as

1.      squeezing

2.      pressure

3.      heaviness

4.      tightening

5.      burning or aching across the chest, usually starting behind the breastbone

6.      indigestion

7.      heartburn

8.      weakness

9.      sweating

10.  nausea

11.  cramping

12.  shortness of breath

Risk Factors:

1.      unhealthy cholesterol levels

2.      high blood pressure

3.      tobacco smoking

4.      diabetes

5.      being overweight or obese

6.      metabolic syndrome

7.      sedentary lifestyle

8.      being over 45 years of age for men and over 55 years of age for women

9.      a family history of early heart disease

Diagnosis:

1.      Electrocardiogram

2.      Stress test

3.      Chest X-ray

4.      Coronary angioplasty

5.      Blood tests

Treatment- The main goal of the treatment is to reduce pain, prevent symptoms, and lower the risk of myocardial infarction. Few of the lifestyle changes that can treat angina include

1.      Quit smoking

2.      Maintain healthy body weight

3.      Keep your cholesterol in check

4.      Avoid large meals

5.      Avoid or manage stress

6.      Eat fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat or no-fat dairy products, and lean meat and fish

Medications include

1.      beta blockers

2.      calcium channel blockers

3.      angiotensin-covering enzyme (ACE) inhibitors

4.      oral anti-platelet medicines

5.      anticoagulants

 

High blood pressure medications may also be prescribed which have been designed to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, slow the ticker rate, relax blood vessels, reduce strain on the organ, and prevent blood clots from forming. Surgical procedures may also be necessary in some cases like angioplasty or coronary bypass grafting.

You can either sign up for a course at CPR Nashville online or call on 615-397-9316 for registration.