A heart attack can be a very serious, and potentially fatal, medical issue. It is also usually terrifying both for the person experiencing it, and any onlookers or untrained assistants. The American Heart Association (AHA) is keen to promote the signs and symptoms of heart attacks to help you identify any warning signals early on—this has the potential to save the life of the sufferer.

What is a heart attack?

Your heart is a major organ, and it requires oxygen to function correctly. Oxygen is delivered around the body by your blood, and most of the time, your body is excellent at making sure the correct level of oxygen is where it needs to be. If, however, something goes wrong, and the oxygen-laden blood is unable to flow through your heart, you will suffer a heart attack, also known as a myocardial infarction.

What are the causes?

Put simply, a heart attack is caused by the blood supply to the heart being cut off, so the organ can’t receive the oxygen it needs. One of the most common causes is arteriosclerosis, a buildup of plaque along the wall of your blood vessels. High levels of cholesterol usually cause arteriosclerosis and, in extreme cases, may require surgery to rectify.

What are the signs?

A heart attack can be tricky to detect, especially if you have not experienced one before. There are several signs to watch out for, and understanding and recognizing these could save a life. You can find out more information at CPR classes or a first aid class, which can provide a closer insight.

Common symptoms include:

• Cold sweats
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Lightheadedness or sudden dizziness
• Nausea, indigestion, abdominal pain or heartburn
• Pressure, pain or tightness, or a squeezing or aching sensation in your chest or arms. This may then spread to your back, neck, or jaw

What can I do?

The best first aid for a heart attack is CPR. It is crucial that you get blood to the heart as soon as possible. CPR should only be carried out by someone trained, and CPR classes are a great way to make sure you are ready. An ambulance should be called, and it is important that you tell the operator you suspect a heart attack.

If you find someone passed out, check their pulse and breathing as the first priority. CPR is only necessary if both are missing. You could do more harm than good if it is not essential.

The best thing you can do to help someone having a heart attack is to be prepared. CPR training has the potential to save lives and is a skill you should consider equipping yourself with. Not only will you learn how to administer CPR, you will become confident in using equipment such as an AED, and be more effective in an emergency, Training may also help you to identify the signs earlier, and this can be crucial.

Your heart is one of the hardest working organs in your body, and it is essential for maintaining good health and wellbeing. As you know from medical research, CPR classes, and general common sense, protecting our heart is hugely important. The stress of everyday life, however, can make it hard for this to be a priority.

To help you out, we have some of the top tips from the American Heart Association (AHA) to keep your heart healthy—from obtaining first aid training in using an AED and a proper CPR technique, to the best foods to keep your heart in the best possible shape.

Get moving

Cardiovascular exercise is essential for maintaining good heart health, so it is vital to get your heart rate up and get moving whenever you can. Guidelines recommend between 15 and 30 minutes a day, but if possible, you should aim for more than this. Whether you are a runner, a swimmer, or a dancer, find something you love and start having fun working out!

Keep an eye on your cholesterol

High blood cholesterol is one of the top causes of heart damage and disease, and it is a symptom which is often attributed to a poor diet. To help prevent this, keep cholesterol levels down by watching what you eat. Foods which are high in cholesterol, trans fat, or saturated fats should be avoided. Instead, try options such as fruits and veggies, lean chicken or turkey, whole grains, and fat-free dairy products.

Keep your weight in check

Maintaining a good healthy weight is important for keeping your heart healthy. Any weight loss needs to be sustainable, healthy, and controlled. A crash diet may make you look thinner, but it can put a considerable strain on your heart and lead to problems elsewhere in the body. Aim to eat around 200-300 calories a day less, move your body, and you will find that you can lose weight, and keep it off.

Quit smoking

If you are a smoker, cutting this out is the best thing you can do to promote your heart health. Nicotine increases your heart rate, and smoking has been linked to heart disease and an increased risk of strokes, blood clots, and damage.

Speak to a medical professional or support group if you need help kicking the habit—every part of your body will thank you for it. Cold turkey can work for some people, or you can join a plan which helps to wean you off the cigarettes. However you go about it, make the choice to quit today.

Get checked out regularly

No matter your age, lifestyle, or fitness levels, it is a good idea to have an annual checkup, almost like a birthday for your body. Arrange to have blood pressure and glucose levels checked, as well as your cholesterol and current weight.

Get trained!

First aid and CPR training are a great way to learn a lifesaving skill as well as find out more about how your heart works. CPR classes are often held within your local community, so do some research and start learning!

