How AED Machines Can Reduce Gym-Related Deaths
An AED machine can reduce the risk of death from cardiac arrest while waiting for emergency medical services to arrive.
Strenuous exercise raises some people's short-term risk of cardiac arrest, which happens when the heart suddenly stops beating or beats irregularly. Ensuring your gym has a portable defibrillator can mean the difference between life and death.
Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are as essential as any equipment in a gym or workout area. AED machines can help save the lives of anyone with a sudden cardiac event from strenuous exercise.
Can Exercise Cause a Heart Attack?
According to the American Heart Association, more than 350,000 people have out-of-hospital cardiac arrests yearly in the United States. Although the incidence is low, some cases happen while people work out.
Regular exercise helps strengthen the heart and lowers the risk of long-term heart problems. At the same time, strenuous exertion can raise the immediate risk of sudden cardiac arrest and heart attack, known as sports-related sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).
Mostly, people with existing heart disease have the highest risk of SCA. A study published in 2020 found that atherosclerosis is one of the most common causes of SCA. Atherosclerosis is a build-up of fatty substances in the arteries.
In contrast, the researchers found that people who regularly exercise, at least two to three times weekly, have a lower risk of SCA than those who do not work out.
Still, regular gym-goers can have sudden cardiac arrest or a heart attack while exercising. In 2017, Bob Harper, a personal trainer, had a "widow-maker" heart attack and went into cardiac arrest at his gym. Bystanders who performed CPR and used the gym's AED machine helped save Harper.
"I will never ever walk into a gym again that doesn't have CPR, people that know their CPR, and there's an AED somewhere in that gym," Harper told Today.
What Are AED Machines?
You may find AED machines in many public spaces, including gyms, in a small portable box. The machines include electric sensors that you can use to shock a person's heart back into rhythm if it stops or is beating irregularly.
Health experts advocate for the widespread placement of AEDs in public places. Still, there are no federal laws requiring AEDs in specific locations. It's essential to see if you can spot one at your gym or ask the staff exactly where it's located, Mary Norine Walsh, MD, a cardiologist at the Ascension Medical Group in Indiana, told Health.
Small gyms and non-traditional workout venues are less likely to have AEDs than others. Some people might want to get an AED if they exercise regularly in a specific location.
"It should depend on your individual risk factors and personal preference," said Dr. Walsh. "Maybe a group of younger individuals might not consider it, whereas a more middle-aged group of amateur athletes might think about it more carefully."
According to the American Heart Association, most AEDs cost between $1,500 and $2,000. You may require a prescription from a healthcare provider to purchase one. A local emergency department can provide information about state and local protocols and requirements.
Related:What Is Cardiac Arrest–And How Is It Different From a Heart Attack?
When To Use an AED Machine
An AED machine is used when someone has a cardiac arrest, a medical emergency. About 90% of people who have an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest die if untreated.
Cardiac arrest signs and symptoms include:
Difficulty breathing
No pulse
Sudden loss of consciousness
Unresponsive
Cardiac arrest is different than a heart attack. A blockage that keeps blood from flowing to the heart causes a heart attack. In contrast to cardiac arrest, the heart does not stop beating during a heart attack.
Since AEDs only help restore heart rhythm if it stops or beats irregularly, they will not treat a heart attack. Still, heart attack increases the risk of cardiac arrest, so call 911 immediately.
Bystanders can use AEDs to reduce the risk of death while waiting for emergency medical services to arrive. Using an AED does not require training, although it can be helpful. Many places that offer CPR training can teach you how to use an AED.
How To Use an AED Machine
Anyone who witnesses a person collapse can operate an AED as long as they confirm that the unconscious person's breathing and pulse are absent or irregular.
Usually, you can find AED machines in public spaces, like:
Airports
Businesses
Golf courses
Gyms
Hotels
Schools
Shopping malls
Sports venues
Swimming pools
You will find in AEDs in cases, about the size of a first-aid kid, with a red or green heart-shaped symbol on it. Before using an AED, call 911 so paramedics can be dispatched. Have one person begin CPR and another run to get the closest AED if one is not immediately available.
Related:What Is CPR?
AEDs include step-by-step instructions and voice prompts so untrained bystanders can use them. Generally, those instructions include:
Remove clothing to expose the unconscious person's chest, and wipe the chest dry if necessary. Clear the area near the unconscious person.
Attach pads to the upper right and lower left sides of the chest.
Make sure the pad connector cable is plugged into the AED.
Allow the AED to analyze the heart rhythm. The voice prompts will instruct you to deliver an electric shock if necessary.
After analyzing the heart rhythm or delivering an electric shock, perform CPR on the unconscious person.
Tips for Using an AED Machine
It's essential not only to know how to use an AED machine but also how to perform CPR. That way, you can help, regardless of whether an AED is available. CPR alone cannot revive someone from cardiac arrest. Still, CPR can keep the person alive until emergency medical help arrives and can provide a shock.
Taking a CPR certification course is always a good idea, said Dr. Walsh. Though, in an emergency, "you should not let lack of training stop you from attempting to save someone's life," noted Dr. Walsh.
How To Reduce the Risk of Cardiac Arrest
The leading cause of cardiac arrest in adults is heart disease. Taking care of your heart is essential to reduce the risk of cardiac arrest. Heart-healthy behaviors include quitting or not starting smoking and eating a balanced diet.
Regularly exercising is another way to lower the risks of heart disease and cardiac arrest. While SCA can happen to anyone, the incidence is low.
"The message here is that we need to know our own risk factors for cardiovascular disease and have those addressed by a trusted [healthcare provider]," said Dr. Walsh. "Exercise, in general, is a good thing, but we can't always predict every single cardiac event."
Research has found that SCA is most common in people who are not active and suddenly take up strenuous exercise. To minimize your risk of SCA, consult a healthcare provider to find the best exercise routine for you.
A healthcare provider may advise that you slowly add exercise to your routine. For example, start with light aerobic activities, like walking or biking, three to four times weekly. Make sure you spend at least five minutes warming up your body by stretching or moving. Warming up prepares your heart and muscles for activity.
A Quick Review
Although rare, some cases of cardiac arrest happen while people work out. If used quickly, an AED machine can reduce the risk of death from cardiac arrest. AEDs are designed so untrained bystanders can use them, including instructions and voice prompts.
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Read the original article on Health.
