Tips to Reduce Sodium Intake for Heart Health and Indianapolis ACLS Classes

Sodium intake in excess puts added stress on the ticker, potentially increasing risk for high blood pressure and heart disease. Heart disease increases the likelihood for an individual to get struck with a cardiac arrest. A cardiac arrest is a life-threatening emergency and a victim would require immediate treatment for survival. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is critical to treating a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). CPR is a life-saving procedure that is useful in many emergencies, including a heart attack or near drowning, in which someone’s breathing or heartbeat has stopped.

For CPR training, select a certified training site such as the AHA accredited CPR Indianapolis. Certified instructors conduct the classes through a series of audio and video lectures and hands-on practice. There are courses for both healthcare and non-healthcare providers.

Learn more about ACLS and ACLS renew certification Indianapolis courses:

Advanced Cardiac Life Support Classes- The class has been designed for those who work in emergency response, intensive care units, the emergency department, anesthesia units, telemetry departments, cardiac catheterization labs, outpatient surgery centers, advanced dentistry, respiratory therapy departments, some pharmacy departments, and many more and the class allows students to utilize their assessment skills, cardiac rhythm interpretation skills, and knowledge of the ACLS treatment algorithms to manage cardiac arrest, cardiovascular emergencies, and respiratory arrest.

Become certified at the end of the training classes after successfully passing a skills test and written exam. The AHA ACLS provider card comes with a validity of 2 years.

ACLS Renew- ACLS renew class is for any healthcare provider who has previously been a certified American Heart Association ACLS Provider which covers all updates and changes made to the treatment algorithms by the AHA which are based on the most current science research surrounding emergency cardiovascular care. It is important to complete an ACLS refresher class every two years in order to maintain the certification.

The best way to keep cardiac emergencies at bay is by keeping heart disease at bay which can be done by managing the risk factors well. The major risk factors are high blood pressure and high cholesterol. There is a need for Americans to significantly reduce sodium consumption to promote better health as the average American consumes more than 3,400 mg of sodium a day. It is important that people become more aware of how much sodium they consume and accordingly take steps to stay within latest dietary guidelines to improve health. The American Heart Association recommends no more than 2,300 milligrams (mg) a day and moving toward an ideal limit of no more than 1,500 mg per day for most adults.

Tips to Reducing Sodium Intake:

1.      Some of the high sodium foods include canned soups and sauces, salty snacks such as chips and pretzels, cured meats such as bacon and ham, fast food, frozen pizza and foods packed in salt water such as pickles, olives and canned tuna.

2.      Whenever possible, use fresh foods like fresh, frozen or canned vegetables without added salt; fresh meats, fish and poultry instead of cooked or prepared items; use herbs and spices as seasoning instead of salt.

3.      You should be careful in selecting restaurants as restaurant food is high in sodium. At a restaurant, you can have your meal prepared without added salt and select fresh vegetables, fruits and salads and plain meats or fish from the menu.

As per estimates, 75 percent of dietary sodium comes from processed foods. Avoid prepared meals and limit consumption of condiments, canned and frozen foods, and packaged snacks. Accurately measure your salt intake each day by reading food labels.

Contribute towards the safety of cardiac arrest victims by joining a CPR class today. Either register online or call CPR Indianapolis to sign up for a course.