As any CPR class will tell you, recognizing and understanding the symptoms of a heart attack is crucial. Time is of the essence in these situations and knowing what you are dealing with means that first aid and CPR can be administered more quickly, or an AED used to help get the heart beating again.

Many of us are familiar with the more common symptoms, such as chest pain and nausea, but research by experts such as the American Heart Association (or AHA) recently found that the symptoms of a heart attack may present themselves differently in women to men. The signs are thought to be more silent, and this potentially makes them more dangerous, as they are less likely to be caught and diagnosed in time.

Whether you are aiming for certification, attending CPR training, or even just want to be more aware, it is imperative that these differences are recognized. It could save the lives of hundreds of women.

Chest pain or discomfort

Chest pain is the most obvious and easily seen sign of a heart attack in both men and women. Both sexes may experience a crushing feeling within the chest area, but women are more likely to also feel a fullness in the whole chest area –not only on the right-hand side. Many women have described it as ‘vice-like,’ and this is an obvious sign that something is wrong.

Radiating pain in the extremities

Women are far more likely to experience radiating pain, usually in the jaw, neck, arms, and back. This is often mistaken for muscle strain or another condition, especially if the patient is particularly active or has been under a lot of physical strain. The pain can be gradual or sharp and may create a waxing and waning effect. If this appears with other symptoms, it could be a heart attack.

Stomach pains

As with radiating pain, many women will dismiss stomach pain as something else, assuming that they have eaten food which disagrees with them, or that they are suffering from stomach flu, indigestion, or even menstrual cramps. In some cases, however, there could be a more sinister cause. If you feel as though an intense pressure is being applied to your abdominal area, this could be the sign that you are having a heart attack, and you should seek urgent medical attention.

Cold sweats

Cold sweats immediately before an attack are more common in women and can be an early symptom of what is coming. If you are experiencing a cold sweat in a calm situation, combined with tiredness and fatigue, this could be something more serious.

Noticing these signs can potentially save someone’s life, so whether you are an observer, a first aid responder in a workplace, or just interested in learning, make sure you have the tools you need to step in when it counts the most.

If you are with someone who suffers a heart attack, remember that CPR is the most effective solution to keeping them alive. It may be worth enrolling in CPR classes if you do not feel confident. This skill could make a huge difference.

Throughout our lives, we keep on top of learning a number of essential skills; learning to drive, cooking our favorite meal, and getting good at a language are all popular choices. There is one skill, however, which too many of us neglect: first aid.

Too many of us choose to overlook this, and it is understandable. The concept of being responsible for someone’s life is a scary one if you are not medically trained. When a situation occurs, you may be scared that your CPR technique will be wrong, that you will forget the meaning of AED, or that your training will vanish from your head.

The American Heart Association (AHA) is vocal about stressing the importance of CPR training, and getting yourself certified could be the difference between life and death. Here are some of the key reasons you should take the time to get trained and encourage you to enroll in local CPR Classes today!

You can make the most of a first aid kit

Learning first aid is not just about helping people when they need it the most. It can also teach you valuable skills about using, stocking and keeping a full first aid kit. If you are fully trained, you will be able to instinctively use it in an emergency, and provide more efficient and effective care.

You will become more safety conscious

Your training will not only help you to react if an emergency occurs, but it can also help you to prevent incidents from occurring in the first place. You will be able to spot hazards and do something to resolve them before they can develop into injuries or accidents. This will make your workplace safer, and allow you to be more aware and alert in your everyday life.

You can help reduce recovery time for patients

If an illness or injury is noticed and addressed quickly, it can be treated relatively easily, and without the need for further medical care or advanced aid. An ambulance is a fantastic resource, but they can take time to arrive at a scene; having an individual trained first can help to keep the patient safe and reduce their recovery time after treatment.

You could save a life

Attending simple CPR classes could give you the ability to save a life. The heart is an essential organ and is vital for survival. When CPR is employed and carried out correctly, it could be the difference between a victim surviving an incident or not. A simple first aid qualification has the potential to make a massive difference.

It can give you new teammates

Many classes and training sessions will take place in groups, such as colleagues or participants in a shared hobby. Learning a new skill together is a great way to bond, and can cause you to be more protective and aware of the other group members. You will become more aware of the wellbeing of those around you, and this leads to a safer environment for everyone.

