subject: Taking Care Of Heart Health: The Heart Care Center [print this page] Coronary artery disease, more simply known as heart disease, is the leading cause of death in the U.S. With heart disease so prevalent in our society, it's important to have an excellent heart care center nearby. There are countless hospitals around the country, but only a handful of them have a specialized cardiac arrest emergency department that exclusively handles cardiac problems. By making such hospitals your primary choice in the event that you have a cardiac event, you can increase your odds of surviving.
Risk Factors For Heart Disease
Coronary artery disease involves partial or total obstruction of the coronary arteries that supply the heart with blood and oxygen, and can often lead to a cardiac arrest. Usually these arteries get blocked because plaques that are primarily made up of lipids/fats get stuck to the inside of the artery wall, a condition known as atherosclerosis. This 'hardening of the arteries', as many people refer to it, has many causes and risk factors.
Factors that can't be changed include age, with the condition being more common over age 40; gender (males are more predisposed, but after a woman reaches menopause her risk increases); and family history. However, we've all heard it before - diet and exercise are the keys in preventing a visit to a heart care center. If you eat a diet high in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol, these lipids will appear in the blood, raise your LDL levels (the bad cholesterol) and eventually form solid plaques that clog the arteries and disrupt blood flow. Leading a sedentary lifestyle also increases your risk of heart disease, partially because sitting around all the time means your blood flow is sluggish.
Exercising increases your HDL levels (the good cholesterol), reduces blood pressure, and gets your heart working and therefore the blood flowing. Cigarette smoking is also a risk factor - smoking decreases HDL, raises LDL, promotes blood clot formation, and constricts your arteries - all bad things. Quitting smoking, eating better, and exercising, as well as managing any high blood pressure or diabetes you might have, are all necessary to avoid a visit to a cardiac arrest emergency department.
Signs And Complications Of Cardiac Arrests
If you experience sudden crushing chest pain that radiates to the left arm, shoulder, or neck, you may be having cardiac arrest. Other signs include shortness of breath, sweating, weakness, nausea, dizziness, and anxiety. Anyone who feels these symptoms should immediately go to a cardiac arrest emergency department.
Cardiac arrhythmias, or disruptions in the heart's normal rate or rhythm, are a common complication of a cardiac arrest. These arrhythmias are the major cause of the death within the first hour of having a cardiac arrest. For this reason, it's crucial to go to a heart care center for immediate treatment. Doctors, nurses, and medical personnel in a cardiac arrest emergency department know the best way to treat cardiac arrest victims and are the best at treating arrhythmias and other complications. For the ultimate in treatment, visit a heart care center if you or a loved one experiences a heart problem.
