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Tips To Lower The Risks Of A Sudden Cardiac Arrest

It is always wise to stay prepared for any untoward cardiac emergency in view of the rise in the sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) cases worldwide. SCA can be fatal if the person doesn’t receive timely treatment with the lifesaving CPR and Automated External Defibrillator for the process of defibrillation (restarts the ticker through delivery of an electric shock and resets the heart rhythm).

SCAs generally occur due to a malfunction of the electrical system of the heart. Everyone is prone to SCA, those with pre-existing heart conditions and even those who did not know they had an issue with their ticker. Regardless you should take appropriate measures to lower your chances of SCA/prevent it altogether. Prevention is any day better than having to witness a sudden cardiac arrest unfold. You would obviously not want to be taken in its grip or wish it for someone else, especially a dear one.

To prevent a sudden cardiac arrest, adopt the following measures:

Eat smart- Eat a diet comprising plenty of fruits and vegetables while avoiding foods high in saturated fats (processed and packaged foods), cholesterol, carbohydrates and sugar. Don’t forget to include fish, such as tuna, salmon in your diet, which has the heart-healthy omega-3 fats.

Stay active- Aim for 30 minutes of aerobic exercise (walking, swimming) on most days of the week.

Maintain healthy weight- When your Body Mass Index (BMI) is higher than normal, your ticker takes the brunt of it. Work towards keeping your weight in a healthy range by developing and following a fitness regimen that includes healthy diet and exercise.

Quit smoking- Smoking and drinking are often the hardest vices to quit. But if you want to keep your heart in good shape, there’s no alternative to quitting these. Smoking cigarettes and consuming alcohol can enlarge your heart muscle. Not to mention the spike in your blood pressure that these cause (high blood pressure is a major heart disease risk factor). All these collectively increase the risk for a sudden cardiac arrest.

Manage stress- It’s true you cannot run away from stress- a part and parcel of our lives. But there are measures you can take to manage stress levels, which include meditation, yoga, listening to music, practicing deep breathing, etc. Emotional stress is a leading factor contributing to cardiac arrest.

Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of SCA. Leading a healthy lifestyle comprising  eating healthy foods, exercising regularly and not smoking; getting regular health checkups, and knowing your risk factors and working on the factors that can be modified, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high LDL (bad) cholesterol, and a sedentary lifestyle, can keep heart disease at bay, thereby lowering chances of a sudden cardiac arrest.

The best way to deal with an out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest situation is knowing CPR and being comfortable administering it on someone in need. CPR training will help build your confidence in overcoming a cardiac emergency efficiently. To register for a CPR class, contact CPR Tampa in Palm Harbor at 727-240-9404. You can also visit the training site at 36141 US Highway 19 North Palm Harbor, FL 34684.
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