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Pollution, Loneliness and Stress Can Harm the Heart

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Most of us are aware of the common risk factors for heart disease. These include smoking, eating a diet high in sodium and processed foods, a lack of physical activity, inconsistent sleep and genetic contributors, among others. But there are a few lesser-known risk factors, such as pollution and social isolation, that can make a big difference in heart health. The American Heart Association recently detailed a few, which we will share below.

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Air Pollution

pollution

When absorbed by the lungs, articulate matter in the air causes inflammation in the cardiovascular system. This makes it especially harmful for 

older people or those with existing heart issues. For that group, experts advise wearing masks when outdoors, and staying indoors entirely, if possible.

Loneliness and Stress

It’s not entirely clear why social isolation negatively impacts heart health, but the connection has been shown to exist. One theory is that stressed and lonely people tend to engage more in harmful habits, such as smoking, drinking and eating unhealthy food, than those who are happier.

Sleep

We’ve previously discussed the effects on heart health of inconsistent sleep, but experts say that simply not getting enough sleep can also be very harmful. One study found that people who slept less than six hours per night had more plaque buildup in the arteries. This buildup can lead to cardiovascular disease.

If you believe that pollution, isolation and lack of sleep are harming your health, seek the support you need to make changes. Your heart will thank you for it.

HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for First Aid and CPR in the Twin Cities and throughout Minnesota. We now offer online, night and weekend classes to fit your busy schedule! We offer a variety of courses, including CPR/AED/First Aid and CPR/AED, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Emergency Medical Responder – First Responder (EMR).

Find your CPR class at any of our convenient Twin Cities locations, including our new headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan.

Study Links Dental Hygiene to Heart Health

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Although heart disease is often a product of genetics, there are many easy lifestyle changes that we should all make to improve our heart health. A new study has uncovered a largely unknown tactic to lower your heart disease risk: improve your dental hygiene.

dental

In the study, researchers analyzed the health data of nearly 250,000 healthy Korean adults, using information from a national health registry. At the start of the data collection, all participants underwent a screening of their oral health. None had any known heart disease.

Researchers looked at how many times per day the participants brushed their teeth, and how often they visited the dentist. Then, those findings were compared against the reported incidents of heart attack, heart failure, stroke and death by heart-related causes.

The study found that brushing teeth one extra time each day lowered the risk of heart disease by 9 percent. In addition, going to the dentist at least once per year lowered the risk by 14 percent, compared to participants who never went to the dentist.

How Does Dental Health Affect the Heart?

It’s clear that there is a link between good dental care and heart health. However, researchers aren’t exactly sure why that link exists. One common theory is that poor oral health causes inflammation in the mouth. This could, in turn, lead to inflammation in the arteries. It may also be reversed – that inflammation caused by heart disease could contribute to oral health issues.

Whatever the reason for the connection between oral hygiene and heart health, it’s clear that brushing teeth every day and seeing the dentist regularly is an important step in caring for your heart.

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Help protect the hearts of your loved ones by making dental hygiene a priority in your home – and by becoming certified in CPR. Register for a course at one of HeartCert CPR’s convenient locations in the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota.

HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for First Aid and CPR in the Twin Cities and throughout Minnesota. We now offer online, night and weekend classes to fit your busy schedule! We offer a variety of courses, including CPR/AED/First Aid and CPR/AED, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Emergency Medical Responder – First Responder (EMR).

Find your CPR class at any of our convenient Twin Cities locations, including our new headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan.

Eating Breakfast May Help your Heart

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A new study has found a link between regularly skipping breakfast and heart disease-related death. It has long been known that eating in the morning can lower the likelihood of conditions such as heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol. This study is the first direct connection between eating breakfast and heart-related fatality. However, additional evidence is still needed in regards to long-term outcomes in the general population.

In the study, researchers examined data from 6,550 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. In interviews, 59% of participants reported eating breakfast every day, while 25% ate breakfast some days. A combined 16% said they ate breakfast rarely or never.

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The study found that people who never ate breakfast had a more than 85% increased risk of heart-related death, compared to those who always ate breakfast. Additional research is needed to determine the specific factors that contribute to the negative heart effects, but in the meantime, experts recommend making breakfast a part of your routine, every day.

breakfast

How to Make Breakfast Part of the Routine

  • Keep it simple: Don’t think you need to make a multi-course meal. Find an option that is easy and accessible on busy mornings.
  • Find healthy on-the-go options: Instant oatmeal, yogurt, fruit or toast are great ideas for in-office breakfasts.
  • Use the freezer: Make a big batch of egg burritos and freeze them individually for grab-and-go meals.
  • Blend it: Smoothies are a great option for long commutes. Mix frozen fruit, yogurt, milk and any additional mix-ins for a fast and filling breakfast. Spinach, protein powder or nut butter are great choices.

Protect the hearts of those around you by taking a CPR/AED and first aid course at one of HeartCert CPR’s convenient Minnesota locations. Register for a course today.

HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for First Aid and CPR in the Twin Cities and throughout Minnesota. We now offer online, night and weekend classes to fit your busy schedule! We offer a variety of courses, including CPR/AED/First Aid and CPR/AED, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Emergency Medical Responder – First Responder (EMR).

