American Heart Association 's "Chain Of Survival" Increases Odds Of Surviving Cardiac Arrest

by charmen
Imagine being in a train station and the person next to you suddenly slumps to the ground. Would you know what to do? The American Heart Association reports that effective bystander CPR, provided immediately following cardiac arrest, can double a victim 's chance at survival. But CPR is only one link in the Chain Of Survival the American Heart Association recommends for treating a victim of cardiac arrest.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death among adults over the age of 40 in the United States and other countries with more than 250,000 people dying each year from cardiac arrest in the US alone. Because of these statistics, it is important that citizens learn the Chain Of Survival when dealing with a life-and-death cardiac emergency.

Early Recognition

Cardiac arrest is basically when a person 's heart stops working. Warning signs include changes in breathing, loss of consciousness, loss of pulse and drops in blood pressure. Many times cardiac arrest is coupled with a heart attack. Therefore, the American Heart Association also recommends knowing the subtle signs of a heart attack as well. These include chest discomfort, shortness of breath, pain or discomfort in other areas of the upper body or even nausea and lightheadedness.

It is essential when cardiac arrest occurs to recognize the symptoms and realize that it is truly a medical emergency. If there are several people nearby, have someone immediately call 911. The sooner medical assistance arrives, the better chances the victim has of survival.

Early Bystander CPR

Bystander administered CPR saves hundreds of lives every day. A person 's brain starts to die 4 to 6 minutes after cardiac arrest. The proper administration of CPR not only prolongs the victim 's brain life, but also increases the amount of time an electric shock from a defibrillator will be effective. The American Heart Association reports that if bystander CPR is not provided, a sudden cardiac arrest victim 's chances of survival fall 7 percent to 10 percent for every minute of delay until defibrillation.

Early Defibrillator

Although it is an important link in the chain, CPR alone is not enough in most cases. It acts to buy life-saving time until a defibrillator is either located or arrives on the scene with paramedics. The American Heart Association states that when CPR and defibrillation are provided within eight minutes of a cardiac arrest episode, a person 's chance of survival increases to 20%. When these steps are provided within four minutes and a paramedic arrives within eight minutes, the likelihood of survival increases to over 40%.

Early Medical Intervention

The quicker advanced life support can be administered by health professionals, the better the outcome for the victim. That is why this is the fourth and final link in the Chain Of Survival. The first link in the chain is to call 911 for help immediately. The next two steps involve bystanders trained in first aid or CPR to administer as much help as possible until medical staff arrives. As stated above, when a victim receives early CPR it extends the window of opportunity that the paramedics have to do their job.

Each component in the chain is essential to ensure the best outcome for a victim of sudden cardiac arrest. The more people who complete CPR and first aid training, the better chances we all have of surviving a cardiac arrest episode.

About the Author

Christine O'Kelly is an author for Annuvia, a company that provides businesses and other organizations with customized safety, emergency response, CPR training, and health/wellness solutions designed by healthcare and emergency response professionals.

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Home Remedies For Acid Reflux

by Tradepla
With acid reflux causing so many significant problems for so many Americans it is very important to ensure you can find relief as quickly as possible.

What many people do not realize is that it is possible to find relief from the pain that acid reflux causes quite quickly as long as you know where to look. Of course, there are plenty of medications that you can purchase, however these tend to be extremely expensive, in addition to the fact that they are also accompanied by a large number of side effects.

This combined with a rather large price rag for all of the treatment means it can be extremely difficult to even afford the relief.

Home remedies are fabulous for acid reflux because there are several options to try out. This can range from the extremely simple, to those techniques that are a bit more advanced. In order to find the best solution for your needs it is important to ensure you try out several different methods.

This will allow you to really find which method is best for you. If you are interested in preventing acid reflux before it even starts you should seriously consider the foods that you are eating.

By adjusting your diet and omitting foods that are extremely spicy, you can typically lower the occurrence of acid reflux. However, it is also extremely important to ensure that you are not missing out on the foods that you really enjoy.

If you happen to discover that there are several foods you thoroughly enjoy which tend to aggravate then you can always try taking two teaspoons of blackstrap molasses each day. Blackstrap molasses is available at most health stores and it is extremely effective in helping to reduce the occurrence of acid reflux.

Other ways to help reduce the amount of reflux you suffer from is to reduce the size of your meals. If you are only eating two or three large meals each day, you will have significantly more difficulties lowering your symptoms.

