First Support CPR and First Aid Training, Author at First Support CPR and First Aid Training

What is Holiday Heart Syndrome?

Holiday heart syndrome, also known as alcohol-induced atrial arrhythmias, is a syndrome defined by an irregular heartbeat associated with high levels of ethanol consumption. Holiday heart syndrome was discovered in 1978 when Philip Ettinger discovered the connection between arrythmia and alcohol consumption. It received its common name as it is associated with the binge drinking common during the holidays. It is unclear how common this syndrome is. 5-10% of cases of atrial fibrillation may be related to this condition, but it could be as high 63%

Symptoms and complications

The most common symptoms people with HHS have are heart palpitations and arrhythmia. People usually present with atrial fibrillation; however, other forms of arrythmia may be developed, such as atrial tachycardia, premature ventricular contraction, and atrial flutter. Patients with HHS also frequently report precordial pain, sweating, anxiety, shortness of breath, and syncope. Strokes and cardiac arrest can also occur in people with this syndrome. People with Holiday heart syndrome have a heightened risk of dilated cardiomyopathy, rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney injury, and electrical injuries. The heightened level of acetaldehyde this syndrome causes can result in mitochondrial dysfunction, valvular disease, oxidative damage, cell death, lowered effects of cardioprotective molecules, and an altered calcium transport and protein synthesis system. If left untreated, it can result in thrombosis, pneumonia, cirrhosis, and heart failure. For most patients with HHS the syndrome only lasts 24 hours. However for 26% of people with this syndrome, they reexperience an episode of it within the next year. To treat patients with this condition cardioversion or other treatments for arrhythmia are used.

Avoid Binge Drinking To Lower Your Risk of Holiday Heart Syndrome

Because drinking is so embedded in American culture, the general population often doesn’t recognize the true effect that alcohol intake has on the body, says Brown. That’s especially true for people with underlying heart disease.

The simplest way to avoid holiday heart syndrome is to limit your holiday drinking. The CDC recommends no more than one drink a day for women and two for men on days when alcohol is consumed, which shouldn’t be every day. But even staying within those limits may increase the risk of dying from certain cancers and cardiac disease, the CDC says.

Excessive amounts of alcohol can have big effects on the brain, kidneys, and heart. Limit your alcohol use this holiday season.

How is holiday heart syndrome treated?

It depends on your overall health. If your health already isn’t the best or unstable, your doctor will likely do cardioversion. This is when they use quick, low-energy shocks to reset your heart rhythm. They’ll also suggest you stop drinking altogether. Even if you can’t stop completely, studies show drinking less than 80 milligrams of alcohol per day may lower your risk of holiday heart.

If your overall health is good, the doctor will treat your arrhythmia and suggest you stop drinking.

6 Different Kind of Foods to eat to Lower Your Risk of Heart Disease

New research shows that making six key foods a regular part of your diet may lower your risk of having a cardiovascular disease.

A study published in the European Heart Journal, researchers analyzed data from six international studies that included 245,000 participants—with and without prior cardiovascular disease—from 80 countries. They used a diet score from the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiological (PURE) study, ongoing research run by the Population Research Health Institute.

The researchers found that having a diet filled with whole fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, fish, and whole-fat dairy products helped lower a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes.

Researchers highlighted that the study was global in scope instead of centered on high-income or Western countries, the focus of many previous diet studies. He said those studies may not apply to people who live in lower to middle-income countries, where inadequate intake rather than excess consumption of certain foods may cause health issues.

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally, resulting in an estimated 17.9 million deaths each year, according to the World Health Organization. A third of those deaths occur prematurely in people younger than 70.3 An unhealthy diet lacking protective foods such as vegetables and whole grains is considered a main cardiovascular disease risk factor.

This study emphasizes the power of nutrition, and that low intakes of heart healthy foods are associated with poor outcomes.

Based on their findings, the researchers recommend eating two to three daily servings of both fruit and vegetables, two daily servings of dairy, and one daily serving of nuts.

