Symptoms, Causes and Risk Factors of Ventricular Fibrillation

Ventricular Fibrillation is an abnormal heart rhythm that occurs when the ticker beats with rapid, erratic electrical impulses that causes the ticker’s pumping chambers- the ventricles- to quiver uselessly, instead of pumping oxygen-rich blood. Ventricular fibrillation is a life-threatening emergency necessitating immediate attention, it causes the person to collapse within seconds. It is the most common cause of sudden cardiac death. Emergency treatment options include cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and shocks to the heart with a device called an automated external defibrillator (AED).

Symptoms:

Unconsciousness (loss of consciousness) is the most common sign. Ventricular fibrillation can also occur due to ventricular tachycardia (VT) - a condition in which the lower chambers of your heart beat too rapidly. Signs and symptoms of VT include chest pain, rapid heartbeat (tachycardia), shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, loss of consciousness.

When to Seek Medical Help:

Seek medical help with immediate effect if you or someone else is experiencing the above signs and symptoms.

1.      Dial 911 or the emergency number in your area.

2.      Check for a pulse if the person is unconscious.

3.      Perform CPR to help maintain blood flow to the organs until an electrical shock (defibrillation) can be given by staring with pushing hard and fast on the person's chest — about 100 compressions a minute. Only if you are trained in CPR that you check the person’s airway or deliver rescue breaths.

4.      Get hold of an AED device that is available in an increasing number of places, such as in airplanes, police cars and shopping malls. AEDs can deliver an electrical shock that may restart heartbeats.

Causes of Ventricular Fibrillation:

The cause isn’t always known with the most common cause of Ventricular Fibrillation being a problem in the electrical impulses traveling through your ticker after a first heart attack or problems resulting from a scar in your heart's muscle tissue from a previous heart attack. VF sometimes begins as a rapid heartbeat called ventricular tachycardia (VT), which again is caused by abnormal electrical impulses that start in the ventricles. VT mainly occurs in people with a heart-related problem, such as scars or damage from a heart attack, it can last 30 seconds and may not cause any symptoms, at the same time VT may be a sign of more-serious heart problems. Palpitations, dizziness or fainting will occur if VT lasts more than 30 seconds. If left untreated, VT often leads to ventricular fibrillation. Most VF cases are tied with some form of heart disease.

Risk Factors:

1.      Previous heart attack

2.      Previous episode of ventricular fibrillation

3.      Congenital heart disease (heart defect one is born with)

4.      Cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease)

5.      Injuries causing damage to the heart muscle, such as electrocution

6.      Electrolyte abnormalities, such as with potassium or magnesium

Prevention:

Talk to your doctor regarding genetic screening if you have a first-degree relative with an inherited heart condition because early identification of an inherited heart issue can guide preventive care and reduce your risk of complications.

For CPR training, make sure to select a certified training site, such as 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 training classes after successfully passing a skills test and written exam. Contact CPR Nashville on 615-397-9316 to register for a course. 

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.

Get CPR Trained For Facing Up To Serious Health Issues In Nashville

 We all know that it is always better to be safe than sorry so we should equip ourselves with all the requisite and essential life-saving techniques for the purpose of facing and overcoming any serious situation in terms of health with full gusto. With training in the life-saving techniques you can feel secure in facing up to any emergency situation involving some other person with full confidence. The life-saving skills will always come handy for you so training in the techniques will be worth every penny of yours. One of the most important of the life-saving techniques specially for the purpose of overcoming cardiac and airway emergencies such as choking, drowning, etc is CPR or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation which involves a successive cycle of chest compressions and rescue breaths.

CPR training Nashville will always come for your use in all kinds of emergency situations. During the time of a sudden cardiac arrest in the victim the heart becomes unable to pump blood to the important organs in the body such as the lungs, brain and other important organs and the process of CPR helps in the process of circulation which helps in normalizing the condition of the patient until the arrival of doctor. You should remember that you should continue with the process of CPR until there is the availability of an AED or Automated External Defibrillator which mainly helps in restoring the normal rhythm in the heart of the rhythm.

Cardiac arrest is considered to be one of the most serious health issues striking almost a lot many people claiming their lives each year and CPR is a life-saving technique which is said to be a beneficial technique which can revive a patient back to life or stabilize the condition of a patient until the arrival of a doctor or emergency medical services. So for overcoming the grave health problems specially involving other people it is always best that you enroll for the CPR classes in reputed AHA certified training sites as only in such institutes can you gather proper knowledge in the techniques under the supervision of the expert AHA certified instructors. The techniques that you will learn in the

CPR Training Is a Must for Soldiers

Are you grooming yourself for joining the army to protect your country? Well, the aspiration to become soldier is obviously a noble one. However, only possessing the aspiration or dreaming about the job is not all. If you really want to protect your motherland and your countrymen, you need to be extremely careful about the steps you take toward starting a successful career. Maintaining a healthy physique and preparing for the interview is not all that you have got to do. You also need to know, how to save life at the time of an emergency and for that you need to have CPR and basic life support training from any professional.

  

Why Is It Important For A Soldier To Know CPR?

Whenever it comes to the job of a soldier, the first and foremost thing that comes to mind is guarding the frontiers. While the very next thought is to save the country’s pride during a war. However, that is not just all about the duty of a soldier. Army men are often deployed to save people’s life during major crashes and also during natural calamities. If someone does not have the basic life support training, he will never be able to bring back an unconscious person to life and save his life. CPR training in Nashville can be obtained at ease from different reputed institutions, which offer courses according to the guidelines of the American Heart Association. Almost every country now appoints soldiers with CPR certification. So, do not make any delay in enrolling yourself.

How to Get CPR certification?

You can get a CPR certificate easily after completing the course for which you have enrolled. There are several training centers, which offer complete practical as well as theoretical knowledge of CPR. You can register for any of them and get started with the training. Online classes are also available these days. Therefore, registering yourself and acquiring the required knowledge is not at all a tough job.

CPR, BLS and First Aid Is Not The Same

Whether you want to be a soldier and have enrolled yourself for a course to prepare yourself for the job, or you want to pursue some other profession, you need to have a clear understanding of CPR. The very first thing that you need to consider in this regard is that, CPR is not similar to basic life support program or first-aid program. Therefore, if you possess the knowledge of basic life support and first-aid, you still have the need to CPR training, to receive the certificate.

There are many institutions, which offer CPR, BLS as well as first aid training. If you want to get all the trainings, you can get yourself registered for all of them. Before enrolling yourself, it is always a wise decision to check what the program module has to offer. You are also recommended to check the fee that the institution charges for the program that they offer. Also check out, when and how you will get the certificate of successful CPR course completion.