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Cardiac Emergencies

The Human Heart

The heart is a muscular organ about the size of your fist that functions like apump.

It lies between the lungs, in the middle of the chest, behind the lower half of

sternum (breast bone). The heart is protected by ribs and sternum in front and by

spine at the back.

It is separated into right and left halves. Oygen!poor blood enters the right side

of the heart and is pumped to the lungs, where it picks up the oygen. The now

oygen!rich blood returns to the left side of the heart, from which it is pumped toall parts of the body.

"or the #irculatory $ystem to be effective the %espiratory $ystem must also be

working so that the blood can pick up oygen in the lungs.

The heart beats approimately &' times each minute or more than '',''' times a

day.

uring the average life time, the heart will beat nearly * billion times.

It pumps about a gallon of blood per minute or about +' million gallons in an

average life time. The heart pumps blood through about ',''' miles of blood

vessels.

What is The Heart Attack?

-ike all living tissues, the cells of the heart need a continuous supply of oygen.

The #oronary rteries supply the heart muscle with oygen!rich blood.If the heart muscle tissue is deprived of this blood it dies. nd if much muscle tissue diesthe heart cannot pump effectively. /hen heart tissue dies, it is called 0eart ttack.

It interrupts the electrical system of heart thus the heart beat becomes irregular therefore

preventing blood to be circulating effectively.

Common causes of Heart Attack

1. Cardiovascular Diseases! isease of heart and blood vessels. It develops gradually.

"atty deposits of Cholesteroland other material may gradually builds up on the inner

walls of the arteries. It causes narrowing of the coronary arteries which may lead to heartattack. The narrowing of the arteries of the brain can lead to stroke.

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$ignals of 0eart ttack

1ersistent #hest pain and discomfort. It is usually not relieved by resting,

changing position or taking medication.

2rief, stabbing chest pain that feels more intense when victim bends or breathes

deeply.

The pain of heart attack can range from mild discomfort to an unbearable

crushing sensation in the chest.

The victim may describe it as pressure, s3ueezing, tightness, and aching,

constricting, or heavy sensation in the chest.

Often the pain is felt at the center of the chest behind sternum. I

It may spread to the shoulder, arm, neck or 4aw.

ny severe chest pain that last longer than ' minutes, or other signals of heart

attack should receive emergency medical care immediately.

nother signal of a heart attack is difficulty in breathing. The victim may breath

faster to take in more oygen as a result the pulse may become faster or slower

than normal.

The victim5s skin becomes pale or bluish, particularly around the face.

6ormal wall of the arteries

#holesterol deposited in the

inner wall of the artery

making its lumen narrow.

It can be blockedcompletely if not taken care.

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The face may also be moist due to perspiration.

Caring for a Heart Attack

s you recognize the possibility of heart attack make the patient comfortable.sk about the problem he or she is having. "or eample!

/hen did the pain start7

/hat brought it on7

oes anything lessen it7

/hat does it feel like7

/here does it hurt7

#all the emergency.

ssist the person with medication if prescribed.8onitor vital signs.

-oosen the tight clothing if re3uired.

2e prepared to give #1% if victim5s heart stops beating.

0eart ttack pain is most often felt in the center of the chest, behind the

sternum. It may spread to shoulder, arm, neck or 4aw.

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CP9 :Cardio; (heart), :Pulmonar!; (lungs), :esuscitation; (combination ofrescue breathing and chest compressions). It is the method of making the blood flow in

the body when naturally the heart is not beating.It increases the chances of survival of the victim by keeping the brain supplied with

oygen. /ithout oygen the brain death will start within four to si" minutes. %emember

under best conditions, #1% only generates about one third of normal blood flo#to thebrain.

long with #1% advance medical care is e3ually important.

CP for an Adult

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The techni)ue for chest com*ression differs for adult+ child and infant.

Adult Child ,nfantHand

*osition

T#o handon lower?@of the sternum.

(ne handon lower?@ ofthe sternum.

T#o fingers on lower?@of the sternum.

Com*ress E ! @; E ! @; E ! ;

-reathe $lowly

=ntil chest arises(bout ?@ sec per

breath).

$lowly

=ntil chest arises(bout ?@ sec per

breath).

$lowly

=ntil chest arises(bout ?@sec per

breath).

C!cle 1 compressions

/breaths compressions

1breathcompressions

1breath

ate 1compressions in about1$seconds

compressions in about0seconds.

compressions in about0seconds.

Preventing Cardiovascular Disease

$moking

Over weight6o eercise

0igh cholesterol diet

0igh blood pressure

evelop heart disease

6on smoker

6ormal weight>ercise regularly

-ow cholesterol diet

6ormal blood pressure

-ead a healthy life.

Choice is !ours & Take action immediatel!.

Control risk factors do not let them control !ou.