The score also includes three to four weekly servings of legumes and two to three weekly servings of fish or a Possible substitutes included whole grains at one serving daily, and unprocessed red meat or poultry at one serving daily.

This study differs from other papers because researchers focused on a broad range of natural foods eaten in moderation rather than a diet limited to a small number of foods.

Their findings suggest it is better to consume key quality foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, fish, and dairy rather than focus on limiting foods high in saturated fat such as whole fat dairy and meat. Including certain foods while not limiting others may make the PURE diet easier to stick to than other diets, ultimately resulting in better cardiovascular outcomes.

The most interesting aspect of this study is finding out that two servings per day of whole-fat milk, yogurt, or cheese can be included with other beneficial foods as part of a nutritious diet.

Researchers advise that to much consumption of saturated fat which often comes from animal products increases the risk for cardiovascular disease. We may need to re-evaluate how we advise about whole-fat [dairy] products but I still think that it is more [that] the diet was overall better.

The study also provided more evidence that increasing consumption of foods known to be cardio-protective like fish, nuts, vegetables, and legumes does indeed protect heart health.

You need to eat this 6 kinds of foods to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease

An inclusive plant-based diet is a great choice for heart disease prevention, said Berger. This type of diet focuses on whole plant foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes, and nuts. However, dairy and quality protein from animals can be included too.

For example, meals could feature a large portion of colorful fruits and vegetables, quality protein from fish, meat, nuts, and/or legumes, fiber rich whole grains such farro, brown rice, or quinoa, and a source of dairy a couple times per day. There is no one magic food or property of one food that by itself protects the heart. It is what we eat regularly that will affect heart health and overall health.

There’s no need to worry if you can’t eat nuts, fish, or any of the other recommended foods identified in the study, experts told Health. Not having them in your diet doesn’t necessarily mean you’re at greater risk for cardiovascular disease.

Researchers observed the biggest health gains with a diet score of four out of a maximum of six, with modest additional health benefits with scores above four. Improving intake in even three or four of these foods would produce a marked protection.

Nuts can also be replaced with pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, or ground flaxseed, said Gulati. Additionally, algal oil supplementation can fill in nutrient gaps for omega-3s.

Researchers noted that a heart-healthy diet doesn’t include large amounts of foods high in saturated fats and should include no trans fats, such as fried foods and packaged baked goods. They said that many processed foods tend to be a mainstay of diets worldwide because they are relatively cheap and easy to access. These foods don’t make as much room for heart-healthy foods in a person’s diet.

We all need variety in our diet, and joy with the meals we eat. The important element is overall diet quality from nutritious foods.

Fact

1.) A diet filled with six key foods can help lower your risk of cardiovascular disease and early death, according to new research.
2.) Eating whole fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, fish, and whole-fat dairy products can help lower a person’s risk of cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes.
3.) Researchers say the new study emphasizes the power of nutrition, and how intakes of heart-healthy foods can influence health outcomes.

10 Safety Tips for Trick or Treaters this Halloween

Halloween ast becoming one of the most popular holidays in this country, masses of little superheroes, cartoon and television characters will soon be out in their neighborhoods for trick or treat fun. First Support CPR has ten tips’ parents can follow to help keep the kids safe while enjoying the festivities.

Trick-or-treaters need to see and be seen.
– Use face makeup instead of masks which make seeing difficult.
– Give trick-or-treaters a flashlight to light their way.
– Add reflective tape to costumes and trick-or-treat bags.
– Have everyone wear light-colored clothing.
Use flame-resistant costumes.
Make sure adults know where the kids are going. A parent or responsible adult should accompany young children door-to-door.
Be cautious around animals, especially dogs.
Walk, don’t run.
Only visit homes that have a porch light on. Accept treats at the door – never go inside.
Walk only on the sidewalks, not in the street.
– If no sidewalk is available, walk at the edge of the roadway, facing traffic.
– Look both ways before crossing the street, and cross only at the corner.
– Don’t cut across yards or use alleys.
– Don’t cross between parked cars.
– Drivers – use extra caution. The youngsters may forget to look both ways before crossing.
A grown-up should check the goodies before eating.
– Make sure to remove loose candy, open packages and choking hazards.
– Discard any items with brand names that you are not familiar with.
If you are planning to welcome trick-or-treaters to your home, follow these safety steps:
Light the area well so young visitors can see.
Sweep leaves from your sidewalks and steps. Clear your porch or front yard of obstacles someone could trip over.

