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"
Help, I've Fallen And I Can't Get Up "
Why do seniors need Life Alert®?
Every
minute in the U.S., someone experiences a stroke.
4
out of 5 families will be affected by it.
National Stroke Association
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a perfect world, no one would ever have to face a life-threatening medical,
police or fire emergency. However, accidents can happen to anyone. Since
Life Alert can help increase the speed of response, everyone can benefit
from our Medical Emergency Response System. |
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quicker the paramedics respond to an emergency, the better the chance of
minimizing the risk of permanent damage, disability or even death. The
Journal of the American Heart Association revealed that those who receive
lifesaving, clot-busting therapy within the first hour of a heart attack
can almost triple their chance of survival. |
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seconds can make the difference between life and death, wouldn't you like
to know Life Alert© is there to help you or a loved one right away?
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Heart
attack (coronary attack) is the leading cause of death for both men
and women in the United States. In most cases it is caused by a blood
clot forming on a plaque. The clot forms on the plaque and blocks
the artery. It is not known exactly when a plaque will rupture and
cause a clot.
Since heart attack is not sudden, everybody can take steps to prevent
it. Many heart attacks start slowly, as a mild pain or discomfort.
It is important to know the warning signs of a heart attack to seek
medical care as soon as possible. When medication is given soon enough
after the onset of the symptoms of a heart attack, it can prevent
permanent damage to the heart muscle cells.
Warning signs of a heart attack:
- Chest discomfort
- Chest pain that may radiate to the jaw or left arm
- Shortness of breath
- Sweat, nausea, or light-headedness
If you are not sure it's a heart attack, you should go to the doctor
to check it out. Symptoms may vary, and fast action may save your
life.
Each year, about 1.1 million Americans suffer a heart attack. About
460,000 of those heart attacks are fatal. About half of those deaths
occur within 1-2 hours of the start of symptoms and before the person
reaches the hospital. The sooner you get to the emergency room, the
better your chance of surviving and preventing the permanent damage
done to your heart. Life Alert Emergency response allows you
to get emergency help right away, even if you can not reach the telephone.
Men and women are at an increased risk of having a heart attack if
they:
- have pre-existing heart diseases
- have family history of early heart disease
- are over 55
- have high blood pressure
- have high blood cholesterol
- are overweight
- have diabetes
- smoke
You can reduce your risk of having a heart attack with healthy life
style together with moderate exercise. By having Life Alert Emergency
Response at your home, you will be able to get help quickly and on
time - when every second counts!
Risk
factors do not add their effects in a simple way. Rather, they multiply
each other's effects. So, it is very important to prevent
or control risk factors that can be modified. If you have
one or more of these factors, see your health care provider to find
out how to reduce your risk of having a first or repeat heart attack.
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Seizure is a sudden attack, spasm, or convulsion, as in epilepsy.
Symptoms include uncontrollable twitching, blackouts, snorting, foaming
at the mouth, etc. Many different things can cause seizures, but the
most common causes are brain injury, epilepsy, and high fever. While
seizures are a very scary thing to witness, they can be treated by
anyone with correct knowledge on how to administer first aid to someone
with a seizure. Life Alert Emergency Response helps to get
help right away and may prevent falls, injuries and / or choking.
People are at an increased risk of having a seizure if they have:
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High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Head trauma
- Tumors |
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Serious infections
- Strokes
- Alzheimer's disease
- Arteriosclerosis |
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You can minimize the risk of getting a seizure if you:
- Lower your blood pressure
- Take care of your heart problems
- Cut back on alcohol
- Consult a doctor before taking or withdrawal of certain prescription
drugs
- Take appropriate medication when you have chronic seizure disorders
such as epilepsy
What to do with seizure victims:
1. Make sure that he / she is away from dangerous and hazardous
objects.
2. Make sure the person can breath easily to avoid choking as many
seizure victims start to vomit or foam at the mouth.
3. Don't restrain the person if he / she is agitated and confused
to avoid aggressive response.
4. Watch the time - if the seizure continues for more than couple
of minutes, medical help is needed.
5. Loosen the victim's clothing and remove items such as eyeglasses,
earrings, etc. When the seizure has ended, let the victim rest.
Check for airway, breathing, and circulation.
6. If the victim is not breathing, perform artificial respirations.
7. Life Alert Emergency Response System is the ideal service
for seizure victims. Help is at the tip of the fingers.
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Stroke
Stroke
is a sudden death of some brain cells due to a lack of oxygen
when the blood flow to the brain is impaired by blockage or rupture
of an artery to the brain. Stroke is a medical emergency, and
if you suspect that you have a stroke, you need to get to the
emergency room as soon as possible for diagnosis and treatment.
Symptoms
of a stroke depend on the area of the brain affected. The most
common symptoms are:
· Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg, especially
on one side of the body
· Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
· Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
· Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or
coordination
· Sudden severe headache with no known cause
A stroke or brain attack occurs when a blood clot blocks a blood
vessel or artery, or when a blood vessel breaks, interrupting
blood flow to an area of the brain. When a brain attack occurs,
it kills brain cells in the immediate area. This releases chemicals
that set off a chain reaction called "ischemic cascade"
which endangers brain cells in a larger surrounding area of brain
tissue. Without prompt medical treatment (within 6 hours) this
larger area of brain cells will also die. Life Alert Emergency
response allows you to get emergency help right away, even if
you can not reach the telephone or you have trouble speaking.
You
can reduce your risk of possibility of suffering a stroke by reducing
the following risk factors: high blood pressure, high cholesterol,
diabetes, and tobacco use. By having Life Alert Emergency Response
at your home, you will be able to get help quickly and on time
- when every second counts!
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Heart
Murmurs
A
heart murmur is an abnormal sound in the heartbeat that results
from turbulent flow of blood through the heart.
Innocent
heart murmurs
Most heart murmurs are not serious and require no special treatment
other than leading healthy lifestyle. Innocent heart murmurs are
common in children. They are harmless and usually disappear when
a child reaches adulthood.
Valve
Problems
Some of heart murmurs may be the result of underlying heart condition
such as narrowing of heart's valves or a heart disease. Valve
disease occurs when a valve doesn't work the way it should. If
a valve doesn't open all the way, less blood can move through
the smaller opening. If a valve doesn't close tightly, blood may
leak backward. In these cases, medical care is needed; and if
the valve is severely defective, surgery may be recommended to
replace the damaged valve.
Preventive
measurements:
It's
important to see the doctor regularly to monitor your condition.
Healthy lifestyle, smoke free life, regular exercise and stress
reduction keeps heart murmurs under control.
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