 

Find your CPR class at any of our convenient Twin Cities locations, including our new headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan.

Why “Cough CPR” Is Not Useful or Effective

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If you’ve done any research on CPR, you’ve probably come across a method called “cough CPR,” in which a person suffering from a heart event can maintain blood flow and consciousness through repetitive coughing. However, the American Heart Association urges patients and laypeople not to learn or use “cough CPR” in any setting. Not only is it ineffective, but it could also make the patient’s condition worse by delaying life-saving treatment.

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What is “cough CPR?”

When a person experiences a sudden arrhythmia, or abnormal heart rhythm, they may be able to cough repetitively and forcefully enough to maintain sufficient blood flow and remain conscious until the arrhythmia is able to be treated.

cough cpr

Why doesn’t “cough CPR” work?

There’s one caveat that makes “cough CPR” ineffective: the patient must be conscious. Unresponsiveness is usually the trigger that causes attention from bystanders. Therefore, the opportunity for laypeople to perform it will most likely not arise.

Why could “cough CPR” be dangerous?

Any delay in restoring blood flow and oxygen to the brain could have lasting repercussions. So by attempting to perform an ineffective form of CPR – instead of calling emergency responders and performing traditional CPR until they arrive – could cause brain damage, or worse.

If you want to be able to provide lifesaving care at work, home or in any situation, the best option is to take an American Heart Association-authorized CPR/AED course, such as those offered by HeartCert CPR. Register for a course today.

HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for First Aid and CPR in the Twin Cities and throughout Minnesota. We now offer online, night and weekend classes to fit your busy schedule! We offer a variety of courses, including CPR/AED/First Aid and CPR/AED, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Emergency Medical Responder – First Responder (EMR).

Find your CPR class at any of our convenient Twin Cities locations, including our new headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan.

Is Yoga Heart-Healthy?

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Yoga has been increasing in popularity in Minnesota, with classes being offered in studios, gyms and retail stores, on lakeshores and outdoors in winter, with goats (yes, goats) and more. If you’re embarking on a fitness journey to improve your heart health, you may wonder whether yoga will actually benefit your heart. Good news: studies have found that both the physical and mental aspects of yoga are good for the heart.

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Studying the effects of yoga is somewhat difficult. This is because there are many different forms, and classes are held at different lengths and intensities. But initial research shows that yoga’s primary benefit is reducing stress, which lowers blood pressure, heart rate, inflammation and more.

yoga

Yoga appears to have a positive effect on physical health as well. One study found that people who practiced had lower cholesterol, blood pressure and triglycerides than people who didn’t exercise. There are obvious benefits of stretching and strengthening the body, of course. Researchers think yoga may encourage participants to engage in other healthy behaviors, like moving more and eating a healthier diet.

So if you’re looking to lower your heart disease risk, give yoga a try! And make sure that you’re prepared if a fellow practitioner should suffer a cardiac event – sign up for a HeartCert CPR class today.

HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for First Aid and CPR in the Twin Cities and throughout Minnesota. We now offer online, night and weekend classes to fit your busy schedule! We offer a variety of courses, including CPR/AED/First Aid and CPR/AED, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Emergency Medical Responder – First Responder (EMR).

Find your CPR class at any of our convenient Twin Cities locations, including our new headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan.

The Easiest Way to Prevent Heart Disease: Physical Activity

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What do you think of when you hear the term “physical activity?” Do you think of hours at the gym, on the treadmill or lifting weights? Do you think of running long distances, doing exercise videos, or trudging through workouts you hate?

physical activity

If so, you may need to refresh your views on physical activity. Because it doesn’t have to be an unpleasant, time-consuming chore – it can be as simple as working in your garden, walking around the block or having a dance party in your kitchen. And the benefits to your health – both physical and mental – are worth finding an activity you enjoy.

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According to medical professionals, physical activity is key to heart health, specifically. Moving your body on a regular basis improves the strength of the heart muscle, the health of the arteries, and lowers blood pressure and cholesterol. Physical activity moves oxygen throughout the body more efficiently, and helps your brain perform better. It releases feel-good endorphins that boost mental health and well-being.

Not sure how to get started? Keep it simple. Take the stairs at work, or walk to the store instead of driving. Rake leaves or shovel snow. Walk or, yes, run. Do whatever appeals to you, because that will keep you committed.

The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, or 75 minutes at a more vigorous intensity. That can be broken up into 20 or even 10 minutes chunks, and should ideally be combined with strength and flexibility exercises.

When it comes to physical activity and heart health, every little bit counts! 

If someone in your family or workplace suffers cardiac arrest, are you prepared? Sign up for a HeartCert CPR class today.

HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for First Aid and CPR in the Twin Cities and throughout Minnesota. We now offer online, night and weekend classes to fit your busy schedule! We offer a variety of courses, including CPR/AED/First Aid and CPR/AED, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Emergency Medical Responder – First Responder (EMR).

Find your CPR class at any of our convenient Twin Cities locations, including our new headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan.