Before the industrial revolution, innovators and scientists have spent their lives attempting to harness to arcane power of electricity in a viable manner. If they only knew that they had it in them the whole time. Did you know that your heart creates a tremendous amount of power? Here are some facts:
The heart creates enough energy to drive a truck 20 miles. In a lifetime, that is equal to driving to the moon and back.
Being that the heart runs on its own electrical impulse, it can still beat without being inside the human body as long as it has enough oxygen.
Ever since the discovery of the heart’s electrical impulse, research has been conducted to control and manipulate this impulse for the greater good of the patient. It began in the 1800’s with the discovery of ventricular fibrillation, to the eventual creation of the defibrillator and the evolution of cardiac electrophysiology.
Medicomp specializes in services and products that best monitor and control the electrical patterns of the human heart. Whether it’s a AF Burden Monitor, Holter Service, Pacemaker, or event monitor, Medicomp has been a leader in diagnostic cardiology since 1981. Give us a call today at 1-800-23-HEART.
Summertime is a great season to finally do all those outdoor activities you’ve been waiting all year for. Hiking, mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, and mountain climbing are all popular during Summer, and it’s a great time to exercise, but it’s also very important to stay safe during these higher temperatures. Not being prepared for hot weather can have adverse effects on you, especially your heart. Here are some things to consider before prolonging yourself to hot weather:
- The most critical thing you can do to support your body when the heat is on is stay hydrated. This really can’t be stressed enough. Since so much sweating occurs to keep your body cool, it is necessary to constantly consume water to replenish any water that has been lost. Also make sure you drink a good amount of water before you even leave the house.
- Wear loose fitting, light colored clothing. Loose fitting clothing gives air the ability to pass through, keeping you cooler. Light colored clothing doesn’t absorb sunlight as well as darker colors, further providing comfort to you while outdoors.
- Even if you follow these 2 very important tips, you still may have conditions that are worsened by high temperatures regardless of hydration and proper outdoor attire. If you have any heart conditions, try to go outside during times of the day when temperatures aren’t peaking. These times are typically early in the morning and later in the afternoon.
Remember, keeping yourself safe during the hot months of Summer will help you and your heart! To learn more about what Medicomp does for people all over the world, such as proving cardiac monitoring, holter heart monitors, and event monitoring to assist with heart problems, call us at 1-800-23-HEART.
The summer offers us the unique ability to engage in all sorts of outdoor activities in particularly hot weather. Though often times the weather can be too brutal for most people to even want to do anything outside, there are plenty of ways of keeping cool while still having fun this summer, even in the early afternoon. The following are some ideas:
- When temperatures hit triple digits, doing anything outside can definitely become unbearable. There are plenty of great ways to stay active indoors. Joining a gym is one-many are completely air-conditioned and offer quick access to water fountains and open cool-down areas.
- There are indoor basketball courts, tennis courts, volleyball courts, and many other amenities to take your typical athletics experiences and bring them into a more comfortable atmosphere.
- If you prefer to take advantage of the summer heat outdoors but don’t want full exposure to the sun’s unrestricted warmth, swimming is going to be one of the best activities. Try out a couple others that are close to the water as well, such as canoeing, kayaking, and fishing.
- A recent report has shown that gardening may be a good activity for the health-conscious as well. An article can be viewed here.
Don’t forget, keeping yourself safe during the hot months of Summer will help you and your heart! To learn more about what Medicomp does for people all over the world, such as proving cardiac monitoring, holter heart monitors, and event monitoring to assist with heart problems, call us at 1-800-23-HEART.
What goes into a healthy heart? Doctors say that with regular exercise and a nutritional diet, you are heading in the right direction. Unfortunately, when people hear “nutritional diet” they get a little intimidated, but they shouldn’t be! So many of the foods you eat every day can actually be good for you, and if there is something that you LOVE but is on the less healthy side, there is probably a substitute that would help to satisfy those cravings.
Here are some ideas for each meal of the day, of the less healthy version and the more healthy option.
Breakfast:
Pancakes topped with whipped cream and fruit, a glass of orange juice
Healthy option: Whole-wheat pancakes topped with light cool whip and blueberries, a glass of calcium-fortified orange juice
Lunch:
Steak Sandwich with melted provolone cheese, onions and French fries
Healthy option: Lean Steak salad in balsamic vinaigrette dressing with pita bread on the side and a cup of fruit or an apple
Dinner:
Breaded Chicken parmesan with angel hair pasta, a Caesar salad, and garlic bread
Healthy option: Breaded Chicken parmesan with wheat angel hair pasta, a salad with balsamic vinaigrette, and whole wheat bread (healthy tip: when breading your chicken, use zero calorie spray butter on the chicken instead of oil)
Dessert:
Angel Food cake with whipped cream and berries
Sugar-free Angel Food cake with light cool whip and berries
By eating these healthier meals, your heart will be healthier and you may even lose a few of those unwanted pounds!
For more tips on healthy habits that promote a healthy heart, contact Medicomp, Inc. at 1-800-23-HEART.
A relaxed life is a healthy life. Research has shown that if you maintain a relaxed lifestyle and avoid stress to the best of your abilities then you are more likely to have better heart health. Here are some ways that you can ensure your stress levels are under control as suggested by the American Heart Association:
1. Talk with your friends & family daily. These are the people that know you best and know how to calm you best. Getting your daily dose of family & friends can rejuvenate your feelings when you need it.
2. Stay physically active. This can be hard when you work from 9 to 5 at a desk, but learn to walk places. Instead of taking your car down the street to the store, take a walk. That will count as your daily physical activity.
