People with Heart Disease Should not Miss the Annual flu Vaccine

 

Even though vaccinations are known for preventing serious and deadly diseases, there are still groups of people who do not fully know the importance of vaccinations and therefore, avoid or forget getting vaccinated at the right time. Since August is National Immunization Awareness Month, it is essential that all of us educate ourselves about vaccinations as much as we can so that outbreaks do not occur and people of all ages remain safe.

In this blog, our focus will be on flu shots and why flu shots are necessary for people with heart disease. Risk of serious flu complications goes up for people with cardiovascular problems if they do not get a flu shot. How? Let’s find out.

 

Dangers for people with heart problems

As we all know, the flu, also known as influenza, is a viral infection of the nose, throat, and lungs that spreads easily from one person to another. The reason why a lot of stress is placed on getting people with heart disease vaccinated for the flu is, its complications especially prove dangerous for them. What are those complications? If you have heart disease and you do not get vaccinated, you may become susceptible to serious medical problems such as pneumonia, lung failure, bronchitis, heart attack, and even death. That is why healthcare professionals recommend everyone, especially older adults and other risk groups, to get an annual flu vaccine.

When to get vaccinated

As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, anyone above the age of 6 months can get vaccinated for the flu every year. People who are 65 and older, they can go for a high dose flu vaccine. According to healthcare professionals, September and October are the best months for getting vaccinated. However, if you do not get vaccinated in those months for some reason, you can still get the shot until January or sometimes later.

 

Heart patients should take special care of their health as they are more prone to other health complications. It is advised you regularly meet a healthcare professional so that he/she can examine your heart health. Many heart problems are noticeable when you engage in certain activities such as sleeping, exercising, eating, etc. To monitor the electrical activity of your heart during these activities, the medical professional may use Ambulatory ECG.

Control Your Emotions to Keep Your Cardiovascular Health in Top Condition

 

Every year, mental health awareness month is recognized in order to motivate people to talk about their mental health and seek help if they need it. It has been found that as many as 20 percent of the people in the US are dealing with some sort of mental illness. The goal of mental health awareness month is to let people know that there are resources and treatments available. If you continue to ignore your deteriorating mental health, your emotional, behavioral, and physical health can suffer.

It has been found that how you feel and think has a strong bearing on the health of your heart. For instance, patients who discover that they have a heart disease and become depressed as a result of the news, increase their chances of experiencing a serious heart-related event within that year. Emotions such as anger, sadness, fear, etc., all can lead to irregular heart rhythms which is not good for your heart. That is why we have listed some ways of controlling negative emotions. Let’s take a look at them.

 

l  Engage In Exercise - We will advise you to engage in physical activities or exercises at least three times a week for about an hour. Aerobic exercises are famous for their heart and brain benefits. So, make sure do light jogging, walking, and cycling to keep your mind free of stressful thoughts.

l  Meditate - Countless number of people all around the world have benefited from practicing mindfulness. As we mentioned above, the goal is to free your body of stress. Doing meditation and some yoga can prove very effective for calming your mind.

l  Socialize - The more you remain secluded, the more depressed you will become. Staying in isolation can make your already depressed state of mind even more depressed. What should you do? Get out of your house, talk to your neighbors, stay active, and make new connections. Listening to others and sharing your experiences with them will make you feel lighter and happier.

 

Apart from these, try maintaining a journal, find reasons to laugh, and seek help from a professional therapist. If you do all of these, you will surely notice a difference in your mental state. Once you’ve made the aforesaid practices a daily part of your life, visit a doctor for ambulatory ECG monitoring. With the help of this monitoring, a doctor will be able to see how your heart is performing throughout the day while you engage in your daily activities.

National Diabetes Awareness Month: Self-Care Practices for Diabetic Patients

 

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month- a month to raise awareness about diabetes. Though 10.5% of the U.S. population is diabetic, many individuals are unaware of its potential risks and have lots of misinformation about this chronic condition.

This year, individuals and healthcare professionals are teaming up to get the focus of youth who have diabetes to self-care practices. Here are some tips for youth with diabetes to avoid serious health complications and hospital visits.

Manage Blood Glucose Levels

Children and teens should take the right dose of prescribed medicines at the right time - even when they are feeling good and have achieved their blood glucose and cholesterol goals.

Adopt Healthy Habits

A healthy eating plan, getting enough sleep, and regular physical activities are imperative for individuals who have diabetes, and especially if they are taking insulin. Youth who have type-1 diabetes should always take note of their blood glucose before and after physical activities.

Be Prepared for Emergencies

A basic go-kit with medical supplies and equipment, a medication list (along with doses and dosing schedules), and a health care professional and emergency contact list, helps youth to stay prepared for emergencies.

Monitor Diabetes Complications

Early diagnosis can help reduce the risk of potential health problems, such as heart disease, nerve damage, and vision loss.

Seek Mental Health Support

Encourage youth to connect with other individuals who have diabetes to talk about their concerns and feelings about their chronic condition.

Attend Annual Eye Exams

An annual visit to an ophthalmologist can help catch early signs of retinopathy. It is a condition that causes damage to the blood vessels in the eye and eventually partial blindness or blurred vision.

Celebrate National Diabetes Awareness Month by informing individuals who have diabetes about self-care practices. Also, guide them on how to eat healthily, become more active, and monitor their heart health with an Ambulatory ECG.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month: How to Recognize SCA and Respond?

October is observed as Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month across the nation. According to the Heart Rhythm Society, Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is the cause of more than 350,000 deaths every year. To bring the number down, it is important to understand what SCA is and how to respond to an SCA event.

Sudden cardiac arrest is a treatable condition that doesn’t necessarily lead to sudden death; however, most people often misunderstood it as a massive heart attack. When an individual suffers SCA, they might be fine one minute but collapse the next without any warning signs. Without immediate and proper intervention, the victim may die.

What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest?

Sudden Cardiac Arrest is a medical emergency that occurs when there is a sudden electrical malfunction. SCA causes an abrupt and unexpected loss of heart function. When the heart stops to beat entirely, the individual also experiences a sudden loss of consciousness, breathing, blood circulation to the brain, while other vital organs cease instantly. This medical situation is completely different from a heart attack, where the heart continues to beat, and only the blood supply is compromised. It is crucial to respond immediately; otherwise, the victim may suffer structural brain damage, or even death, within minutes.

What to do if you witness someone in an SCA emergency?

Given the severity of SCA, response time is crucial. You can make the difference between life and death by understanding what to do in such an emergency.

● Recognize Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) - A person suddenly loses consciousness in SCA. Also, normal breathing stops, and you see no signs of life. Instead of waiting for professional rescuers to arrive at the scene, immediately intervene as there might not be enough time. With each passing minute, the chances of survival decrease by 10%.

● Call 911 - It goes without saying - calling 911 should be your first response or better yet, ask someone else to get professional help on the way while you begin treatment.

●   Find and use the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) - If AED is immediately available, apply the electrode pads to the victim’s chest and follow the instructions as shown on diagrams on the AED. The electrical therapy will automatically shock the heart to restore the normal heart rhythm.

●Start chest compressions or CPR - If AED is not immediately available, begin chest compressions and Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

When a bystander initiates these lifesaving tasks, the victim’s survival rate increases from 10 to 50 percent.

Invest in portable EKG machines to take care of your heart during this Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month.

 

National Health Center Awareness: Importance of Health Care Facilities

 

National Health Center Week recognizes missions and accomplishments of community health centers across the country. It is an annual celebration, observed in August, to raise awareness about health centers – how they protect and promote the health of citizens and make a big difference in communities. More than 235,000 health care providers and staff dedicatedly provide high-quality health care to medically vulnerable people throughout the United States.

 

More than 27 million Americans rely on community health centers for comprehensive and affordable health care services. Find below the reasons why:

 

Affordable Services

They offer a wide range of medical services to citizens at a rate that is more affordable than alternative medical options. For instance, the average cost of a visit to a health center is less than one-sixth of the average cost of an emergency room’s trip. They offer a sliding fee scale to those who can’t pay. 

 

Comprehensive Medical Care

Millions of Americans rely on health centers because they offer comprehensive health care that focuses on the overall health of a person rather than only one ailment. Community health centers provide citizens with a wide range of treatment options - from initial screenings to management of chronic illness, mobile ecg. For instance, they offer preventive care services, mental/behavioral health, and dental care to both adults and children. Patients may choose either one or all of these services as per their needs. 

 

Easy Access

Access to medical care services is a serious obstacle for underprivileged people. Community health centers provide several empowering services, including transportation and health education to people in medical need. Easy and improved access ensures each patient receives the health care services they require.

 

From a simple check-up to something serious – like early diagnose of underlying heart disease –community health centers offer help and save millions of lives every year. Medical Centers invest in mobile ECGsystems, which are safe, convenient, and an affordable way to monitor and analyze the heart’s conduction system and underline any cardiovascular issue.