HEART ATTACKS
What is a heart attack?
The heart is a muscle that needs a continuous supply of oxygen, and it receives this from the blood pumped around our bodies through our arteries, specifically coronary arteries. (Heart Foundation, 2013) "A heart attack happens when there is a sudden complete blockage of an artery that supplies blood to an area of your heart. As a result, some of your heart muscle begins to die. Without early medical treatment, this damage can be permanent." (Heart Foundation, 2013) The symptoms of a heart attack can vary from person to person, some people get discomfort or pain in areas in their upper body whilst other people get severe chest pains that gradually get worse. What is the difference between a heart attack and Cardiac Arrest?
"Cardiac Arrest occurs suddenly and without warning and is triggered by the electrical malfunction in the heart that causes an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)." (American Heart Association, 2013) Because of this, the heart is unable to pump blood to the any other vital organs in the body, such as the lungs and brain. Within seconds, a person loses consciousness and has no pulse. If the victim doesn't receive immediate treatment, this will lead to death. Cardiac arrest affects the blood being able to pump around the body whereas, a heart attack affects blood being able to pump into the heart. Cardiac Arrest is an electrical problem in the body, whereas a heart attack is a circulation problem in the body. (American Heart Association, 2014) Sudden cardiac arrest can occur after a heart attack or during the recovery process. By having a heart attack you become more likely to undergo cardiac arrest, as the heart conditions are linked. "Other heart conditions may also disrupt the heart’s rhythm and lead to sudden cardiac arrest. These include a thickened heart muscle (cardiomyopathy), heart failure, arrhythmias, particularly ventricular fibrillation, and long Q-T syndrome." (American Heart Association, 2014) How can I tell if someone is having a heart attack?
The symptoms of a heart attack are upper body pain or discomfort, for example in the jaw, neck, upper back, shoulders, chest and in the arms. If you are experiencing discomfort in one of these areas, the discomfort tends to spread to other parts of the body. If a person begins to feel nauseous or generally unwell, dizzy or lightheaded, break into a cold sweat or find it difficult breathe or have shortness of breath, they may be suffering from the symptoms of a heart attack. (National Heart Foundation of Australia, 2013) When a person is having a heart attack, they will generally have chest pain however, everyone is different so if someone is undergoing any of the above symptoms and they progressively get worse over the next 10 minutes, call 000. It is important to realise that even if you aren't fully certain if someone is having a heart attack, you should call 000 anyway because the sooner you get help, the less damage done on the heart and the victim. What First Aid/Treatment could I give someone suffering a heart attack?
If you think someone is having a heart attack:
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STROKES
What symptoms do stroke victims have?
A stroke is a condition that affects the flow of blood to the brain, due to a blood clot that may block a blood vessel or artery, and in turn this causes brain cells to die from the lack of oxygen. The longer a person suffering from a stroke is left, the more permanent damage it can do. "Brain cells in the immediate area are killed because they are deprived of oxygen. This dead area is known as an infarct. Without prompt treatment, the area of brain cells surrounding the infarct will also die." (Better Health, 2013) The symptoms of a stroke are unexplained dizziness, difficulty speaking/slurred speech, a numb or weak feeling in the face, arms or legs, difficulty understanding other people, blurred/poor vision in both or one eye, loss of balance or unexplained fall, difficulty swallowing and a headache (usually severe or abrupt onset). (Better Health, 2013) To check if someone is having a stroke, go through the F.A.S.T. process.
F ace: Check the victim's face. Can the person smile? Does their mouth or eye drop on one side? A rm: Can the victim raise both their arms? S peech: Is the victim having difficulty speaking? Is their speech slurred? Can they understand what you are saying? T ime: If the person is experiencing any of these symptoms, time to act fast. Call 000 straight away. How can I help the victim if they are frightened or anxious? What if i can't understand what they are saying?
Going through the DRSABCD process is also helpful when dealing with a stroke victim. By removing restricting clothing to allow the victim to breathe, turning them on to their side and supporting their weak limbs, you can greatly help the victim also. If a victim is frightened or anxious calm them down, by talking to them and ensuring them help is on the way. If you are unable to understand what a stroke victim is saying, ask them to repeat the question and try to interpret body language and visual cues that could lead you to a conclusion of what they are saying. Most importantly, stay with them the whole time and do not leave, unless retrieving medication or a phone, until help arrives. Why does a stroke tend to affect one side of the body?
The brain is made up of four parts, the right hemisphere, the left hemisphere, the Brain Stem and the Cerebellum. Depending on what part of the brain is targeted, depends on what happens to the body. Each part of the brain does certain jobs and when one stops working properly, only the jobs that that part of the brain does are affected. For instance, some of the major functions of the right hemisphere include perception and control of the left side of the body. A stroke which affects the right hemisphere can cause many changes, including:
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