Heart Association Tag

14 Dec Many men with sudden cardiac arrest had early warnings

Posted at 18:46h in Uncategorized

Nanci Hellmich, USA TODAY Many sudden cardiac arrests leave a calling card in advance. More than half of middle-aged men who experienced sudden cardiac arrests had symptoms up to a month beforehand, a new study shows. Most of the symptoms — including chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, faintness or heart palpitations — occurred four weeks to one hour before their hearts suddenly stopped, according to the research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions in Dallas. Read more...

08 Nov Text messages are saving Swedes from cardiac arrest

Posted at 18:21h in Uncategorized

Sweden has found a faster way to treat people experiencing cardiac emergencies through a text message and a few thousand volunteers. A program called SMSlivräddare, (or SMSLifesaver) (link in Swedish) solicits people who’ve been trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). When a Stockholm resident dials 112 for emergency services, a text message is sent to all volunteers within 500 meters of the person in need. The volunteer then arrives at the location within the crucial first minutes to perform lifesaving CPR. The odds for surviving cardiac arrest...

01 Oct High resting heart rate portends cognitive decline

Posted at 23:48h in Uncategorized

A high resting heart rate proved to be a strong and independent predictor of cognitive decline within the next 4 years in a study of nearly 28,000 patients at high cardiovascular risk. The clinical implications of this finding, however, remain unclear, according to Dr. Darryl P. Leong. "What this study cannot answer, and which must be answered, is whether resting heart rate is just a marker of the risk of cognitive decline or whether it exists in the causal pathway. Further research...

11 Sep Protein Discovery Explains Why Sudden Cardiac Arrest Tends To Occur In The Morning

Posted at 20:25h in Uncategorized

Sudden cardiac arrest -- when your heart stops functioning because of an electrical disturbance, which can lead to death if not treated immediately with CPR or defibrillation -- is known to occur more often between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. But why? According to new research, it could have something to do with levels of a protein called KLF15, which regulates electrical activity in the heart. Dr. Mukesh Jain, M.D., of Case Western Reserve University, and colleagues found that people...

05 Sep Out-Of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Survival Just 7 Percent

Posted at 19:04h in Uncategorized

Survival for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is just 7%, according to research presented at ESC Congress 2013 by Professor Xavier Jouven and Dr Wulfran Bougouin from France. Professor Jouven said: "Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is an important public health problem, accounting for more than 400,000 deaths every year. The main cause is ventricular tachyarrhythmias which are often triggered by acute ischaemic events that can occur in persons with or without known heart disease. The survival rate from cardiac arrest has remained low...

09 Aug Surviving Cardiac Arrest: You’re More Likely To Live If You’re At The Gym

Posted at 14:39h in Uncategorized

A new report published in Journal of the American College of Cardiology shows that people who have sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) at a fitness facility could be more likely to survive than people who experience sudden cardiac arrest in banks, restaurants, or other indoor facilities. The researchers reviewed 849 sudden cardiac arrest cases between 1996 and 2008 at various fitness and public indoor facilities in Seattle and King County, Washington. The exercise facilities were categorized into two groups: traditional (health clubs and fitness centers) and...

17 Jul AHA calls for renewed focus on CPR quality and monitoring

Posted at 13:29h in Uncategorized

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation quality varies widely between systems and locations, prompting the American Heart Association to emphasize key components to improve resuscitative efforts, according to a consensus statement published in Circulation. In the statement, the AHA emphasizes five critical areas of high-quality CPR: Minimize interruptions to chest compressions. Compressions generate blood flow and should be delivered more than 80% of the time the patient doesn’t have a pulse. Provide the right rate of compressions — 100 to 120 per minute are optimal for survival. Ensure compressions...

03 Jul Nurse volunteers spread awareness about sudden cardiac arrest

Posted at 20:07h in Uncategorized

Every time Jenny Keylon, RN, BSN, teaches students how to perform CPR and use an AED, she watches them conquer their fears about saving lives. As a volunteer with the Nick of Time Foundation in Mill Creek, Wash., she regularly demonstrates these basic lifesaving skills to students. Keylon, an electrophysiology nurse at Seattle Children’s Hospital, is one of about 100 RNs — along with physicians, allied health professionals and community members — whose volunteer efforts with the foundation are helping prevent...

21 Jun CA Risk: Men Over 40 Should Think Twice Before Running Triathlons

Posted at 18:06h in Uncategorized

For men competing in triathlons past the age of 40, the grueling slog to the finish line could be their last. As the average age of competitors in endurance sports rises, a spate of deaths during races or intense workouts highlights the risks of excessive strain on the heart through vigorous exercise in middle age. Among the recent casualties: Michael McClintock, senior managing director of Macquarie Group Ltd. (MGQ) and a triathlete, who died at age 55 of cardiac arrest earlier this month...

03 Jun Defibrillator vest helps patients avoid sudden cardiac arrest

Posted at 16:05h in Uncategorized

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Experts estimate about 30 percent of sudden cardiac deaths happen when a person is asleep. But now a new wearable device is saving lives for some heart patients. Barbara Campbell has a history of heart problems. She was shocked awake one night when her heart went into arrhythmia by a LifeVest. Doctor John McPherson prescribed it to her after putting a stent in her heart. Read more...