As we advance in age, our body tends to become “worn out”. One particular organ that can become “worn out” overtime is the heart. When this happens, it can lead to what most people refer when they say “heart failure”. Not many realize, however, that anyone can develop heart failure.

When you have a hear failure, your heart is unable to work efficiently. This means that it would not be able to pump enough blood. In most cases, this would lead to congested lungs, fluid and water buildup around the ankles and the legs, and rapid or irregular heartbeats,

Conditions That Lead to Heart Failure

Heart failure does not just happen overnight. In most cases, the patient tends to have a pre-existing heart condition that, later, leads to a heart failure. Some of the most common conditions that can lead to heart failure would include:

• coronary artery disease
• high blood pressure
• heart valve disease
• lung conditions
• alcohol/ drug abuse

Such conditions as severe anemia, hyperthyroidism, and arrhythmia can also be sign that you have heart failure.

Now, an increased propensity for heart failure is not really very rare. In fact, about 6 million Americans live with heart failure with one in every 5 Americans over the age of 40 developing it over their lifetime.

Heart Failure is also something that can happen in children and adolescents. In this case, the cause is typically either over circulation failure or pump failure. Both typically present themselves in the form of breathing trouble, poor feeding, poor growth, sweating, or low blood pressure. A chest x-ray is often done in order to determine whether the heart is enlarged or not. Additional tests such as EKG and echocardiogram may also be done in order to determine the actual condition of the heart.

Critical Symptoms of Heart Failure

Certain symptoms of a heart failure warrant a call of the doctor. These symptoms would include:

• Unexplained increase in wright over a short period of time.
• More than the usual swelling in the ankles, feet and legs
• Extreme fatigue
• Lung infection
• Irregular and/ or fast heartbeat
• Restlessness
• Sudden and severe headache

Why do you need to be aware of the symptoms? Well, heart failure is considered to be one of the most costly conditions anyone can have. About 80% of overall national costs are due to hospitalization. The time you have to spend in the hospital would also mean lost wages and work time.

Treating and Dealing with Heart Failure

Some of the most common methods of treatment for this medical condition would include:

• administration of ACE inhibitors
• Use of beta-blockers
• Use of digoxin and blood vessel dilators

There are some medical service providers that also do cardiac rehabilitation. Cardiac rehabilitation is a combination of proper exercise regimen as well as a healthy lifestyle. The program also typically includes emotional support in the form of regular meetings with people who have similar conditions.

Of course, it is also a good idea to make sure that you have an AED on hand, or at least have the people around you undergo CPR certification.

When it comes to Sudden Cardiac Arrest, the survival rate can be quite disappointing. One of the reasons for this is the fact that not many people are aware of the proper way when it comes to dealing with it.

The AED Unit

The AED, or Automated External Defibrillator, is the best way to deal with an SCA situation. So how does it work? An AED is usually a small portable electronic device. It comes with two sticky pads that have electrodes. These sticky pads are typically referred to as defibrillator pads and are connected to the main electronic console by a pair of wire. In most cases, the AED unit comes with an LCD display that provides the user with instructions on how to proceed.

Keep in Mind

While AED is a nifty tool for assisting someone who has become unconscious, it is not always the answer. Fortunately, an AED is built to let you know if what the patient needs is defibrillation. You have to keep in mind that this only works for those suffering from cardiac arrest. If the patient is suffering from a heart attack, the best first-aid treatment would be to provide chest compression rather than defibrillation.

Now, using an AED is not as easy as putting all the wires in and sticking the pads on the victim’s chest. For one, you need to make sure that there is no water puddle near or around the victim. Keep in mind that water conducts electricity. If there is a water puddle around the victim, this might cause electrocution. In the same line, you also need to make sure that the chest area where the pads would go are also is also dry.

Now, when placing the pads, you have to place one pad right at the center of the patient’s chest above the nipples, while the other one goes on the left side of the rib cage below the left nipple. In most models of the AED, the message, “check electrodes” appear if the pads are not making proper contact with the skin. In case where the victim has a lot of chest hair, you need to make sure that you trim it out in order to give the pads more contact with the skin. Generally, the AED kit would include a small scissor in order to assist you in trimming the chest hairs. You also need to make sure that any necklaces or metallic objects near the chest are do not make contact with the victim and are removed before the defibrillator is applied. Keep in mind that, just like water, metal is a good conductor. Of course, the use of AED can be a bit complicated if the patient is wearing a pacemaker. If that is the case, the pads would have to be placed at least an inch away from the pacemaker.

