Facts about Silent Atrial Fibrillation and AHA Certified CPR Nashville in TN

When it comes to the symptoms of Atrial Fibrillation (A-fib), they are so subtle and signs can be so vague that you you’ll never think they’re caused by a heart condition. But, you could have atrial fibrillation and not even know it as some people have no symptoms at all, it is called silent A-fib.
A-fib Diagnosis:

Your heart’s upper chambers can’t fill up all the way with blood when you have A-fib (a common type of irregular heartbeat) which can lead to formation of clots and then travel to your brain to cause a stroke. Doctors are likely to pick up A-fib signs at regular physicals. Tests like electrocardiogram that track the electrical signals your ticker makes as it beats- are used to diagnose this condition. A-fib can go away on its own for some people whereas others will need treatment to prevent blood clots and strokes.

Symptoms:
Out of the many possible A-fib symptoms, some are so subtle that they may be confusing. Fatigue or lack of energy, shortness of breath, weakness, quick or uneven pulse, sweating; pain, pressure or tightness in your chest; heartbeat that races, pounds or flutters- could be signs of A-fib.
A-fib Risk Factors:

You are more likely to get A-fib if you have risk factors, such as obesity, older age, high blood pressure, family history of the condition, previous heart surgery, diabetes, thyroid problems, chronic kidney disease, lung disease, sleep apnea, alcoholism and other heart conditions like heart disease, heart valve problems, or heart failure (HF).

If left untreated, the condition can lead to blood clots that could cause a stroke. The rapid heartbeat of A-fib can weaken your heart muscle which can lead to HF which is when your ticker can’t pump enough blood to your organs. HF causes severe fatigue, weakness, and fluid buildup in your legs and feet. Treating the condition can help you reset your quick or irregular heartbeat which may help prevent blood clots and lower your risk of stroke.

If you have symptoms that could be A-fib especially if you have any risk factors, immediately fix an appointment with your doctor who can diagnose the condition and prescribe any treatments you need. Do not ignore chest pain or pressure, it could be a heart attack. Call 911 and go to the emergency room with immediate effect.

Tools to Check for A-fib Signs:
Healthcare providers test the rate of heart and rhythm to diagnose atrial fibrillation. You may be required to wear a heart monitor for a few days, weeks, or all the time to track your ticker’s activity. Newer devices such as heart rate trackers, heart-smart watches, smartphone apps, etc.- could be worn on the wrist or slipped into the pocket which can alert you and your doctor to possible AFib.

The best way to handle out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases is by joining a CPR class and getting trained in the life-saving technique. Select a certified training site for acquiring training, such as the AHA certified CPR Nashville in Tennessee. Call on 615-397-9316 to sign up for a course.

Benefits of Quitting Smoking for your Heart

You can do your heart a huge favor by saying goodbye to tobacco regardless of whether you’re a longtime smoker or have just picked up the habit. Remember it’s never too late to quit as far as your heart is concerned because the body starts to heal as soon as you smoke your last cigarette.

The heart rate and blood pressure goes up temporarily every time you inhale cigarette smoke which puts extra stress on the heart thus forcing it to work harder. Some of the other ways that smoking damages over time is it clogs arteries, fills lungs with tar, thickens blood, weakens bones, increases clotting and inflammation and weakens the immune system. See fast results, as fast as just 20 minutes after you stop, your blood pressure and heart rate will go down. Your blood flow will start getting better in 2-3 weeks. Furthermore, your odds of heart disease will go down.

How Smoking Harms your Ticker:

The chemicals in the cigarettes harm the ticker in many ways.

1.      Carbon monoxide (a poisonous gas) enters the lungs and then the bloodstream that steals oxygen from the red blood cells thus less of oxygen gets to your organs and tissues. It also hardens and stiffens the artery walls which can lead to a heart attack.

2.      Nicotine found in both tobacco and e-cigarettes narrows the blood vessels increasing blood pressure and heart rate causing the ticker to pump harder and faster than normal.

3.      Chemical changes in the body is another ill-effect of smoking. Cells in your bloodstream called platelets clump together when they react with toxic cigarette ingredients that makes the blood thicker and stickier making it harder for your heart to push it through your blood vessels.

4.      Smoking raises levels of LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, and a blood fat called triglycerides that cause build up of waxy plaque in your arteries. Simultaneously, it lowers HDL, or "good" cholesterol -- the kind that prevents plaque from forming.