An easy way to lower your symptoms is to break your meals down into six or even seven substantially smaller meals. By doing this, you are putting less pressure on your stomach, and helping to soothe the occurrence of acid reflux.

It is also helpful to adjust your bed a bit. If you are able to raise the angle of your bed by only 6 inches or so you can significantly reduce the amount of acid that is attempting to move up your body.

This can be extremely helpful if you are finding yourself continuously suffering symptoms while you are trying to sleep. Not everyone finds this to be helpful, but for people who suffer acid reflux symptoms while they are trying to sleep it can be a significant help.

Other suggestions to follow include looking to see if you can add more apples into your diet. If you consume an apple after each meal, it is said to substantially lower the amount of acid that you have in your stomach.

By eating more apples as well you are able to also add better foods to your diet, but it is important to ensure that you are eating the apple raw, rather than cooking it before eating.

As you can see, there are several different options available for you to help improve your overall health. Getting the most out of your life is not impossible, lowering the amount of acid reflux you suffer from really is possible, but it will take a good bit of effort on your behalf.

Acid reflux is much better handled when you are making changes to your lifestyle and using natural home remedies to treat it. The time and expense that is associated with medical treatments is never any fun. This can all be avoided simply by looking towards some extremely effective home remedies and trying to ensure that you are thoroughly satisfied with how you feel.

About the Author

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Benefits And Importance Of Liquid Vitamins

by mcarson0016
Vitamins and minerals can be absorbed by the body in a number of ways. They first enter our body through the food we eat. Secondly, we can take vitamin supplements to increase the amount of pertinent vitamins and minerals. There are different methods of taking medication and one of the most common methods is absorbing it in its liquid form. Do the advantages of liquid vitamins far outweigh its disadvantages if there are any? Read on and find out.

Better or Easier Absorption for Kids
Although liquid vitamins may taste worse than vitamins in flavored, chewable tablet forms, they are however easier to absorb. There are numerous cases in which children have problems with choking, breathing and swallowing simply because of their inability to absorb medication or vitamins in this form.

This is the same problem as well for adults who have lost their ability to control their jaws or are unable to digest anything that is not in liquid form.

Liquid Vitamins are More Effective
Because of its form, liquid vitamins can be assimilated immediately into the blood stream for a more systemic administration of the vitamin and its average absorption rate is approximately 90 to 98%. It is also three to five times more concentrated than vitamin pills and this lead to higher bio-activity and greater therapeutic benefits.

The Link between Antioxidants and Liquid Vitamins
Have you ever wondered whether or not liquid vitamins contained oxidants as well? Vitamins E, C and A are examples of antioxidants and they are commonly found in vitamin supplements but what about liquid vitamins?

And the answer is an absolute YES. Liquid vitamins must in fact contain such antioxidants or they'll prove to be ineffective compared to other vitamins. Remember that the most important of all antioxidants Vitamins A, C and E are not internally produced by the body so they must be a regular fixture in our diet. Antioxidants are our main defense against effects of damaging oxidation reactions. Antioxidants are our best weapons against suffering from any form of cancer. Without it, we are basically weaker and less healthy.

Liquid Vitamins versus Digestive Acids
One reason why people refuse to acknowledge the benefits of liquid vitamins is because of the supposed destruction by digestive acids of any vitamin or mineral that it does not recognize as part of the process of digestion. The opposite is, in fact true. Our digestive system actually prefers or is able to better absorb liquid vitamins and minerals rather than those made in pill or capsule form.

A vitamin pill or tablet has to be digested completely before it can benefit the human body. It must be broken down into absorbable nutrients or only up to thirty percent of it will be absorbed by the human body. Liquid vitamins however provide a better and easier solution for the digestive system. Because it does not depend in any way on mechanical digestion, an estimated 90% of it can be absorbed directly by the body.

It 's vital to remember that digestion does not mainly function to destroy vitamins and minerals but rather to transform them into substances it can use to improve the general constitution of the body.

Liquid Vitamins: Toxic or Not?
Another problem posed is the amount of colloidal minerals found in liquid vitamins. Are they harmful or not?

In truth, even plants and fruits contain a trace of such minerals in them. Apples, for instance, contain 3-5 mg of aluminum as it 's one of the most abundant elements that can be found in the surface of the Earth. But do you hear anyone telling you that apples are dangerous to your health? On the contrary, what we are more likely to hear is that an apple a day keeps the doctor away.