Obesity a Factor for Heart Failure

More than 13,000 people has found that even after accounting for such risk factors as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, so-called morbid obesity appears to stand alone as a standout risk for heart failure, but not for other major types of heart disease.

In a report on the research, published online on July 28 in the Journal of the American Heart Association, says morbidly obese individuals were more than two times more likely to have heart failure than comparable people with a healthy body mass index, after accounting for high blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels. And yet, after accounting for these factors, people with morbid obesity weren’t any more likely to have a stroke or coronary heart disease — basically disease of the heart’s arteries,” due in part to inflammation and an accumulation of plaque in the heart and surrounding blood vessels.

The researchers caution that their study suggests a strong, independent link between severe obesity and heart failure but does not definitively determine cause and effect.

Nevertheless, they say, their findings suggest that while treating hypertension, diabetes and other conditions associated with obesity may be sufficient to prevent coronary heart disease and stroke, this approach may not be enough to prevent an increased risk of heart failure, for which weight loss may be the only foolproof, currently available preventive measure. The federal government estimates that one in three Americans is obese and more than 5 percent are morbidly obese — defined as a body mass index of greater than 35. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost 6 million people in the United States are living with heart failure, a condition of aging marked by enlarged and/or weakened heart muscle and diminished blood-pumping efficiency, resulting in shortness of breath, fatigue, weakness, trouble breathing when lying down, and swelling in the ankles and feet. Overall, there is a 50 percent mortality rate for people with heart failure five years after diagnosis.

Obesity in our study has emerged as one of the least explained and likely most challenging risk factors for heart failure because there is no magic pill to treat it, no drugs that can easily address the problem like there are for high cholesterol and high blood pressure, “Even with diet and exercise, people struggle to lose weight and keep it off, and for the morbidly obese, the struggle is often insurmountable.

Although it isn’t completely clear why obesity alone is linked to heart failure independent of risk factors and not to stroke or coronary heart disease, there is evidence to suggest that extra body weight exerts a higher metabolic demand on the heart and that fat cells in the abdomen may even release molecules toxic to heart cells.

Obesity has long been known to increase the likelihood of high blood pressure, elevated blood cholesterol and diabetes — all established risk factors for heart and blood vessel diseases. Treating and controlling these conditions have formed the bedrock strategies for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

To learn if this was truly the case for all types of cardiovascular disease, researchers looked at the medical records of 13,730 participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study who had body mass indexes in healthy ranges or higher at the start of the study and no initial heart disease. The group was composed of 63.8 percent women and 16.9 percent African-Americans. The average age was 54, and body mass index ranged from 18 to 50. All were followed for approximately 23 years to assess links between body mass index and heart failure, coronary heart disease or stroke.

The records also included data for participants’ height, weight, and levels of blood sugar, cholesterol and triglycerides, along with smoking status, alcohol use, professions and exercise levels.

After the final participant follow-up in 2012, there were 2,235 recorded cases of heart failure, 1,653 cases of coronary heart disease and 986 strokes.

In their initial assessment, the Johns Hopkins researchers controlled for differences that might be due to age, sex, race, education level, career, smoking history, exercise and alcohol consumption. Severe obesity was associated with a nearly fourfold higher risk of heart failure and about a twofold higher risk for both coronary heart disease and stroke compared with rates for those with a normal body mass index.

Next, the researchers controlled for other heart disease risk factors, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. After this adjustment, Ndumele’s team no longer saw an increase in risk for coronary heart disease or stroke in people with obesity. However, the increased risk for heart failure remained. For every five-unit higher body mass index, there was an almost 30 percent higher risk of developing heart failure across all participants.