5.      Arteries get stretched and scarred when blood pressure is high like while smoking. Their lining gets damaged that lets growth of plaque and combine with sticky blood cells which raises risk for blood clots that can block oxygenated blood flow to your ticker or other vital organs. That can eventually cause heart attack and strokes.

6.      Apart from damaging lungs, smoking makes it harder to breathe too that can keep you from the usual exercising that is required.

Benefits of Quitting Smoking:

Fortunately, most of the damage caused by tobacco is reversible. The risk of blood clot gets lower when you quit. Your “good” cholesterol will go up and “bad” cholesterol will go down that’ll slow down the buildup of new plaque deposits. Within two weeks after quitting, you’ll come to realize it's easier to exercise without feeling short of breath. You’ll be able to breathe deeply again over the next few months. Many individuals swap food for smoking when they first quit that may lead to putting on a few pounds first. Do not worry about it, your body will get accustomed to a smoke-free life after a little while. You’d easily be able to get your weight under control with regular exercise and following a healthy diet.

Cut your risk of having a second heart attack in half if you give up cigarettes after a first one. After a bypass surgery, you can keep your arteries healthy and help prevent further clogs and disease by quitting smoking. Furthermore, you'll also protect your friends and family from the health risks of secondhand smoke.

Consult with your doctor for suggestions on how to end your tobacco habit.

Proper application of the CPR procedure can contribute towards the safety of cardiac arrest victims. Select a certified training center for acquiring training such as, AHA certified CPR Nashville in Tennessee. For more information, or to sign up for a course, contact CPR Nashville on 615-397-9316.

Causes, Risks, Symptoms and Treatment for Ventricular Fibrillation

Ventricular Fibrillation (V-fib) is one of the most dangerous types of arrhythmias which affects the heart’s ventricles. An arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat that starts in the ventricle is called ventricular fibrillation which occurs when the electrical signals that tell your heart muscle to pump cause your ventricles to quiver (fibrillate) instead which means your blood is not pumping blood out to your body. V-fib may happen several times a day in some people. Sustained V-fib requires immediate medical attention as it can lead to cardiac arrest and death.

Causes- V-fib can occur during certain medical conditions although the cause is not always known. It most commonly occurs during an acute heart attack or shortly thereafter. Heart muscle can become electrically unstable when it does not get enough blood flow thus causing dangerous rhythms. A ticker damaged by a heart attack or other heart muscle damage is susceptible to V-fib. Some of the other causes include electrolyte abnormalities like low potassium, certain medicines, and certain genetic diseases that affect the ticker's ion channels or electrical conduction.

The most common risk factors are prior heart attack, a weakened heart muscle (cardiomyopathy), genetic diseases like Long or Short QT syndrome, Brugada disease, or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, certain medicines that affect function of ticker, electrolyte abnormalities. The symptoms include near fainting or transient dizziness, acute shortness of breath, fainting and cardiac arrest.

A cardiac arrest victim would require immediate treatment for survival. The most appropriate treatment for handling out-of-hospital cardiac emergencies efficiently is proper application of the CPR procedure and defibrillator use. The CPR procedure comprise chest compressions and rescue breaths. Defibrillation use is taught in the CPR classes itself. For training, choose a certified training site such as the acclaimed CPR Nashville in Tennessee. Both theoretical and practical training are imparted to the students. Become certified at the end of the training classes.

V-fib Diagnosis:

A healthcare provider considers an individual’s vital signs like blood pressure and pulse, assesses one’s overall health and medical history, conducts a physical exam, consider tests of heart function, such as an electrocardiogram and a description of symptoms that an individual has to diagnose ventricular fibrillation.

Treating V-fib:

When it comes to treating V-fib, there are two stages where first tries to stop your V-fib immediately to restore a blood pressure and pulse whereas the main focus of the second stage is on reducing your chances of developing V-fib in the future.

CPR- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be the first response to V-fib that’ll keep your blood moving.

Defibrillation- This is required during or immediately after the ventricular fibrillation that involves application of an electric shock through an Automated External Defibrillator device that can correct the signals that are telling your heart muscles to quiver instead of pump.

Medication- Drugs may be given by your healthcare provider to help you control and prevent another episode. Additional medications may also be prescribed to control arrhythmia and reduce your risk over time.

Catheter Ablation- The main objective of this rarely used procedure for ventricular fibrillation is to eliminate electrical triggers of V-fib.

Join a CPR program today and gain the benefits. For more information or to register for a class, contact CPR Nashville on 615-397-9316.