Heart S.O.S. More In Depth

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the West. In the United States alone some 750,000 people die each year from heart related failure.

Doctors think that a large percentage of these deaths, maybe 70% or more, could be prevented by proper preventative health measures and immediate, appropriate first aid in the case of sudden heart attack.

Traditional, manual chest-pressure CPR, as taught in first aid courses, is largely ineffective in saving heart attack victim's lives. Those that do survive often suffer severe impairment due to brain damage that occurs before heart function is restored.

As long as the patient is still conscious and the heart is functioning there is a good chance of full recovery.

Even when the heart stops, if its functioning is restored by cardiac defibrillation within 4 to 8 minutes, full recovery is often possible. Until recently, electric defibrillation machines were bulky, expensive, and difficult to operate. Within the last few years, this situation has changed somewhat. (See links for more information.) Still today, most locations do not have immediate access to defibrillation machines.

Self applied techniques by the patient, as taught at this site, are thus, often times the best, as well as the only effective rescue techniques available.

New recent knowledge about the chemical messengers that control our internal hormonal system suggests also simple dietary and exercise measures that can prolong our lives without fear of major heart disease. Some of these measures are listed in the Prevention and Recovery section of this site. Many of these measures are now being employed at top hospitals around the world.

Some links to other Internet heart health sites are listed under our Heart Links page. For those interested in the technical research behind this site, the References section lists some of the medical papers behind the ideas presented here. The list is by no means comprehensive. Anyone suffering from heart disease should consult with a qualified expert.

 
This site was prepared under the supervision of leading cardiologists. We welcome your comments and suggestions for improvement. Please e-mail us at heartsos@torahsoft.com