Even if the patients have normal blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure levels, it may still develop heart failure if they are severely obese. We need to improve our strategies for heart failure prevention in this population.

People with Disabilities Can Learn CPR

Learning high-quality CPR can be difficult for those people with disabilities even to a non-disabled people. Doing compressions at a rate of 100-120 BPM, having the strength to push down 2 inches in an adult victim, the endurance to provide CPR for minutes on end, and the ability to kneel for a long period of time. These are all challenges to overcome when learning CPR and it’s the job of the instructor to help students find the strength to overcome these challenges.

But what happens when your student is disabled? What if they are pregnant? Or deaf? Or missing a limb? Or do they simply have bad knees? How do you teach a student CPR who may not believe it is possible themselves? Thankfully, all it takes to save a life using CPR is a willingness to learn and an instructor who is willing to help students adapt to challenges they may face.

Training centers adapt to teach the disabled

Currently, CPR certification is given to students who can properly perform high-quality CPR and accurately use an AED. This means chest compressions of 100 – 120 BPM, a compression depth of 2 inches on adults and a 1/3 of the chest diameter in children, a chest compression fraction of greater than 80%, and no excessive ventilations, according to the American Heart Association. You also must understand how to properly use an AED to shock and revive a victim.

Unfortunately, some people with disabilities may not be able to properly learn and/or perform CPR in the intended way to earn that certification. However, that doesn’t mean there is no hope. Instructors can – and should – adapt their teaching methods to fit the needs of all of their students.

“There is nothing that you cannot modify to make [CPR training] capable for someone to be empowered to do this,” said Tammy Turner, the National Training Center Coordinator, an American Heart Association Training Center, since 2014 and an instructor since 1996.

“You have to have a different way to teach someone who is deaf…someone who is blind are not going to see the visual aspect, but you can paint pictures in their mind. They’re very capable. Also, have CPR training be something they can physically feel.”

Even if someone can’t physically perform the requirements, they can still understand the concepts of CPR. Leadership during an emergency is just as important as those doing the ‘heavy lifting.’ The American Heart Association understands and will grant an Advisor: BLS CPR card to those who perform verbal recognition of the required knowledge and skills for CPR.

Students with disabilities may have some limitations, but many can overcome these potential limitations with technology and creative thinking.

When it comes to technology, accessibility is becoming more important than ever. Large companies like Google, Yahoo, Apple, and others are leading the way to make technology more accessible for those with disabilities, such as smartphone screen magnification or eye tracking for those who are paralyzed

First Support CPR offers CPR classes every Tuesday at 7:15 PM. We offer BLS, First Aid, CPR AED, First Aid CPR AED and Pediatric First Aid CPR AED. We also offer an offsite training. If you have any questions, you can email us at info@firstsupportcpr.com or call at ‪(408) 475-7724‬.

Causes of Cardiac Arrest

Cardiac arrest may be caused by almost any known heart condition.

Most cardiac arrests occur when a diseased heart’s electrical system malfunctions. This malfunction causes an abnormal heart rhythm such as ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. Some cardiac arrests are also caused by extreme slowing of the heart’s rhythm (bradycardia).

Irregular heartbeats such as these are life threatening.

Other causes of cardiac arrest include:

Scarring of the heart tissue – It may be the result of a prior heart attack or another cause. A heart that’s scarred or enlarged from any cause is prone to develop life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. The first six months after a heart attack is a high-risk period for sudden cardiac arrest in patients with atherosclerotic heart disease.
Thickened heart muscle (cardiomyopathy) – Damage to the heart muscle can be the result of high blood pressure, heart valve disease or other causes. A diseased heart muscle can make you more prone to sudden cardiac arrest, especially if you also have heart failure. Learn more about cardiomyopathy.
Heart medications – Under certain conditions, some heart medications can set the stage for arrhythmias that cause sudden cardiac arrest. (Oddly, antiarrhythmic drugs that treat arrhythmias can sometimes produce ventricular arrhythmias even at normal doses. This is called a “proarrhythmic” effect.) Significant changes in blood levels of potassium and magnesium (from using diuretics, for example) also can cause life-threatening arrhythmias and cardiac arrest.
Electrical abnormalities – These, including Wolf-Parkinson-White Syndrome and Long QT Syndrome, may cause sudden cardiac arrest in children and young people.
Blood vessel abnormalities – These rare cases occur particularly in the coronary arteries and aorta. Adrenaline released during intense physical activity can trigger sudden cardiac arrest when these abnormalities are present.
Recreational drug use – This can occur in otherwise healthy people.

Summer safety starts with hands only CPR

Summer brings rest, relaxation and fun, but it can also be a time of increased risk for our hearts. Extreme heat may increase incidents of cardiac arrest and an average of 33 drownings occur in the U.S. each day, one-third of which are fatal. Knowing cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR could be the key to saving someone from cardiac arrest or drowning. CPR, especially if performed immediately, could double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival.

The American Heart Association is recognizing National CPR and AED Awareness Week from June 1– 7 with reminders about the importance of staying safe and prepared this summer. Each year, more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) occur in the United States and fewer than half of these people receive the immediate help that they need before professional help arrives. The American Heart Association, the world’s leading voluntary organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke, is working to increase the number of bystanders who use CPR in an emergency.

As summertime activities increase the exposure of people of all ages to risks, it’s even more important to be trained on CPR. You could be saving the life of someone you love. A simple one-minute video shows you what you need to know to perform Hands Only CPR.

To be ready for a safe summer, the American Heart Association recommends the following:

Learn CPR. For drowning, the American Heart Association recommends rescue breaths along with compressions.
Remember Life Jackets. Half of all boating deaths could be prevented with their use.
Learn to Swim. Drowning is the second-leading cause of death in children between ages 1 and 4.
Family Safety Plan. It’s important for everyone in the family to be trained in CPR.
Secure the Pool. Install fencing with self-closing gates at least 4 feet high to separate the pool from house and yard.
Teach Safety. Talk about risky behavior such as diving or swimming in unfamiliar water, and alcohol or drug use while in or near water.
Clear Out Pool Toys. Make sure children aren’t tempted to play unsupervised.

In 2009, the American Heart Association launched a nationwide Hands-Only CPR campaign to raise awareness about this life-saving skill. Since 2012, over 10.5 million people have been trained in Hands-Only CPR via events, training kiosks and video education with the support of Anthem Foundation.

Hypertension Symptoms and Causes (High Blood Pressure)

What is blood pressure?

Blood pressure is the pressure of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. Arteries carry blood from your heart to other parts of your body. Your blood pressure normally rises and falls throughout the day.

What do blood pressure numbers mean?

Blood pressure is measured using two numbers:

The first number, called systolic blood pressure, measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats.

The second number, called diastolic blood pressure, measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats.

If the measurement reads 120 systolic and 80 diastolic, you would say, “120 over 80,” or write, “120/80 mmHg.

What are normal blood pressure numbers?

A normal blood pressure level is less than 120/80 mmHg.

What is high blood pressure (hypertension)?

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is blood pressure that is higher than normal. Your blood pressure changes throughout the day based on your activities. Having blood pressure measures consistently above normal may result in a diagnosis of high blood pressure (or hypertension).

The higher your blood pressure levels, the more risk you have for other health problems, such as heart disease, heart attack and stroke.

Your health care team can diagnose high blood pressure and make treatment decisions by reviewing your systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels and comparing them to levels found in certain guidelines.

The guidelines used to diagnose high blood pressure may differ from health care professional to health care professional:

Some health care professionals diagnose patients with high blood pressure if their blood pressure is consistently 140/90 mm Hg or higher.² This limit is based on a guideline released in 2003, as seen in the table below.
Other health care professionals diagnose patients with high blood pressure if their blood pressure is consistently 130/80 mm Hg or higher.¹ This limit is based on a guideline released in 2017, as seen in the table below.

The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults (2017 Guideline)

Normal

systolic: less than 120 mm Hg
diastolic: less than 80 mm Hg

Elevated

systolic: 120–129 mm Hg
diastolic: less than 80 mm Hg

If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, talk with your health care team about your blood pressure levels and how these levels affect your treatment plan.

What are the signs and symptoms of high blood pressure?

High blood pressure usually has no warning signs or symptoms, and many people do not know they have it. Measuring your blood pressure is the only way to know whether you have high blood pressure.

What causes high blood pressure?

High blood pressure usually develops over time. It can happen because of unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as not getting enough regular physical activity. Diabetes and being obese, can also increase the risk for developing high blood pressure. High blood pressure also occurs during pregnancy.

What problems does high blood pressure cause?

High blood pressure can damage your health in many ways. It can seriously hurt important organs like your heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes.

The good news is that, in most cases, you can manage your blood pressure to lower your risk for serious health problems.

Heart Attack and Heart Disease

High blood pressure can damage your arteries by making them less elastic, which decreases the flow of blood and oxygen to your heart and leads to heart disease. In addition, decreased blood flow to the heart can cause:

Chest pain, also called angina.
Heart Attack, which happens when the blood supply to your heart is blocked and heart muscle begins to die without enough oxygen. The longer the blood flow is blocked, the greater the damage to the heart.
Heart Failure, a condition that means your heart can’t pump enough blood and oxygen to your other organs.

Stroke and Brain Problems

High blood pressure can cause the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the brain to burst or be blocked, causing a Stroke. Brain cells die during a stroke because they do not get enough oxygen. Stroke can cause serious disabilities in speech, movement, and other basic activities. A stroke can also kill you.

Having high blood pressure, especially in midlife, is linked to having poorer cognitive function and dementia later in life.

Kidney Disease

Adults with diabetes, high blood pressure, or both have a higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease than those without these conditions.

How do I know if I have high blood pressure?

There’s only one way to know if you have high blood pressure: Have a doctor or other health professional measure it. It is quick and painless.

High blood pressure is called the “silent killer” because it usually has no warning signs or symptoms, and many people do not know they have it.

What can I do to prevent or manage high blood pressure?

Many people with high blood pressure can lower their blood pressure into a healthy range or keep their numbers in a healthy range by making lifestyle changes. Talk with your health care team about

Getting at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week (about 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week)
Not smoking
Eating a healthy diet, including limiting sodium (salt) and alcohol
Keeping a healthy weight
Managing stress

In addition to making positive lifestyle changes, some people with

high blood pressure need to take medicine to manage their blood pressure.

Talk with your health care team right away if you think you have high blood pressure or if you’ve been told you have high blood pressure but do not have it under control.

By taking action to lower your blood pressure, you can help protect yourself against heart disease and stroke, also sometimes called cardiovascular disease (CVD).

June is CPR and AED Awareness, National Safety Month, LGBTQ+ and Pride Month

CPR and AED Awareness Week is June 1-7

Only about 48 percent of people who experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest receive the immediate help that they need before professional help arrives.

CPR, especially if performed immediately, could double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival.

Watch the Hands-Only CPR instructional video and share it with the important people in your life.

More June Calendar Highlights

6/1-6/7 – CPR and AED Awareness Week

6/6 – National Cancer Survivors Day

6/14 – Flag Day | World Blood Donor Day | National Call your Doctor Day

6/14-6/21 – Men’s Health Week (6/16 – Check In and Check Up for Your Health with Sybil Wilkes will focus on Men’s Health)

6/17 – National Eat Your Vegetables Day

6/19 – Father’s Day | Juneteenth | World Sickle Cell Day

6/21 – Summer Solstice

6/23 – National Hydration Day | Check In and Check Up for Your Health with Sybil Wilkes will focus on heart health and mental well-being in the LGBTQ+ community

The Reason Why Strokes Often Happen in the Bathroom.