Since operating an AED can be somewhat complicated, you should get in touch with companies that provide AED management training as well as CPR certifications.

For many people, heart pulse is nothing more than the regular “thumping of the heart”. At best, it just signifies that you are still alive. Not many realize that your pulse rate actually says a lot about your current state of health.

What Your Pulse Means?

Pulse is the term used to define the number of times your heart beats in a minute. It generally differs from one person to another, and could change over time. These changes play a significant role in determining your current state of health.

Defining the Normal Heart Rate

In most cases, the heart rate being measured when you undergo a physical checkup is what is known as the resting heart rate. This is when your heart pumps the lowest amount of blood, typically because you are sitting down or not doing anything. In most cases, a pulse can be felt on the wrists, on the inside of your elbow, the side of your neck, and the top of your foot. You, then, count the number of pulses over a 60-minute period. Generally, your resting heart rate does not change much wit moderate physical activities.

Now, you have to keep in mind that, the lower your blood pressure is, the better BUT there are certain limits. If you are already feeling dizzy, nauseous, dehydrated, and with clammy, pale skin as well as blurred vision, you might already be suffering from hypotension. Both hypertension and hypotension can lead to a heart attack since, in both cases, not enough oxygen is reaching the heart and the brain.

Factors That Affect Pulse Rate

There are a number of factors that can affect your pulse rate. Some of these would include the following:

• Air temperature
• Body position
• Body size
• Medication

That being the case, you have to keep in mind that a single occurrence of an elevated or very low blood pressure is not enough to diagnose someone as having hypertension or hypotension. This is because, the condition could have been brought about by the factors indicated above.

Your Blood Pressure and Your Heart Rate

While most people think that an increased heart rate or pulse results to a higher blood pressure, that is not the case. You have to remember that your blood vessels have the ability to dilate in order to allow more blood to flow. This means that the pressure needed in order to get your blood circulating remains the same. This is typically what happens when you are exercising – your heart rate doubles, but there is very minimal increase in your blood pressure.

So, When Should I Call A Doctor?

Most medical professionals recommend calling your doctor if you have unexplained and recurring fast pulse rate. It is also a good idea to make sure that you regularly monitor your pulse rate along with your blood pressure. This is particularly important if you are on beta blockers as your doctor can adjust the dosage of your medication or even change it based on your pulse rate. At the same time, it is also recommended that you keep an AED unit in your place just in case you or someone suffers from heart attack.

For most people, high blood pressure is not something that you should lose sleep over. What most do not understand is that, once a certain point is reached, hypertension can lead to heart attack. Here are some more myths and incorrect beliefs that you might have to know about:

It’s in the genes so you can’t do anything about it.

While the predisposition or tendency to develop hypertension could run in the family, it does not necessarily mean that you would have it and that you would not be able to do anything to keep yourself from suffering from it. Making the right lifestyle choices can help you stay away from hypertension.

 No table salt, no hypertension

Although salt generally increases the risk for hypertension, leaving it out of your meal does not automatically you are safe from hypertension. You have to keep in mind that it’s the sodium content that matters, and sodium can be found not just in your table salt but also in a lot of processed food. That said, you need to make sure that you read labels since, in most cases, about 75% of processed food have sodium as their ingredient. Using kosher salt also does not change things as kosher salt is made of 40 percent sodium.

As long as I feel fine, I shouldn’t worry about hypertension

Most people think that people with hypertension are typically sweaty and are constantly out of breath. In truth, however, people can be hypertensive without showing any physical symptom. This is the reason why hypertension is typically referred to as the “Silent Killer”. That said, the best way to ensure that you are not hypertensive is to get your blood pressure on a regular basis.

I drink lots of red wine so I don’t think I’m hypertensive

Although studies have shown that red wine, you have to keep in mind that, just like anything else, it should be taken in moderation. This is because, wine as well as other alcoholic beverages can significantly increase your blood pressure. This, in turn, can lead to a heart attack especially if you are not at your best health.

I no longer need meds since I have been able to moderate my blood pressure these past few months

Hypertension is typically a lifelong condition. It is not something that can be cured after a certain period of time. The best that you can hope for is regular maintenance in order to keep your hypertension at bay. That being the case, your best bet is to make sure that you have a trusted health care partner who can advise you on how to take care of yourself. In line with this, you should also consider having  an AED unit home. You have to keep in mind that hypertension, in some cases, can lead to a heart attack. When that happens, you need to make sure that the people around you would know what to do. Having an AED at home, therefore, is what you need.

