CPR

Are You Eating Enough Fiber for Heart Health?

Dietary fiber is an essential part of a healthy diet. It protects the body against a wide host of conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, inflammatory bowel syndrome, and other digestive ailments. It can also lower cholesterol and help with weight management. But the majority of Americans don’t consume enough fiber, and therefore aren’t seeing those benefits.

According to a 2017 analysis, 95% of American adults and children consume less than the daily recommended amount of fiber. Although recommendations differ based on age and gender, the average American adult should aim for about 28 grams of fiber per day. According to the American Heart Association, the average fiber intake is only 14 grams – half the RDA.

Why is it Important to Eat Enough Fiber?

Fiber can’t be broken down by the digestive system, so it passes through the body undigested. Along the way, it helps move other food through the digestive system, improving regularity and overall well-being. Fiber has many benefits, including:

Lowers glucose levels
Lowers blood cholesterol
Reduces risk of heart disease
Reduces risk of metabolic syndrome
Prevents and relieves constipation
Reduces risk of certain cancers
Helps with weight loss and weight management

How Can I Eat More Fiber?

The good news: you can increase the amount of fiber in your diet with a few easy modifications.

First, choose whole grain bread, pasta and rice over their white and processed counterparts. Brown rice and whole grain carbohydrates generally have higher amounts of fiber. Second, add more servings of fruits and vegetables to your diet. Incorporate them into snacks and find creative ways to add them to meals. Eat fruit instead of drinking fruit juices. Third, swap out meat for high-fiber beans or legumes, such as lentils, chickpeas, black beans or others a few times per week.

Making these small changes can help you get enough fiber – and improve your heart health.

Protect the hearts of those you love with a HeartCert CPR training course. We’re offering virtual and in-person options to meet your needs. Sign up today!

HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for CPR, ACLS, PALS, EMR, First Aid, CNA, IV and more, in Minnesota and throughout the United States.

HeartCert CPR courses include CPR/AED/First Aid,, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Certified Nursing Assistant training, IV training and more. Courses and certifications from both the American Heart Association and American Red Cross are available.

We are now offering virtual CPR courses and certifications, as well as safe in-person courses at all locations and our headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan.

Celebrate American Heart Month by Learning CPR

3 years ago by bwadmin Leave a Comment

February marks American Heart Month, an annual period to shine the spotlight on heart disease, risk factors, research, prevention tips and more. To mark the 58th annual event, the American Heart Association (AHA) is reinforcing the importance of physical and mental well-being after two difficult years of the pandemic.

The History of American Heart Month

American Heart Month was established by President Lyndon B. Johnson, who had personally suffered a heart attack, in 1964. Since then, U.S. presidents have designed February as American Heart Month every year.

Taking Control of Heart Health

This year, the AHA is urging all Americans to “reclaim your rhythm.” Many of us adopted unhealthy coping mechanisms during the pandemic, so consider February a time to reset and find new heart-healthy patterns.

The AHA has a few suggestions for improving heart health:

Eating healthy
Controlling blood pressure and cholesterol
Moving your body 150 minutes per week (or as much as you can!)
Not smoking
Getting good sleep
Finding ways to relieve and manage stress

Reclaim Your Rhythm Through CPR Training

Protect the hearts of those around you by learning the rhythm of hands-only CPR. Did you know that about 70% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the home? Or that CPR can double or triple the odds of survival, especially if performed immediately? Improve your odds by signing up for a CPR certification course with HeartCert. Virtual CPR training options are available!

HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for CPR, ACLS, PALS, EMR, First Aid, CNA, IV and more, in Minnesota and throughout the United States.

We are now offering virtual CPR courses and certifications, as well as safe in-person courses at all locations and our headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan.

4 Reasons to Offer CPR Training to Employees

4 years ago by bwadmin Leave a Comment

Many employees have returned or will soon head back to the office. After nearly two years away, your team will probably need some refreshers. How does the coffee maker work? Where’s the conference room? And how do you perform CPR if a coworker goes into cardiac arrest?

Yes, that final question is more serious than the first two. But it’s a real possibility. Because we spend a good deal of our time in the office, there is a significant likelihood of cardiac arrest at work. This is why it’s important to ensure that your team is prepared.

Why Employees Should be Trained in CPR

CPR Increases the Likelihood of Survival

CPR keeps blood circulating until an ambulance arrives. Not only does this increase the odds of survival, but it can minimize the negative impacts of cardiac arrest.

Hands-Only CPR is Less Invasive

Many employees think that mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is part of CPR, but this isn’t the case. Hand-only CPR is the standard now, which is much less invasive.

Read: CPR Training for OSHA Compliance

Help Your Coworkers – And Your Career

Knowing how to perform CPR will make you a valuable asset in the office. You can even add it to your resume!

HeartCert Makes it Easy to Learn CPR

HeartCert offers on-site CPR training to train all employees at once. Portions of the training can be completed online in advance, making the time commitment more flexible.

Do you have questions about office CPR training? Give HeartCert a call today.

HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for CPR, ACLS, PALS, EMR, First Aid, CNA, IV and more, in Minnesota and throughout the United States.

HeartCert CPR courses include CPR/AED/First Aid and CPR/AED, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Certified Nursing Assistant training. Courses and certifications from both the American Heart Association and American Red Cross are available.

We are now offering virtual CPR courses and certifications, as well as safe in-person courses at all locations and our headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan.