Stroke is a medical condition in which poor blood flow to the brain results in cell death. There are two main types of stroke: ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and hemorrhagic, due to bleeding. They result in part of the brain not functioning properly. Signs and symptoms of a stroke may include an inability to move or feel on one side of the body, problems understanding or speaking, feeling like the world is spinning, or loss of vision to one side. Signs and symptoms often appear soon after the stroke has occurred.

However, it is a quite surprising fact that many of the strokes happen in bathrooms during a fresh shower! Why some people develop heart attacks or strokes (brain attack) while taking a bath? Is it just coincidental or is there something in the bathing process that could trigger these potentially serious complications? Is there a proper sequence of bathing, like wetting the limbs or feet first, followed by the body, then the head? Can a cold shower trigger a stroke or heart attack? Here are the details that you are looking for!

Before moving ahead; we must understand the basic difference between these events;

Heart Attack: It occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked. It is a circulatory problem. A heart attack could be due to blockage of an artery that supplies blood to an area of your heart.

Cardiac Arrest: It occurs when the heart malfunctions and stops beating unexpectedly. It is an electrical problem causing the irregular heartbeat. This prevents the heart from pumping the blood to the other parts of the body including the brain. As the muscles won’t expand and contract, the blood won’t flow.

These two conditions are linked. A sudden cardiac arrest can happen after a heart attack.

Stroke: When blood flows to an area of the brain cut-off. Hence, brain cells deprived of the oxygen and glucose needed to survive.

Why do they happen in the bathroom often?

The study has shown that there is a rapid increase in bathing death accidents. It is mentioned that the causes of death while bathing is primarily cardiovascular diseases followed by cerebrovascular and respiratory diseases.

Toilet Strain

Heart attacks which occur during defecation are, in many cases, the result of using the (unnatural) sitting posture for waste elimination. Excessive strain during defecation adversely affects the cardiovascular system. Results in syncope or death. Syncope is a temporary loss of consciousness usually related to insufficient blood flow to the heart. Straining on the stool may reduce your blood pressure. This leads to an insufficient supply of blood to the heart.

Use of a sitting toilet triggers the risk more than a squatting toilet as it requires more strain. It may trigger cardiac arrest in the bathroom often.

Abrupt changes in Blood pressure

For high blood pressure people, sequenced bathing, the temperature of water and season should be on the count, as mentioned above. Sudden cold water exposure increases sympathetic tone which further causing a rapid fall in skin temperature. It leads to rising blood pressure.

Early to rise!

Morning may be the most dangerous time of the day for older people with high blood pressure. Usually, we use the toilet and take a bath in the morning. The onset of events are more in late mornings from 8 am to 11 am, study says.

Bathing is suspected of causing abrupt changes in blood pressure that induce ischemia in the cerebral blood vessels. This could drive a stroke or heart attack or a cardiac arrest in the bathroom or toilet.

A person with a history of high blood pressure or myocardial infarction must be careful about bathing. The difference in temperature in the bathtub and body could cause abrupt changes in blood pressure.

No sequenced bath or shower

“While bathing or showering, do not wet the head and hair first. This is the wrong sequence.” Writes a professor at UiTM National Sports Board. We tend to take bath by letting go shower or bucket water on our head directly. It causes the body to adjust its temperature too quickly because we are warm-blooded. It may generate pressure and cause artery or capillary breakage.

Sequenced bathing is very important to avoid such incidences. Start with wetting your legs and up to your head gently. Frequently, incidences of stroke or heart attack or cardiac arrest in the bathroom happen more in winter than in summer. Water temperature matters a lot while bathing.

In the nutshell

Events like stroke/Heart Attack/Cardiac arrest can happen to anybody anywhere at any time. It’s good that everyone is familiar with the signs of heart attack, stroke and cardiac arrest and act on time when such a situation occur. Most importantly a right lifestyle is the best way to stay away from a heart attack and stroke!

Author: First Support CPR and First Aid Training