Living Well
Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012
Muskogee Phoenix
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CPR can save lives Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, is a life-saving method that has prevented the deaths of scores of individuals throughout the centuries. CPR is often used to keep a person alive until more in-depth medical attention can be provided. It can be a lifesaver for people of all ages. The American Heart Association reports that effective bystander CPR, provided immediately after sudden cardiac arrest, can double or triple a victim’s chance of survival. Despite these statistics, less than one-third of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest victims receive bystander CPR. It could be because many people still do not know how to perform it. In 1960, the American Red Cross officially adopted cardiopulmonary resuscitation and began to teach the public the techniques. The ability to do CPR is not based on age but rather body strength. Studies have shown that children as young as 9 years old can learn and retain CPR skills. It’s important to keep in mind that while CPR can keep a person alive, Automated External Defibrillators (AED) devices are needed to restore a natural heart rhythm to an individual who has suffered from cardiac arrest. Unless resuscitation is provided within minutes of collapse, an individual can rarely be saved. CPR training courses are provided for individuals at many places, often free of charge. Some hospitals even offer CPR training to new parents. Check with a hospital, medical provider or police station on where CPR can be learned.
Performing CPR
For those who want to know the basics of CPR, follow these guidelines, courtesy of The Mayo Clinic. Think ABC — airway, breathing and circulation — to remember the steps explained below. Move quickly through airway and breathing to begin chest compressions. Airway: Clear the airway 1. Put the person on his or her back on a firm surface. 2. Kneel next to the person’s neck and shoulders. 3. Open the person’s airway using the head-tilt, chinlift maneuver. Put your palm on the person’s forehead and gently tilt the head back. Then with the other hand, gently lift the chin forward to open the airway. 4. Check for normal breathing, taking no more than five or 10 seconds. Look for chest motion, listen for normal breath sounds and feel for the person’s breath on your cheek and ear. Gasping is not considered to be normal breathing. If the person isn’t breathing normally and you are trained in CPR, begin mouth-to-mouth breathing. If you believe the person is unconscious from a heart attack and you haven’t been trained in emergency procedures, skip mouth-to-
mouth rescue breathing and proceed directly to chest compressions. Breathing: Breathe for the person Rescue breathing can be mouth-to-mouth breathing or mouth-to-nose breathing if the mouth is seriously injured or can’t be opened. 1. With the airway open (using the head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver), pinch the nostrils shut for mouth-tomouth breathing and cover the person’s mouth with yours, making a seal. 2. Prepare to give two rescue breaths. Give the first rescue breath — lasting one second — and watch to see if the chest rises. If it does rise, Staff photo by Dylan Goforth give the second breath. If the Bob Wrightsman said he began working out two years ago, but high-stress workouts quickly burned him out. chest does not rise, repeat the head-tilt, chin-lift ma- Now, he focuses more on cardio and low-weight weightlifting to improve his heart health. neuver and then give the second breath. 3. Begin chest compressions to restore circulation.
‘Being healthy is my goal, and I’m doing that’
Circulation: Restore blood circulation with chest compressions 1. Place the heel of one hand over the center of the person’s chest, between the nipples. Place your other hand on top of the first hand. Keep your elbows straight and position your shoulders directly above your hands. 2. Use your upper body weight (not just your arms) as you push straight down on (compress) the chest 2 inches (approximately 5 centimeters). Push hard at a rate of 100 compressions a minute. 3. After 30 compressions, tilt the head back and lift the chin up to open the airway. Prepare to give two rescue breaths. Pinch the nose shut and breathe into the mouth for one second. If the chest rises, give a second rescue breath. If the chest doesn’t rise, repeat the head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver and then give the second rescue breath. That’s one cycle. If someone else is available, ask that person to give two breaths after you do 30 compressions. If you’re not trained in CPR and feel comfortable performing only chest compressions, skip rescue breathing and continue chest compressions at a rate of 100 compressions a minute until medical personnel arrive. 4. If the person has not begun moving after five cycles (about two minutes) and an automatic external defibrillator (AED) is available, apply it and follow the prompts. Administer one shock, then resume CPR — starting with chest compressions — for two more minutes before administering a second shock. If you’re not trained to use an AED, a 911 operator may be able to guide you in its use. Use pediatric pads, if available, for children ages 1 to 8. Do not use an AED for babies younger than age 1. If an AED isn’t available, go to step 5 below. 5. Continue CPR until there are signs of movement or until emergency medical personnel take over.
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yourself to take more and more steps each day.” Singhal also mentioned the benefit of low-impact aerobic exercises that get the heart pumping without putting pain and stress on joints. Cindy Wayman, an instructor at the Muskogee Swim and Fitness Center, teaches a water aerobics class. “When you are running, each step onto the ground is 10 times your body weight,” Wayman said. “Over and over and over. Here in the water, this gravity is working for you, not against you.” In Wayman’s class, students hold water dumbbells, which soak up moisture during workouts. Cheryll Hallum, a stu-
dent in the class, said she’s lost 50 pounds since joining. “My life is just better. My stress levels are better, my flexibility is better, everything is just better,” Hallum said. “And it compounds. Now I pay better attention to my nutrition, too.” There are many ways to receive exercise that don’t include donning your Nikes and hitting the treadmill. “Walking a dog or playing with children or grandchildren can be a great way to get your heart beating without making yourself exhausted at the gym,” Singhal said. “You have to just find a way to move more. Even small increments can make a difference in your heart’s health.”
