American Heart Month Recognized Feb. 1-28, 2010
Security Choice, a leader in home security and safety, kicks off American Heart Month with important information about identifying and reacting to a heart attack.
Charlotte, NC (PRWEB) February 3, 2010
According to The American Heart Association (http://www. americanheart. org), 1 in 6 deaths this year will be attributed to coronary heart disease. American Heart Month is a national campaign to raise awareness for heart disease treatment and prevention and has been recognized every February since 1963. Security Choice (http://www. securitychoice. com), a leader in home security and safety, supports American Heart Month this year with important information about how to recognize and react to symptoms of a heart attack.
Know the symptoms -- While some heart attacks do occur without warning, many present themselves through subtle symptoms over a period of time. This includes tightness of the chest that comes and goes, pain that slowly builds over several hours, discomfort in the arms, back or neck, and shortness of breath. At the onset of a coronary event, symptoms of uncomfortable pressure, squeezing or fullness in the chest will grow intense. This is often followed by a sudden loss of responsiveness and breathing.
React quickly – When any symptoms of a heart attack are present, emergency medical responders should be contacted immediately. Every second counts, and the administration of clot-busting drugs, use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and surgery are all potentially life-saving measures that need to be performed as soon as possible. A heart attack patient should receive treatment within 70 minutes for maximum chance of survival.
Be prepared – CPR, AEDs and aspirin have all been shown to improve survival chances, but should not be administered without consent of a certified medical professional. Contacting a 911 operator or emergency responder should always be the first plan of action in the case of a heart attack. Populations who are at high risk for coronary events should consider monitored home alarm systems with medical and police dispatch. With one touch of a keypad or wireless remote, emergency experts are online and an ambulance can be on its way.
Coronary heart disease is currently the number one cause of death in the United States. A healthy lifestyle that includes exercise and a sensible diet can play a huge role in reducing risk for heart disease. In the case of emergency, knowing risk factors, warning signs, and reaching medical professionals quickly can drastically improve the chance of survival. For more information on home security and safety monitoring systems, contact Security Choice (http://www. securitychoice. com) at www. securitychoice. com.
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