When it comes to heart ailment and failure, most people mistake cardiac arrest for heart attack. Although both usually have the same ending, the two actually come about for two different reasons.

Understanding Heart Attack

The organs in your body need oxygen in order to function. Your heart is no exception to this. If oxygen-laden blood is unable to flow through your heart, you would most likely suffer from a heart attack. Medically speaking, heart attack also goes by the name of myocardial infarction. Now, there are many ways blood supply to the heart can get cut off. One of the most common, however, is the build up of plaque along the walls of the blood vessels. Known as arteriosclerosis, this typically happens when you have a high level of bad cholesterol.

Heart attack, however, does not have to mean death sentence for anyone. In fact, over the last few years, the survival rate for victims of heart attack is on the rise. This does not, however, mean that you would be okay after a heart attack. Generally, suffering from one would mean scars; and, depending on your general health, your heart could become weak and more susceptible to further heart attack.

Because of its nature, the typical first aid for heart attacks would involve CPR. Since this condition does not involve any interference in the electrical activity of the heart, the use of an AED might not be effective.

Understanding Sudden Cardiac Arrest

As opposed to heart attack, cardiac arrest deals more with the electrical activity of the heart. In order to understand Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), you first have to understand how your heart’s electrical activity works. The heart has a special clump of cells known as the myocardial contractile cells are responsible for the rhythm of the heart – the usual lub-dub that we know of. Certain factors such as the intense physical activity, low potassium levels in the blood, and certain inherited disorders can give rise to SCA. Individuals who have suffered before from heart attack are also at a higher risk for SCA. Keep in mind though that even those who appear to be healthy can suffer from SCA. In an SCA, a disruption of the normal pattern of the heart beat takes place.

While the survival rate of a heart attack has been on the rise, the same cannot be said for SCA. A few minutes of delay in medical attention could spell the difference between life and death for a person.

What to Do

Because the two have different causes, the way to deal with them would also differ. Simply put, a heart attack would respond better to a CPR, or a continuous chest compression until, at least, the medical professionals are able to take over the patient.

On the other hand, a Sudden Cardiac Arrest situation needs something that would allow to heart to jump back to its normal rhythm. That being the case, chest compression would not have much of an impact; instead, an AED would be the best option.

As improbable as it sounds, women have different ways of dealing with heart attack than men. In most cases, women might have a more silent symptom or sign of a heart attack. This, therefore, means that women have to be more aware of any changes in their body as his can already be a sign of a higher propensity for an attack.

Chest Pain or Discomfort

While both men and women might feel a crushing sensation in the chest area that radiates to the extremities, women typically feel experience mostly a fullness in the chest area, not just in the right side. The experience is typically likened to having a vise tightened around the chest area.

Radiating Pain in Extremities

Women are more likely to experience radiating pain the arms, back, neck, and jaw than men. The pain can either be gradual or sudden, with some occasions leaving the patient feeling a waxing and waning of the discomfort. Because of the nature of the discomfort, many women do not realize that they are already suffering some form of heart attack.

Stomach Pain

It is easy to mistakenly think of a stomach pain as a simple case of food not agreeing with your stomach. In truth, what you see as a stomach pain could already be a form of heartburn, a stomach flu, or a stomach ulcer – all of which could already be signals that a heart attack is about to occur. In some cases, women would feel as if there is an intense pressure being applied around the abdominal area. When that happens, make sure you get hold of a medical professional immediately.

Sweating

Women who are about to have a heart attack will typically experience cold sweat more than the usual, and even when there are no stressful situations involved. You have to keep in mind that the sweat that you would experience would be different from the usual one that you get after an exercise or if the room is hot. In some cases, the sweating might be accompanied by fatigue and the general feeling of tiredness even when one is already at rest.

Now, as with men, certain factors can increase the risk of a heart attack. Some of these factors would include smoking heavily, indulging in extremely stressful situations particularly in work, and a sedentary lifestyle. By changing or taking control of these factors, you are able to lessen the risk for a heart attack. You have to remember that, in women, the no. 1 cause of death is heart attack.

Keep in Mind:

If you or someone you know is living with a heart condition or has a high risk for a heart attack, the best thing to do is to make sure that you have an AED unit in place. It also helps if you, or someone who lives with you, has been trained to provide emergency CPR when the situation calls for it. In the same line, however, you have to keep in mind that these symptoms may or may not appear at all in some patients.