CPR refers to cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It’s a skill that saves lives. According to the CDC, outside of a hospital, roughly nine out of ten people who have a cardiac arrest die. CPR, on the other hand, can improve their chances of survival if performed within the first few minutes. That’s why it’s important for people to learn all about CPR and how crucial it is in a situation between life and death. When a person is unresponsive, it’s best to start checking their breathing and their heartbeat, then immediately call for emergency services. Below, you’ll learn more about CPR, how it works, why someone might need it, and where you can learn the proper method for performing it.
Why would someone need CPR?
There are a variety of reasons why a person might need CPR. Most of the time, it’s a procedure that’s used when a person stops breathing and their heart stops. This can occur due to cardiac arrest or myocardial infarction. To differentiate the two, a myocardial infarction is commonly referred to as a heart attack. Meanwhile, cardiac arrests are an interruption to your heart’s function. Heart attacks happen when a person’s heart has a blockage and the body has trouble allowing oxygenated blood to reach the organ. Blockages are usually a result of plaque or fatty deposits due to coronary artery disease. And plaque is typically a result of cholesterol buildup. Because of the narrowing of the arteries, the heart muscle sustains damage and begins to die. A cardiac arrest differs from a myocardial infarction in that it has to do with the abrupt loss of heart function. An attack can cause cardiac arrest and lead to death. But it’s possible also to be caused by heart valve disease, congenital heart disease, or even acute myocarditis.
That’s why it’s absolutely crucial that you visit the best cardiologist in Los Angeles like Dr. Arash Bereliani. That way, you can ensure that your heart health is in tip-top shape and that you’re taking all the measures to prevent the risk of developing heart disease. Keep in mind, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Seeing a cardiologist regularly is the best way to prevent your risk of a heart attack.
Where can you learn CPR?
Now that you’re aware of what causes heart disease and why you might need to perform CPR on someone, where can you learn how to perform it properly? Well, you can learn CPR online through the American Health Care Academy. This course can help you identify emergency situations and learn how to act appropriately. It’ll also help you navigate the proper response when there’s an unconscious adult, child, or infant. You’ll even learn more about using an AED, how to do the Heimlich maneuver, or how to identify the symptoms of a stroke. You can get a certification through their CPR and AED course.
How does CPR work?
CPR is all about administering chest compressions to mimic the way the heart pumps blood. Administering long breaths helps keep the person alive by mimicking a regular breathing pattern. It’s crucial that, while a person is unconscious, they are still able to have oxygenated blood flowing throughout their body. This is done until emergency medical personnel can attend to the person with proper equipment to help keep them alive. When it comes to CPR, every second matters. That’s why it’s important to learn how to perform it correctly in the case of emergencies.
If you’re interested in CPR training, you can take online courses to learn how to perform the technique properly. You’ll find that the online tools are easy to learn from. It’s a lifesaving skill that you’ll be glad that you learned. Make sure to take your heart health seriously with the help of a cardiologist and take preventative measures to lower the risk of heart disease.