And so it must be with liquid vitamins as well. Containing a slight amount of colloidal mineral doesn't mean it 's bad for our health right away. Colloidal minerals, are above all else, naturally occurring elements and can not therefore be avoided.

You Have a Choice
At the end of the day, however, it 's still up to you whether or not you wish to take vitamin supplements in liquid or solid form. What really matters is what you prefer and which will ultimately work better for you.

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Keep A Pet And Keep The Stress Away

by Tradepla
You might be going through a rough time, such as the death of a loved one or a divorce. The stress, at times, seems difficult to tolerate.

You want to find a way to deal with the stress effectively, but you're uncertain of what your options might be. Then, on your daily walk, you spot a dog, and you wonder if this is the stress-reliever you've been looking for.

Psychologists tell us that pets can be quite beneficial to our mental health. They can provide unconditional love in a time of uncertainty. They can help to distract us from the problems of the day, giving us a new reason to go on living. And it can be quite therapeutic caring for an animal.

One obvious advantage to owning a pet is companionship. A dog or cat will always be at your heel, no matter what kind of tumultuous events you face in your life. Animals tend to be content with very little, so you don't have to spend a great deal of time trying to please your pet.

Just petting an animal 's fur can be a good means of reducing stress. The feel of the fur can awaken in you memories of simpler times, when your stress level was much lower. It 's possible that having a pet around could even reduce your heart rate or your blood pressure.

If you owned a pet when you were young, you should not be too stressed out about caring for an animal. As long as you provide the basics - food, water, shelter, play time, and regular trips to the veterinarian, your animal should be happy and healthy.If you decide to buy a dog, your regular walks with your canine companion can be quite therapeutic.

There is something so relaxing about walking a dog, especially on a crisp autumn day. You might find that the walks help you to clear your head,making it easier for you to cope with your problems.

When looking for a pet, you want your search to be as stress-free as possible. Talk to friends and neighbors and see if they know of anyone who 's selling or giving away a pet. You might also consult your local newspaper for ads for pets for sale. You might also consider rescuing a pet from a pound. It can be quite rewarding, knowing that you helped to save a life.

If you don't want to have to spend so much time caring for a pet, you might consider a cat, a canary, or even a goldfish. Any pet can brighten your home, helping you to keep stress at bay. You might find that your outlook brightens as soon as you bring a pet into your home.

Say you've never owned a pet before. You might initially be concerned about how well you will fare as a pet-owner. In such a case, it 's helpful to educate yourself. Check out books from your local library on pet care, or see if your local humane society offers informational packets. The better educated you are, the more prepared you will be to be a pet owner.

If you live in an apartment that does not permit pets, you might consider pet-sitting at someone else 's home. This can be a welcome break from your normal routine, helping to alleviate your stress. You might also consider volunteering to walk a friend 's or relative 's dog. You'll experience the fulfillment of volunteering your time and you'll make a new animal friend in the process.

In time, you might find that your pet becomes a part of your family a treasured companion in good times and bad. You'll learn to recognize your pets likes and dislikes, and you'll probably forge a strong bond. In time, you might decide to add another dog or another cat to the family.

Holiday time and other celebrations can become more festive with a pet in the house. In addition, you should find that your stress level decreases a great deal, having a pet around to keep you company.

Just having a creature there to entertain you can be quite therapeutic. You may be amazed at the changes you'll undergo, as you become accustomed to being a pet owner.

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Lower Your Cholesterol Today-Discover The Truth About Cholesterol Your Doctor Hasn't Told You

by jasonlevin
High cholesterol is a health problem for a great many people; it is a threat to a healthy heart. It happens to millions of people each year. You go to your doctor for a regular check-up which includes a blood test. You think nothing of it, until your doctor calls you and gives you the results of the blood test, which include a diagnosis of "high cholesterol."

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is made by the liver for normal body functions like formation of cell membranes, production of hormones, vitamin D and bile acid. It is also present in the food we eat. Animal products like meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products usually contains high cholesterol levels compared to fish while on the other hand, plant products like fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds and the like contains NO cholesterol at all.

When diagnosed with high cholesterol, doctors often prescribe drugs known as statins, or prescription strength cholesterol lowering drugs.

But Do "Cholesterol Lowering" Drugs actually work?