This is an updated blog post that was originally published in 2018.

CPR Training Improves Survival Rates on Airplanes

4 years ago by bwadmin Leave a Comment

In 2004, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a requirement that all U.S. commercial airlines be equipped with automatic external defibrillators, or AEDs. Since then, the cardiac arrest survival rate has been higher on airplanes than in the general public, according to a new study from the American Heart Association.

cardiac arrests on airplanes — photo credit: @skitterphoto accessed 10/7/21 via CC0

Specifically, the study looked at cardiac arrests that occurred on airplanes and in airports between 2004 and 2019. The records were taken from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Researchers looked at a total of 143 cardiac arrests, 34 of which occurred on an airplane. The other 109 took place at the airport.

Of the 34 on-airplane cardiac arrests, 15% survived to hospital discharge. In comparison, 44% of the in-airport cardiac arrests survived to discharge.

Cardiac Arrest Survival Rates Higher on Airplanes

While a 15% survival rate may not seem especially high, it is higher than the national cardiac arrest survival rate – less than 11%. Researchers say this points to the value and importance of early intervention, bystander assistance, AED availability and CPR training.

Airplane passengers or bystanders who see someone become unresponsive should immediately alert an employee or flight attendant. If you’re in an airport, perform CPR as needed until help arrives. In the air, however, always follow the direction of the flight crew.

The data is clear: bystander CPR saves lives and improves outcomes. Sign up for CPR training today and learn how you could be a hero.

HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for CPR, ACLS, PALS, EMR and First Aid. We offer classes in Minnesota and throughout the United States.

We are now offering virtual CPR courses and certifications, as well as safe in-person courses at all locations and our headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan.

CPR Training for OSHA Compliance

4 years ago by bwadmin Leave a Comment

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration, or OSHA, mandates CPR and first aid certification training in several industries and organizations. No matter the size of your company, maintaining OSHA compliance is a big task – but HeartCert is here to help!

Easy OSHA Compliance with HeartCert

HeartCert offers convenient American Heart Association and American Red Cross courses to keep your company compliant with state and federal CPR certification requirements. Our knowledgeable team handles all employee certification tracking, expiration notices and other administrative procedures.

In addition, we also offer convenient and affordable AED and safety products. Check out our online CPR equipment store for pricing and availability.

HeartCert offers several options for CPR and first aid training for businesses:

In-person certification training
Online certification training
Virtual certification training

Not sure which training option would be the best for your organization? Contact us to discuss your situation and unique needs.

HeartCert has helped more than 500 businesses provide CPR training and certification to their employees or stakeholders. Whether OSHA requires your employees to become CPR certified or not, get in touch to learn more about our easy, convenient CPR training for organizations!

Note: About half of U.S. states follow the federal OSHA guidelines, while the other half operate their own OSHA-approved programs. Visit the OSHA website or contact your state labor department to learn about additional CPR requirements.

HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for CPR, ACLS, PALS, EMR and First Aid in the in Minnesota and throughout the United States.

We are now offering virtual CPR courses and certifications, as well as safe in-person courses at all locations and our headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan.

Four Things to Know About High Blood Pressure

4 years ago by bwadmin Leave a Comment

If you’ve ever sat in a doctor’s office and had a routine blood pressure reading – and not fully understood the results – this blog post is for you. Especially if you have a family or personal history of high blood pressure.

Blood pressure is more than just a number. It’s an important indicator of your overall cardiovascular health, and a potential sign of health issues to come. High blood pressure, or hypertension, impacts all of your internal organs – not just the heart.

Here are four important facts about high blood pressure from the American Heart Association.

Four Things You Should Know About High Blood Pressure

Don’t Wait Until It’s a Problem

High blood pressure is defined as a systolic pressure (the top number) of 130 or below, or a diastolic pressure (the bottom number) of 80 or above. These numbers must stay elevated over a period of time for a diagnosis of hypertension. Understanding and monitoring your blood pressure will allow you to notice changes and take proactive action – before it becomes a problem.

Sodium Matters – and So Does Potassium

We know to monitor the amount of sodium in our diets. But the balance between sodium and potassium also matters to blood pressure. Many processed foods are high in sodium and low in potassium.

Blood Pressure Affects the Brain

Hypertension affects the blood vessels in the brain, increasing the risk of stroke. But researchers now believe that high blood pressure can also affect cognitive function and lead to dementia.

For Better Blood Pressure, Start with Small Changes

You don’t have to lose weight, quit smoking, lower sodium intake, and exercise more all at the same time. Focus on one risk factor, and start with small changes. Once you have a habit under control, move on to the next. You’ll be healthier before you know it.

What’s the best way to protect the hearts of those you love? Learn CPR! HeartCert CPR is offering virtual and safe in-person CPR training courses. Find a class today.

HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for CPR, ACLS, PALS, EMR and First Aid in the Minnesota and throughout the United States.

We are now offering virtual CPR courses and certifications, as well as safe in-person courses at all locations and our headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan.

Are You Eating Enough Fiber for Heart Health?

Why is it Important to Eat Enough Fiber?

How Can I Eat More Fiber?

Celebrate American Heart Month by Learning CPR

The History of American Heart Month

Taking Control of Heart Health

Reclaim Your Rhythm Through CPR Training

4 Reasons to Offer CPR Training to Employees