Healthy Soch
“On World Heart Day, awareness is needed on the importance of initiating CPR within the first 10 minutes of a sudden cardiac arrest”
healthy soch
New Delhi, September 23, 2019:
According to recent estimates, there are about 25 to 45 deaths in Delhi every day due to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). The condition is emerging as the number one cause of mortality in India. With World Heart Day around the corner, there is a need to raise awareness on training people in essential life saving techniques such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and installing automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) in public places.
CPR is the most crucial and basic procedure to save a life in the event of an SCA. There is substantial evidence to suggest that CPR is effective in the first 10 minutes of cardiac arrest. After 10 minutes, there is practically no chance of recovery unless the patient is in hypothermia.
Speaking about this, Padma Shri Awardee, Dr KK Aggarwal, President, Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI), said, “Sudden cardiac arrest is more fatal than a heart attack given that it can lead to death in a matter of minutes. It is caused due to a sudden and complete blockage of blood flow to the various body organs. Timely help is of utmost importance in such cases and initiating cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) within the first 10 minutes is important. The two pillars of community service include meaningful engagement and mindful participation. Learning the basics of CPR is community service at its best as it can help avert mortality through timely assistance, before medical help arrives. In case an ambulance reaches the patient very late or if there is an acute shortage of cardiac ambulances, an automatic external defibrillator (AED) installed at public places can help save lives in a timely manner.”
Defibrillation within 3 to 5 min of collapse can produce survival rates as high as 50% to 70%. Early defibrillation can be achieved through CPR providers using public access and on-site AEDs. Public access AED programmes should be actively implemented in public places that have a high density of citizens.
Adding further, Dr Aggarwal, said, “The CPR 10 was created so that the public could remember the process of revival after SCA. The CPR 10 Mantra is as follows: Within 10 minutes of cardiac arrest (earlier the better) for the next 10 minutes at least, compress the center of the chest with a speed of 100 compressions per minute (10×10). CPR 10 is easy to learn and easy to do and one does not need to be a doctor or be certified in this technique.”
There are three simple rules to be followed when a person suffers from SCA: Call the ambulance, check if the person is breathing or has a pulse and if not, then start chest compressions and continue for at least 30 minutes till medical help arrives. It is also imperative to not stop CPR too soon. The premise of a successful CPR is earlier the better and longer the better.
The Formula of 80 to prevent heart diseases· Keep your lower blood pressure, fasting sugar, abdominal circumference, resting heart rate and LDL cholesterol levels all below 80.
- Walk 80 minutes each day; brisk walk 80 minutes a week with a speed of 80 steps per minute.
- Eat less, not more than 80 gm/80 ml of caloric food in one meal. Do not eat carbohydrate–based refined cereals 80 days in a year to reduce chances of heart attack.
- Take vitamin D through sunlight 80 days in a year.
- Do not drink alcohol and if you drink, take less than 80 ml of whiskey in a day or less than 80 gm of whiskey in a week. Do not smoke or be ready for placement of stent costing Rs 80,000.
- Give 80 minutes to yourself in a day.
- When clapping, clap 80 times.
- If you are a heart patient, ask your doctor to give 80 mg of aspirin and 80 mg of atorvastatin.
- Donate blood 80 times in a lifetime to reduce chances of heart attack.
- Avoid an atmosphere of more than 80 db of noise pollution.
- While on treadmill, try to reach 80% of your heart rate.
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