Sunday, November 27, 2011

Heart Disease in Senior Citizens

!±8± Heart Disease in Senior Citizens

Heart disease is a general term that refers to various, more specific heart conditions. As we age, risk of heart disease increases. It is important that senior citizens practice heart healthy behaviors like getting enough physical activity and eating a well-balanced diet. It is just as important that senior citizens understand heart disease so that they can prevent and, if necessary, detect and treat their condition. Those involved in senior citizen elder care should also know about heart disease.  Recognizing the symptoms and knowing how to respond to certain heart conditions can save lives. 

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)

Coronary heart disease can lead to heart attack or other serious complications and is the most common type of heart disease in the United States. When the coronary arteries (the vessels that carry blood to the heart) build up plaque, they become narrower. This makes it more difficult for blood to reach the heart, resulting in CHD. The narrowing and "hardening" of the arteries due to plaque buildup is referred to as atherosclerosis. This can cause decreased blood flow, and therefore oxygen supply, to the heart. 

In some cases of CHD, oxygen supply may be completely cut off to a portion of the heart, resulting in a heart attack. Angina, a condition characterized by chest pain or discomfort, can also occur when the heart is not getting sufficient oxygen. Sometimes CHD results in heart failure, a severe condition where the heart cannot pump properly. Irregular heart beats known as arrhythmias may also occur. 

Angina is the most common symptom in people with CHD. Still, some people do not experience symptoms and are not diagnosed until they have a heart attack. It is important that both people with symptoms and those at high risk undergo tests to diagnose CHD.  Factors that increase risk include high blood pressure, high (LDL) cholesterol levels, high blood glucose levels, and a history of heart disease. 

Treatment involves addressing unhealthy lifestyle factors that increase the risk of developing CHD and its complications. Medicines to reduce high (LDL) cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, decreased blood flow, or other possible problems may be helpful. Additional medical treatments or surgical procedures may also be necessary. 

Heart Attack

Heart attack, also referred to as myocardial infarction, occurs when the oxygen supply to a portion of the heart is severely reduced. When the heart doses not receive sufficient oxygen, its cells begin to die. As more time passes, greater damage is done and death can result. Heart attack is most commonly caused by coronary artery disease, but may also be the result of a severe spasm of the coronary artery. 

A person experiencing a heart attack needs immediate emergency care. For a person having a heart attack, the more quickly emergency treatment is administered, the greater the chances of survival. Because of this, it is important to recognize symptoms of a heart attack and quickly call 9-1-1. Physicians, as well as emergency medical personnel, can perform the emergency treatment. A trained bystander may also perform CPR or operate an automated external defibrillator, if accessible. 

Heart attack may result in permanent damage to the heart. This makes heart attack survivors at greater risk of experiencing another heart attack as well as other serious complications. Heart attack survivors should undergo cardiac rehabilitation to help improve their cardiovascular health. Some lifestyle changes included in rehabilitation are increasing physical activity, dietary changes, stress management, quitting smoking, and weight loss. Medication may also be necessary. Before retuning to daily activities such as driving, work, physical activity, sex, and air travel, heart attack survivors should consult their doctor. 

Other Conditions

Angina: When the heart is not getting enough oxygen, chest pain known as angina may result. It can be experienced as a squeezing pain or pressure in the chest. Pain in the shoulders, neck, jaw, arms, or back may also occur. Other times, a person with angina thinks they are experiencing indigestion. Angina is classified as either stable or unstable. If angina occurs under physical, mental, or emotional stress it is referred to as stable. Unstable angina occurs when a person is at rest, and without any apparent cause. 

Aortic Aneurism and Dissection: The aorta extends from the heart supplying blood to all parts of the body. When the aorta expands or dilates an aneurysm results. When the aorta ruptures an emergency situation called dissection results.

Acute Coronary Syndrome: This term describes people with an acute heart attack or unstable angina. 

Arrhythmia: An arrhythmia is the irregular beating of the heart. Electrical impulses control the heartbeat. If these impulses are disrupted,an arrhythmia results. Some are serious while others are less severe at first but become more serious over time. 

