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Treatment & Prevention for Sudden Cardiac Death among People in Tampa, FL

When it comes to a sudden cardiac arrest, emergency action must take place with immediate effect. Sudden cardiac arrest can be treated and reversed. Survival can be as high as 90 percent if treatment is initiated within the first minutes after sudden cardiac arrest. The rate decreases by about 10 percent each minute longer. Those who survive have a good long-term outlook. The most appropriate form of treatment is the proper application of the Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation procedures that comprises chest compressions and rescue breaths.

Being a resident of the Tampa region in Florida, you can sign up for a program at the AHA certified CPR Tampa where certified instructors conduct the classes through a series of audio and video lectures and hands-on practice.

Calling the Emergency Medical services- Immediately dial 911 and initiate CPR, the moment you come across someone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. If done properly, CPR can save a person’s life, as the procedure keeps blood and oxygen circulating through the body until help arrives. If an AED (Ambulatory External Defibrillator) is available, the best chance of rescuing the patient includes defibrillation with that device. The shorter the time until defibrillation, the greater the chance the patient will survive. It is CPR plus defibrillation that rescues the patient.

After the arrival of the emergency medical services, defibrillation can be used to restart the heart which is done through an electric shock delivered through the heart through paddles placed on the chest. Most victims require hospital care to treat and prevent future cardiac problems after a bout of successful defibrillation.

Ways to Prevent a Cardiac Arrest:
Reducing Risk Factors- Heart disease is the number one risk factor of a sudden cardiac arrest or heart attack. Keeping heart disease at bay can lead to a healthy heart. Making a few lifestyle changes can reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol levels (the two biggest risk factors of heart disease) and manage your diabetes and weight, thereby reducing the risk of sudden cardiac arrest. Patients and families should be aware of the signs and symptoms of coronary artery disease and the steps to take if symptoms occur.

Medications- Doctors may prescribe medications to patients who have had heart attacks, or who have heart failure or arrhythmias which can help reduce the risk of a sudden cardiac arrest. Statin medications may be prescribed, for patients with high cholesterol and coronary artery disease.

Follow-ups with Doctors- To prevent future episodes of sudden cardiac arrest, the doctors might want to perform diagnostic tests to determine what caused the cardiac event. Tests may include electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), ejection fraction, ambulatory monitoring, echo-cardiogram, cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology study.

Ejection Fraction- Ejection fraction is a measurement of the percentage of blood pumped out of the heart with each beat which can be measured in the doctor’s office during an echocardiogram (echo) or during other tests such as a multiple gated acquisition (MUGA) scan, cardiac catheterization, nuclear stress test or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the heart. The Ejection fraction of a healthy heart ranges from 55 to 65 percent which can go up and down.

Hope, this information can prove to be of help to you. Join a class at CPR Tampa and gain the benefits. For more information, call on 727-240-9404.
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