A little “me time” could save your life

	Brought to you by Gail Klanchesser coastalcpr.com

Did you know that the leading cause of death for women in the United States is Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)?  Cardiovascular Disease claims the lives of over 500,000 women each year.  For many of us we don’t think of our heart health risks.   June 1 – 7, 2010 is National CPR & AED Awareness Week.  This week take a few minutes to evaluate your heart health risks and learn how to keep your heart healthy.

What puts us at risk factor for cardiovascular disease?  High cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, diabetes, stress and lack of physical activity are just a few.  These are risk factors we can control by changing habits or visiting with our healthcare provider.  Some risk factors we can’t control; such as our age, race or hereditary factors.  But these are things that you can include in your conversation with your healthcare provider as they will include these in their healthcare plan for you.

Do you know the signs and symptoms of a heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest?  In sudden cardiac arrest a person collapses and becomes unresponsive.  They stop breathing and their heart beats with an irregular rhythm that does not effectively circulate blood through their body.  Start CPR and use an AED (Automated External Defibrillator). A person having a heart attack may have sharp or crushing chest pain; but many people only have mild discomfort or pressure in their chest or upper back and some difficulty breathing.  It is important that anyone having chest pain or pressure with difficulty in breathing seek medical attention immediately.  Call 911.  If they become unresponsive and stop breathing start CPR and use an AED (Automated External Defibrillator). 

Do you know how to do CPR?  If you have never taken a course or are not sure if you remember how to do CPR you can do Hands-Only CPR.  Call 911, push up and down on the center of the person’s chest and don’t stop until the ambulance arrives.  Your quick action can make a difference.

The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women (www.goredforwomen.org) website has interactive heart check up tools, tips and programs to help you check and improve your heart health.  Set aside of a few minutes of Me Time this week and check your heart health.  It is something you can do for yourself and your family.

About Gail Klanchesser
She is the owner of Coastal CPR & First Aid, LLC.  She is an American Heart Association BLS CPR & First Aid Instructor offering both community and on-location courses for busy parents, healthcare providers, care providers, business, schools and youth organizations.  She is a former EMT-I and firmly believes that we all can make a difference to someone in an emergency by using CPR, choking and First Aid skills.  She and her four children are active community volunteers living on the New Hampshire Seacoast. coastalcpr.com