The hype surrounding statins is the con job of the decade, and statin manufacturers are laughing all the way to the bank. But all this begs the question: is there really any health benefit to taking statins? If so many doctors and drug companies are pushing this drug, it must be saving lives or improving peoples' health, right?

A critical review of thirteen clinical trials, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, reveals some startling facts about statins:

Ø  Statin drugs save zero lives.

Ø  Statins are utterly useless as prevention.

Ø  Even in people with high cholesterol, statins don't reduce the risk of death one iota.

Ø  There has never been a single study that demonstrated statins extend life for women.

So much for the hype surrounding statins.

To make matters worse, statins are known to produce some unwanted and very serious side effects including lack of libido, memory loss, CoQ10 deficiency, vitamin D deficiency, muscle fatigue, sudden death and widespread hormonal imbalances. Statins actually cause disease while preventing nothing!
Why Do Doctors Love Drugs?

The simple answer is, "They're human."

Doctors have only so many working hours in a day and try to spend most of them seeing patients. They rely on the medical establishment to keep them informed about effective treatments. Their information comes from:

    * Professional Associations,
    * Medical Journals,
    * Government,    * Other Doctors,
    * Drug Companies.
Sadly, all of the first four sources are heavily influenced by number five, the drug companies. In fact, eight out of nine members of the special panel that established the current cholesterol guidelines have financial ties to the drug companies.

I believe that 's why natural, non-pharmaceutical treatments get so little attention from the medical profession: there 's no powerful coalition of vested interests, high pressure sales people and huge advertising budgets lobbying the medical establishment and promoting the benefits of natural treatments - even though some of those natural treatments are often far superior to drugs.

It 's a rare doctor, indeed, who will even consider natural therapies - usually a doctor who has a special interest in them or has been personally influenced by a family member or an outspoken patient.

So What Should I Do?

Simple lifestyle changes like watching what you eat, adding specific foods to your diet, undertaking some form of regular exercise, reducing alcohol intake, cutting down on smoking will help reduce your cholesterol.

You see, our lifestyle choices have gotten us into this mess. We need to make the right choices to get us out.

The fact is the exponential increase in heart disease is really the result of the way our lives have changed. The bad news is we are used to living a certain way now and it isn’t easy to change. The good news is that change is in our power and with it better heart health.

Coronary heart disease is killing us as a society. One in two people dies of heart attack. The change we need to make in diet and lifestyle is NOT an option, it’s mandatory.

Lowering cholesterol will bring significant changes to your health – changes that are VITAL to living a hearty and healthy life. 

About the Author

Lower Cholesterol Naturally is a proven program unconditionally guaranteed to effectively lower your cholesterol in just 30 days or less! To learn more visit http://www.lower-your-cholesterol-today.com

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Take Part In The Adventure: Self-Guided Tour On Getting Rid Of Anxiety

by sweetdreams
When life seems to be overwhelming you and causing you tension and anxiety, you may not know which end is up. The need for anxiety relief has been with us for many years but perhaps never more so than in dealing with day to day life in today 's rapidly changing world. The symptoms of anxiety, which can include such things as headaches, back pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, insomnia and an upset stomach, are also the symptoms of many common illnesses and so it 's important when the symptoms arise to be sure that they are indeed the result of stress.

But, there are solutions that can help you feel more relaxed, in order for you to work through what is bothering you. Here are a few of them:

Massage
Whether it is from your significant other, a dear friend or a trained professional, there is something to be said for massage therapy. This will help you unwind and work on relieving all of the physical tension that has built up over time. While you are getting this special treatment, you can feel carefree and try to find that sense of inner peace. Anxiety can cause you to overwork the muscles and joints, often times clenching your fists or making your whole body feel tight and stressed. Getting rid of this will surely make you feel better physically, and the attention you're receiving will surely help mentally and emotionally.

Think Positive
Remarkably, it works. You may have to force yourself to do it if you are an overly cynical person, but think positively for just a few days, and you will find yourself not only more relaxed, but perhaps even more energetic.

Aromatherapy
Breathe in a sense of relief by choosing the right fragrance for you. You will be amazed at how your mind and body will respond positively to various scents in the air. When you use aromatherapy, the gentle smells will allow you to feel at ease, as something positive is triggered in the brain after you inhale the fragrance. You will feel comfortable in no time.