Cardiomyopathy: When the heart muscle is weakened or there is a change in the structure of the heart muscle, cardiomyopathy occurs. It can be caused by previous heart attacks, infections, and other factors; and may result in abnormal functioning of the heart. 

Congenital Heart Disease: Congenital heart disease is the result of birth defects that disrupt the blood flow through the heart. Examples include abnormalities in the chambers of the heart or heart valves.  Genes as well as adverse exposures during pregnancy can cause this type of heart disease. 

Heart Failure: This is sometimes referred to as chronic or congestive heart failure. This is a serious condition that occurs when the heart does not pump enough blood, leaving organs without sufficient oxygen supply. 

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD): This disease is characterized by the "hardening" of the arteries that supply oxygen to the limbs. It is usually caused by arteriosclerosis, the plaque buildup that narrows the arteries. Insufficient oxygen supply to the limbs may cause muscle pain, numbness, and swelling in the arms or legs. 

Rheumatic Heart Disease: This disease refers to heart damage caused by inflammation and scarring resulting from rheumatic fever. 


Heart Disease in Senior Citizens

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Monday, November 14, 2011

Emergency Preparedness and First Aid Kits

!±8± Emergency Preparedness and First Aid Kits

There are so many different options in first aid sets - small first aid kits, large first aid kits, various professional trauma bags, even military trauma bags. The inventory of materials and supplies in these setups varies widely and the number of different class specifications makes comparing and contrasting the various trauma bag contents difficult at best. Products on the market can range from a basic medical "survival bag" up to and including a very comprehensive first responder trauma bag.

There are industry descriptions that range from the size of the group that the kit is intended to service (you may hear such terms as "5 man kit", "15 man kit", etc) to very specific applications such as EMT trauma bags or even Combat Trauma Bags for Armed Forces medics. How does one choose the best option for a specific application out of a host of first responder packs and stocked trauma bags?

A large consideration should be made on three main points: the number of people present, the amount of time required for first responders (EMT or Fire Department) to respond, and the level of first aid training present in the group.

The number of people referenced by a kit can be somewhat misleading - it may lend some insight into the number of band-aids and gauze pads in a specific kit, but it tells us very little about the depth of care that the kit is able to provide. Obviously some knowledge about the number of people being serviced by a kit and the duration that the group might have to withstand before restocking occurs is very important. Generally it is more appropriate to break down the proper level of response by issuing the best responder kit per square footage in the facility or by a specific number of employees which will be assigned to the kit. For instance, it may make more sense to purchase four comprehensive kits for 25 people per kit rather than try and cover everyone with one "100 Man" kit which may only provide the bare basics in care.

The delay in EMT response is another large consideration - basic patient stabilization and care may be the only thing required in densely populated areas where emergency response is under 5 minutes. Naturally you may want to prepare for more than the best-case scenario, since emergency care can be severely delayed or even non-existent in a catastrophe or large-scale emergency. Care in rural or remote areas can obviously assume a protracted response, sometimes in excess of 20 minutes - longer for difficult to find construction projects or poorly marked county roads. Situations like these require much more comprehensive kits, generally including an AED (Automated Electronic Defibrillator) to assist in resuscitation from cardiac arrest.

Training is the third major consideration - all the tools and equipment in the world are useless without a fundamental knowledge o f medical response and the proper first aid applications. Even in situations where response is under 6 or 7 minutes, an untrained responder can do more damage than good if the victim is handled improperly. Basic prudence would suggest that everyone should have basic first aid and CPR training, but if the skills are not regularly honed and practiced then panic can set in during an emergency. One solution to aid training is to provide an EID (Emergency Instruction Device) in your stocked trauma bags - more information on the EID can be found through Critical Response First Aid. Designed to be a visual and auditory aid in a crisis and to prevent panicked responders from doing more harm than good, the EID can prove to be a vital part of your first response program.

All the variables can make a decision on first aid and response kits very difficult; if you need more information or have questions, a wealth of knowledge and support exists from a company's safety group to the resources available from a distributor, such as Critical Response.