Singhal said another benefit of exercise is the positive feelings you receive after even a moderate workout. “One minute of excitement leaves so many chemicals in the body that it takes 24 hours for them to leave,” Singhal said. “Exercising allows our body to process these chemicals more efficiently. And during a workout, endorphins are released that produce the workout high people talk about.” Bob Wrightsman of Muskogee said he began going to the gym two years ago to ensure his heart would stay strong. But high-energy workouts quickly burned him out. “I have two kids and I wanted to make sure I would be around for them,”
Wrightsman said while pumping his legs on a stationary bike. “But I burned out really quick. Now I do less heavy weights and more cardio stuff, and it’s great. Being healthy is my goal, and I’m doing that. It leaves you in such a positive state of mind.” Singhal said too often, we think of health in a reactive way. Instead of working to maintain health, we only think about it when we’re sick or injured. “As a community, we need to be more proactive about health,” Singhal said. “It is more cost-effective to exercise more, because if you do so, it will require fewer visits to the doctor.” Reach Dylan Goforth at (918) 684-2903 or dgoforth @muskogeephoenix.com.
Heart attack, cardiac arrest not the same thing Many people mistakenly assume cardiac arrest and heart attack are the same thing. However, sudden cardiac arrest is not a heart attack. In fact, there are distinguishable differences between the two that are best explained by detailing what is actually happening when someone is suffering from either one.
in the study waited more than 12 hours from the start of symptoms before seeking treatment. Those symptoms can include chest discomfort, shortness of breath and discomfort in other areas of the body that do no improve after five minutes.
What happens during a heart attack?
When a person is experiencing cardiac arrest, their heart’s electrical system is malfunctioning and suddenly becomes irregular. The heart begins to beat very fast while the ventricles may flutter or quiver. Blood is not being delivered to the body during cardiac arrest, and a genuine fear is that blood flow to the brain will be reduced so drastically that a person may lose consciousness. Unlike a heart attack, cardiac arrest requires immediate treatment. It’s best to seek treatment promptly for both a heart attack and cardiac arrest, but those experiencing cardiac arrest are at much greater risk of death if
During a heart attack, blockage occurs in one or more of the heart’s arteries. That blockage subsequently prevents the heart from receiving enough oxygen-rich blood. Research indicates that many people with symptoms of a heart attack actually delay seeking treatment for more than two hours. In a 2010 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers found the average delay in arriving at the hospital after the start of a heart attack was roughly two and a half hours. Eleven percent of the more than 100,000 cases examined 72090
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What happens during cardiac arrest?
treatment is not sought immediately. Men and women, young and old, should also keep in mind that heart attack can sometimes lead into cardiac arrest, highlighting the importance of seeking treatment as soon as any symptoms of heart attack begin to appear.
How to prevent heart issues?
The goal is to keep blood flowing through the body as smoothly as possible. This means avoiding blood clots and the build-up of plaque in the arteries. That might sound simple enough, but plaque build-up and the process of coronary artery disease has been shown to begin as far back as childhood, when diets are not typically tailored to avoid heart disease. While it’s impossible to go back in time and change certain lifestyle habits, including diet and exercise routines and regimens, there are ways adults can reduce the build-up of plaque, which can help them avoid falling vic-
tim to heart attack and cardiac arrest. • Exercise regularly. At least 30 minutes of daily exercise is recommended. • Eat a healthy diet. A diet low in saturated fat, which almost always equates to eating less red meat, and high in fruits and vegetables is ideal. • Stop smoking. For those who have never smoked or have quit smoking, keep it up. Those who have or continue to smoke, stop. • Don’t procrastinate. These changes can’t wait until tomorrow. As mentioned above, the process or coronary artery disease doesn’t wait for adulthood, and adults who need to make changes cannot afford to drag their feet. The good news is studies have indicated that even those with heart disease can expect to live longer if they simply commit to the necessary lifestyle changes. For more information about heart attack and cardiac arrest, visit the American Heart Association Web site at www.heart.org.
MUSKOGEE CARDIOVASCULAR CENTER, P.C. Mohamad Amer Mahayni M.D., FACC, FSCAI
2303 S. York Muskogee, OK 74403 918-682-6400
Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Interventional Cardiology and Cardiac CTA Special training in Cartoid & Peripheral Interventions
“Your 1st choice for post Hospital care”
Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Facility
(918) 682-2700 3502 W. Okmulgee Avenue Muskogee, Oklahoma 74401 (formerly Kirk’s Drugs) 80113
1033 Hospital Road, Eufaula, Oklahoma 74432 PH: (918) 689-3211 Fax: (918) 689-3247
Echocardiograms - ECG • Cardiac Stress Testing • Holter and Event Monitoring • Carotid and Peripheral Ultrasound
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