Heart Safe news: Our weekly update on what’s happening in the world of heart safety and noninvasive cardiology
Dizziness in the elderly often a sign of cardiovascular disease
Patients reporting dizziness in a primary care setting may be suffering from cardiovascular disease
A new study from the Netherlands has found that dizziness in the elderly, reported in primary care settings, is often a sign of cardiovascular disease. Previously, most studies of dizziness in this age group had been done in acute or emergency care settings, and had most often attributed dizziness to problems with the inner-ear system that controls balance.
The study, reported in the May-June 2010 issue of the Annals of Family Medicine, followed more than 400 elderly patients who had reported to their primary care doctors that they experienced dizziness. During the study, all were given a basic cardiovascular exam, including assessment of vital signs, and those with certain types of dizziness were also given an ECG test. Patients also underwent testing of gait, vision, hearing, and reflexes. According to the panel of clinicians who conducted the exams:
Presyncope was the most common dizziness subtype in dizzy elderly patients in primary care. Forty-four percent of the patients were assigned more than 1 dizziness subtype. Cardiovascular disease was considered to be the most common major contributory cause of dizziness (57%), with peripheral vestibular disease (14%) and psychiatric illness (10%) coming next.
The study authors urged primary care physicians to be alert for multiple causes of dizziness in the elderly, and to consider that cardiovascular disease may be the underlying cause.
Philadelphia parents lobby for AEDs: “Rec centers can’t afford not to have them.”
The family of cardiac arrest victim Danny Rumph is leading a campaign in Philadelphia to get automated external defibrillators (AEDs) into all the city’s public recreation centers. If the center where 21-year-old Danny collapsed and died five years ago had owned one, Danny might have had a chance to get to a hospital for treatment.
His family has since raised money to purchase an AED for the recreation center where he collapsed — a center now named in his memory. Myfoxphilly.com reports in this AED story than 11 other city recreation centers now have defibrillators. But more than 100 others still operate without them.
“Learn the lesson from what happened to my son,” Viola Owens, Danny’s mother told the news website. “They take for granted because these children are young that it can’t happen to them, Owens said. And my son was healthy, had a physical every year…played sports.”
The family formed the Daniel E. Rumph II Foundation to raise money to buy rec center AEDs. Donors include the Philadelphia Phillies. This video shows a community gathering for AED awareness, including demos of Powerheart G3 AEDs.
Missouri school’s AED saves seventh grader in gym class
13-year-old Austin Redd collapsed in gym class last week, but school employees were able to use the school’s automated external defibrillator to restart the boy’s heart.
This AED article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch describes the rescue. After the school nurse attached the AED, the device administered a shock. The student regained consciousness and began breathing, according to St. Charles County Deputy Ron Neupert.
The paper reports:
Marty Limpert, a spokesman for the St. Charles County Ambulance District, said the incident illustrates the need for AEDs in schools and staff trained in life-saving procedures.
“There’s no doubt that they saved his life,” Limpert said.
California medical center donates Powerheart AEDs to the community
St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton, California, has donated Powerheart automated external defibrillators to four area community organizations.
The Orange County register’s defibrillator article begins with the story of Jared Marchbanks, a Fullerton College athlete who survived sudden cardiac arrest last fall — thanks to two quick-thinking athletic trainers and a nearby AED. A shock from the AED restored Miller’s heartbeat so he could be transported to St. Jude for treatment.
The hospital presented Powerheart G3 AEDs to the Boys & Girls Club of Buena Park, Fullerton College, Rosary High School and the Yorba Linda-Placentia Family YMCA. At the presentation luncheon, Enrique Christopherson, a Cardiac Science California AED expert, explained how the devices are used and demonstrated their use on a training mannequin.
“With every passing minute, the chance of surviving sudden cardiac arrest decreases,” said Lee Penrose, St. Jude president and CEO in a release. “An AED is easy to use and can mean the difference between life and death. Increased access to early defibrillation can help save lives, and we are pleased to present these new AEDs to local organizations with the sincere hope that they never have to be used.”
Last 5 posts
- Cardiac Science AEDs in Spain [VIDEO] - April 4th, 2011
- Cardiac Science wins first major public access defibrillation program in Europe - March 30th, 2011
- Georgia Park saves 5 lives with AEDs - March 24th, 2011
- Sad stories, avoidable deaths? - March 23rd, 2011
- Texas school's AED saves 6-year-old's life - March 22nd, 2011
Mon, May 17, 2010 |
AEDs, Cardiology