Emergency Preparedness and First Aid Kits

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Tuesday, November 1, 2011

3M Defibrillator Pads 4 1/2" x 4 1/2", Box of 10 Pairs

!±8±3M Defibrillator Pads 4 1/2" x 4 1/2", Box of 10 Pairs

Brand : 3M
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Post Date : Nov 02, 2011 01:20:05
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Bright orange color for safe and effective defibrillation and cardioversions. 3M™ Defib-Pads save time when life is on the line! When you’re working to save a life, every second is critical. So take advantage of every second you’ve got with 3M Defib-Pads for defibrillation and cardioversion. The ready-to-use pads (electro-conductive gel supported by a porous non-woven fabric) are faster to apply than gels and creams in multiple cardiac arrest situations and their bright orange color makes them easy to see. Available in 2 Convenient Sizes & Quantities: • 3M-2345N - 100 Pairs, 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" (11.4cm x 11.4cm). • 3M-2345N-1 - 10 Pairs, 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" (11.4cm x 11.4cm). • 3M-2346N - 100 Pairs, 4 1/2" x 6" (11.4cm x 15.2cm). • 3M-2346N-1 - 10 Pairs, 4 1/2" x 6" (11.4cm x 15.2cm). Quick and convenient: ■ Saves time — just open package, place on patient and follow normal defib protocol. ■ Easy to remove from patient - no slippery residue to interfere with CPR. ■ No cleanup. Safe: ■ High visibility permits proper pad positioning without overlap. ■ Self-contained pads eliminate "gel bridging," which can cause severe skin trauma or burns to the patient or operator. ■ No gel bridging also ensures that available energy is delivered to the patient. ■ No gel means no worry about improperly cleaned paddles Effective: ■ Years of proven success. ■ Success rate equivalent to lowest resistivity gels. ■ No pitting or corrosion of paddles. The product referenced on this detail page is sold be 10 Prs/Bx.

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Saturday, October 29, 2011

How to Use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

!±8± How to Use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a device the size of a laptop that is used for medical emergencies, specifically cardiac arrest or when the heart stops beating. Sometimes, when a victim is in cardiac arrest, their heart start experiencing an irregular quivering caused by chaotic electrical activity in the heart cells.

This quivering is called ventricular fibrillation or V Fib for short. V Fib is treated by shocking the heart with controlled electric shock. This works because the heart muscle contains electrical cells. The AED is used to shock the heart that is in V Fib to a normal heart rhythm.

Studies show that if an AED is used within 3-5 minutes of cardiac arrest, the victim's chance of survival increases by approximately 70%. So you want to use the AED as soon as it becomes available.

Using the AED:

Once you get the AED at the vicitm's side -

1: Turn on the AED. Do this by wither pressing the on/off button or lifting the lid of the unit.

2: Follow the prompts exactly as directed. The device will instruct you to place the electrode pads on the bare skin of the victim. One of the pads are to be placed on the right upper chest of the victim, while the second pad is to be placed just under the left chest.

3: Once the pads are placed on the bare chese of the victim, you may be required to insert the pad connector to the AED. Some AEDs already have the pads preconnected to them.

4: Next you must make sure that no one (including yourself) is touching the victim. The machine will prompt that it is "analyzing." During the analysis, all CPR efforts must be paused in order for the AED to evaluate if the victim's heart is experiencing V Fib and can therefore be treated with a shock. This is one of the 2 time you must "clear" the victim of all bystander contact.

5: If the AED prompts that a shock is indicated, then you must "clear" the victim a second time ensuring that you or no bystanders are not in contact with the victim. If someone is touching the victim while the AED is delivering the shock, the bystander can experience a shock as well which can even render them unconscious. Once you see that victim is "clear," you must then press the "shock" button to deliver a shock. Fully automated AEDs will deliver the shock automatically.

6: Immediately after administering the shock, the defibrillator will instruct you to resume CPR. You must not remove the pads or turn off the unit at this time. Simply leave the pads on the victim's chest, leave the AED on and resume CPR beginning with chest compressions.

Some of the new AED models have the CPR coaching feature which guides the rescuer in the CPR process.

AEDs are very simple to use as long as the instructions are followed completely. The information in this article does not substitute a CPR/AED course in which training is performed in its entirety. This information is provided solely as a reference to supplement CPR/AED training.


How to Use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

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