A Nice Soothing Bath
Nothing seems more pleasant to end a rough and nerve-wracking day more than a pleasantly warm bubble bath. Set aside twenty minutes to a half hour as time to just be alone and let the temperate waters relax you. Rest your eyes, or bring in a good book with you to take your mind off things that are really getting to you. Once you finish with this comforting bath, you may even feel relaxed enough to want to take a nap and sleep off the rest of that tension.

Just Relax
Try reading a book or magazine, going for a walk, exercising, or finding something that is productive. Stress and anxiety can tend to fester during periods of inactivity, as there is nothing to occupy the mind. Being productive not only takes your mind off of whatever you may be worrying about, but a feeling of accomplishment can help change your mood from one of anxiety to one of contentment.

Talk it Out
The most important thing to do when you are feeling overwhelmed is to tell someone. Whether it is a close friend or a professional, keeping anxious feelings bottled up does not make for a healthy person. Sharing your thoughts can help others relate to you better, or it can be good to say things aloud in order to find an appropriate solution. Either way, letting go of tension through verbal communication can prove to be a very healthy practice.

If you combine any number of these techniques, anxiety will be a thing of the past, and you'll be amazed at how much better your quality of life will be.

About the Author

Sherry Harris is the author of the successful e-book "Best Practices Guide: 101 Amazingly Simple Ways to Beat Insomnia". It was created to be The Definitive Guide of insomnia treatments on the Net. You can download the FREE PDF e-book or click on the link. After you grab your free e-book, visit the rest of the website http://www.ScentToSleep.com where you will find products to wipe out insomnia.

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What You Should Know About Eye Surgery

by rdokoye
All this is essential for the surgeon to be able to carry out the laser eye surgery successfully. Some people might be old-fashioned and don't want to try corrective eye surgery.

If you meet the requirements, it also offers an increased probability that the resultant wave front lasik eye surgery will provide a successful outcome with fewer side effects.

As tempting as it may be to go with the lowest eye surgery quote or the first one that you get, you need to shop around and be confident that you have made the right decision, a decision you will have to live with for many years to come.

I don't know that I'd trust a barber to use one of those but if you were a licensed eye doctor looking for a competitive edge you could offer corrective eye surgery and a haircut for one, all inclusive price.

And for those who have long managed the expense and inconvenience of eyeglasses and contact lenses, the idea of corrective eye surgery seems most appealing.

As technology is evolving rapidly, the future LASIK eye surgery is expected to treat severe refractive errors. The patient is required to take certain precautions for a period of 7-10 days before the Lasik eye surgery.

Remember, not everyone will be suitable for lasik eye surgery. Post laser eye surgery the patient will have to adjust their lifestyle to accommodate the healing cornea.

Therefore, if the doctor acts hurried or seems distracted during your initial meeting, you may take this as an indication of the attitude you will find during and after the laser eye surgery itself.

Here are some of the associated risks which could occur: - vision loss - visual symptoms - regular follow ups as a result of under or over treatment - dry eyes - diminishing results side effects of laser eye surgery let 's examine the risks in a little more detail.

A quality eye surgeon is vital in achieving excellent results from any laser eye surgery. Not surprisingly, as technology continues to advance, corrective laser eye surgery continues to make similar advancements.

Eye surgery technology is improving that there may come a time when laser eye surgery risk is non existent given the rapid rate in which technology is advancing.

90% of these aberrations create common refractive errors such as farsightedness, astigmatism and nearsightedness which are usually treated by optical devices like contact lenses, laser eye surgery, using PRK, LASIK (or LASEK) or basic eyeglasses.

For most people thinking of undergoing it, the first question is of course how laser eye surgery works. This procedure is called Lasik eye surgery and it corrects vision problems for patients.

Laser eye surgery price is important; make no mistake as many people in society simply cannot afford to spend thousands of dollars at the drop of a hat.

Most patients report virtually no pain during Lasik eye surgery and only mild and infrequent discomfort. The most common form of laser eye surgery is LASIK or laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis. The only situation where flying may be dangerous after eye surgery is when a bubble of gas has been placed within the eye.

Keep in mind the importance of having realistic expectations about laser eye surgery. So what does lasek laser eye surgery entail? Lasik or Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis eye surgery is the surgical procedure used to correct these refractive errors of the eyes.

About the Author

Uchenna Ani-Okoye is an internet marketing advisor and co founder of Free Affiliate Programs

For more information and resource links on eye surgery visit: New Eye Surgery Allegra

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