Tag: facts

  • Facts about cardiac arrest

    Facts about cardiac arrest

    Our heart is one of the toughest organs of our body. Its main function is to pump oxygenated blood throughout the body. A cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops functioning unexpectedly.

    It generally results from an electrical disturbance in the heart, which causes irregular heartbeats. This hampers the pumping action of the heart, stopping the blood flow through the body. A person can lose consciousness and die within minutes if immediate treatment is not given.

    What are the symptoms of cardiac arrest?
    Cardiac arrest is a sudden and severe condition. It can cause:

    Sudden collapse
    Loss of consciousness
    Loss of breathing
    No heartbeat
    Even though cardiac arrest is an unexpected condition, you may experience certain symptoms moments before a complete arrest. The early symptoms are as follows:

    Difficulty in breathing
    Feeling dizzy
    Chest pain
    Nausea and vomiting
    When to see a doctor?
    You should talk to your doctor immediately if you notice symptoms like difficulty in breathing, chest pain, loss of consciousness, or any of the signs mentioned above.

    What are its causes?
    Most of the cardiac arrests happen when the electrical system od a diseased heart malfunctions. Such malfunction may cause an abnormal heart rhythm like ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia. A few cardiac arrests can also be caused by extreme slowing of the heart’s rhythm (also called bradycardia).

    Such irregular heartbeats which can cause cardiac arrest, are considered life-threatening arrhythmias.

    Other causes of cardiac arrest include:

    Scarring of the heart tissue: This scarring could be due to a prior heart attack or may be another cause. A heart that’s enlarged or scarred from any cause is likely to develop life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. The first 6 months following a heart attack represents a particularly high-risk period for sudden cardiac arrest in those patients suffering from a atherosclerotic heart disease.
    Cardiomyopathy (a thickened heart muscle): Damage to your heart muscle can be the cause of heart valve disease, high blood pressure, or other causes. An unhealthy heart muscle may make you more prone to a sudden cardiac arrest, especially if you also have heart failure.
    Heart medications: Under some conditions, various heart drugs can set the stage for arrhythmias that may lead to a sudden cardiac arrest. This may look odd but, anti-arrhythmic medications used for the treatment of arrhythmias can sometimes produce ventricular arrhythmias even at normally prescribed doses. This is known as a “proarrhythmic” effect. Major changes in blood levels of magnesium and potassium (from using diuretics, for instance) can also cause life-threatening arrhythmias and cardiac arrest.
    Electrical abnormalities: Certain electrical abnormalities such as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and Long QT syndrome may cause sudden cardiac arrest in children and young people.
    Recreational drug use: Use of some recreational drugs may also cause sudden cardiac arrest, even in otherwise healthy people
    Blood vessel abnormalities: In some rare cases, congenital blood vessel abnormalities, particularly in the aorta or coronary arteries, may lead to cardiac arrest. Often the adrenaline released during intense physical activity acts as a trigger for a sudden cardiac arrest when such abnormalities are present.
    Who is at risk for cardiac arrest?
    You may be at risk of having a cardiac arrest if you suffer from the following heart conditions:

    Coronary Artery Disease
    Irregular Heart Valves
    Heart Arrhythmia
    Electrical Impulse Problems
    Previous Episode of Heart Attack
    Apart from the above-mentioned conditions, there are various other risk factors like

    Age: With increasing age, the risk of a cardiac arrest increases.
    Family history: If anyone in your family has had a history of heart problems, you are at a greater risk.
    Stress: Stress is a major culprit. It is linked to a number of diseases, including cardiac arrests.
    Electrolyte disturbance( electrolytes such as potassium,calcium,magnesium etc)
    What are the treatment options available?
    The available treatment options include immediate treatment and long term treatment.

    Immediate treatment
    CPR: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is needed for treating sudden cardiac arrest immediately.
    Defibrillation: A device is programmed to send an electrical shock to the heart when it detects ventricular defibrillation. This stops the heart momentarily and causes it to go back to its normal rhythm.

    source:fakazanews

  • Seven fascinating facts about left-handed people

    Seven fascinating facts about left-handed people

    Do your friends call you weird for being a leftie? Well, this article might cheer you up.

    Left-handed people face a lot of prejudice from various cultures.

    However, findings have shown unexpected advantages that lefties have over their right-handed counterparts. Check out some interesting facts about lefties below.

    1. Lefties are more creative

    A study published in The Journal of Experimental Psychology showed that left-handed people are better at coming up with new ideas. They also have a higher level of creativity, which is why they often make great artists and musicians.

    2. They’re smarter

    Lefties have been shown to be more intelligent than right-handers. This could be because the hemispheres of their brains work differently, leading to increased cognitive skills.

    3. They have an advantage in sports

    Right-handed athletes primarily practice against right-handed opponents, which gives them a disadvantage. On the other hand, left-handed athletes have to practice against both right and left-handed opponents, making them better at adapting and reacting quickly.

    4. They multitask better

    Lefties process information between the left and right sides of their brain faster than righties. Their brains are more symmetrical than right-handed people, which gives them an advantage in coordinating both sides of the body simultaneously to complete tasks.

    5. They’re better at handiwork

    The fact that lefties process information faster also means they can perform many different tasks with one hand while the other is busy holding something down or stabilizing what they’re working on. They like to use tools and build things because it helps bring out this strength!

    6. They’re more likely to be dyslexic

    This is more of a disadvantage. Dyslexia is a learning disorder that affects reading skills. It occurs in about ten percent of the population, and left-handers are more likely to have it than right-handers. This may be because the two hemispheres of their brain work differently.

    7. Lefties are unique

    There are only a few people like you in the world, so embrace your handedness and all of its quirks! You might find that you have some hidden talents, but you’ll never know until you stop being ashamed.

    Source:fakazanews