Contrary to popular belief, cardiovascular disease isn’t a male disease. Although men are at greater risk of heart attack than women, a significant number of women are also affected by heart disease. You’d be surprised to know that the leading cause of death in American women is coronary heart disease. Approximately half a million women die of heart disease each year in our country.
Again, cardiovascular disease is the major reason behind the occurrence of a cardiac arrest or heart attack (myocardial infarction) in individuals. Keeping your ticker in good shape can ensure a long shelf-life. Cardiac arrest can be life-threatening. It necessitates prompt treatment for the victim’s survival. The most appropriate form of treatment in this regard is proper application of the life-saving CPR or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation techniques. The procedure comprises chest compressions and rescue breathings. Proper training is what can lead to correctly performing the techniques in an emergency scenario.
CPR Tampa in Florida offers CPR courses for healthcare and non-healthcare providers. We will focus on an “ACLS class Tampa”:
Advanced Cardiac Life Support Classes- This American Heart Association course is for anyone working in an emergency or a critical care type environment, such as paramedics, critical care nurses, surgeons, emergency department staff, etc. At the end of class, you will be required to take a fifty-question exam and a hands-on Mega Code. Classes are conducted by AHA certified ACLS instructors who are highly experienced, and most importantly extremely friendly and understanding.
The other courses for healthcare providers include Basic Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support.
Heart Disease and Stroke Risk Factors in Women:
We make choices in our lives everyday that somehow affect the risk for developing cardiovascular disease, especially as we grow older. There are several factors, both controllable and non-controllable, that can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Non-controllable risk factors for women include the following:
Family History- Women are more likely to develop either of the two conditions if they have close blood relatives who have had cardiovascular disease or stroke.
Previous Experience- According to the American Heart Association, 22 percent of women between the ages of 40 and 69 who survive a first myocardial infarction will have another one or fatal coronary heart disease within five years, and 22 percent of women in the same age range who survive a first stroke will have a second stroke within five years.
History of Pre-Eclampsia, Gestational Diabetes, or Delivery of Low Birth-Weight Baby- Being a woman your risk is higher if you have ever had pre-eclampsia or gestational diabetes while you were pregnant, or if you’ve ever delivered a low birth-weight baby.
Age- The risk increases with age, if you are 55 years or older, you are at greater risk for either of the two conditions.
Some of the controllable risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, etc. Adopting healthy lifestyle measures can help you easily manage these risk factors.
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