3. Get between 6 and 8 hours of sleep. By getting enough sleep, you are able to function to the best of your abilities on the following day, reducing stress.
4. Organize yourself. When you are more organized, fewer things come as a surprise to you on a day to day basis. Grab an organizer and write everything down, this will help you to remember. Less unwelcome surprises mean less stress.
5. Leave your bad habits in the past. Alcohol, cigarettes, & caffeine increase your stress level. By reducing your consumption, your health is increased greatly.
Stress is sometimes hard to avoid but by practicing the above suggestions happiness will result. These positive, healthy habits help to support a stress-free heart and lifestyle.
February was “American Heart Month”? The “Go Red For Women” movement, sponsored by the American Heart Association, celebrates the energy, passion and power that women have to reduce the incidence of heart disease and stroke.
Go Red For Women encourages awareness of the risks of heart disease for women and also encourages women to be more proactive in preventing heart disease. The movement is intended to raise recognition that heart disease is the number one cause of death in women. It also give them tools they need to live a heart healthy lifestyle.
Learn about the various heart conditions that could be affecting you or a loved one, including:
- Arrhythmia
- Cardiac Arrest
- Cardiac Rehab
- Cardiovascular Conditions of Childhood
- Cholesterol
- Congenital Heart Defects
- Diabetes
- Heart Attack
- Heart Failure
- High Blood Pressure
- Stroke
AND MORE
Be heart healthy at any age, and learn how to detect heart conditions today. Share the love with friends & family and encourage them to educate themselves on heart health.
If you think sudden cardiac arrest is the same as a heart attack, think again. The Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) is committed to educating the public on this very topic in an effort to decrease the occurrence of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). According to HRS, over 250,000 lives are claimed by SCA; that’s one life every two minutes, which is more than breast cancer, lung cancer, or AIDS.
So what exactly is Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)?
Unlike a heart attack which blocks blood to the heart, SCA actually stops the heart. SCA occurs when the heart’s electrical system malfunctions due to an arrhythmia (irregular rhythm of the heart). The most common arrhythmia that causes SCA is ventricular fibrillation, which is a condition that causes the heart to pump little or no blood due to disordered electrical activity.
What are the symptoms and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest?
Most victims of SCA have suffered a previous heart attack or have coronary artery disease. There are other symptoms that indicate an increased risk for SCA including: abnormal heart rate or rhythm, a rapid heart rate that comes and goes even when in a resting state, syncope (fainting), and low ejection fraction. Ejection fraction measures how much blood the ventricles pump with each beat.
How can we test for sudden cardiac arrest?
Currently, health care providers can test for SCA with an electrocardiogram (ECG). An ECG uses electrodes attached to a patient’s chest to record the heart’s electrical activity and identify arrhythmia. This test can be performed in a short time frame at a physician’s office or over the course 24-48 hours with a Holter Monitor. If arrhythmia does not occur often, the physician might prescribe an event monitor or a wireless cardiac monitor. Medicomp’s CardioPAL SAVI event monitor and SAVI Wireless monitor allow physicians to identify arrhythmia for up to 30 days, regardless of whether a patient feels any symptoms. This technology allows physicians to assess a patient’s risk for SCA due to an arrhythmia.
What actions should a patient take if they are at risk for sudden cardiac arrest?
The first step is to encourage a heart healthy lifestyle. This includes regular exercise, eating healthy, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding nicotine and alcohol. Patients should also monitor other risk factors such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes. Physicians will also encourage their patients to treat their arrhythmia. Treatments for arrhythmia include drug therapy, implantable cardioverter defibrillators, and catheter ablation.
To learn more about sudden cardiac arrest, visit Heart Rhythm Society.
“Just wanted to pass on a note of appreciation for a very favorable customer service experience I had today with Nathan Crocker.
He spent considerable time, and went the extra mile to assist me with an equipment related cardiac monitoring situation concerning my son Zach.
I appreciate his attention to detail, and resolve to get me answers on a bunch of questions I threw at him.
Please pass my compliments and thanks onto Nathan on a job well done. Nathan did a great job, my letter was most sincere. He cares.
Thank you.
Paul
Vice-President, Strategic Business Development
PS: here is a picture of my son Zach at 15,crushing a ball in a Legion Championship last year. I will try to find one of he and I , and send.
He also plays Varsity basketball (God willing), and is my hero( three major surgeries, corrected tetrollogy of fallot, BT shunt, and another outflow re-section 4 years ago).
I appreciate your letter. Your company ,and what you and your team do effects lives in ways that are beyond words.”
Medicomp’s mission is to help physicians add quality years to patient’s lives, and we can’t achieve this without the contributions of our team. Medicomp employees represent our core values everyday; bringing integrity, passion, ethics and customer focus to their role at Medicomp. This month, Medicomp is proud to shine the spotlight on Sandy Lee Bryant, CCT who works in our Cardiac Monitoring Center.
What is your educational background?
“AS in Medical Assisting, CCT”
How long have you been at Medicomp?
“I’ve been a Medicomp team member for almost 3 years. “
Why do you love being a CCT?
“I love being a CCT because I speak with lots of people who are consequently our patients and through their procedure I get to know them and appreciate them.”
What was your most memorable moment in the CMC (cardiac monitoring center) ?
“The most memorable moment in the CMC was my first phone call I picked up on my first day on the floor. It was a patient, who over the course of the month, became a friend.”
When you aren’t in the CMC, what do you like to do?
“When I’m not in the CMC, I spend time with my wife and daughter.”
“You guys are ROCK STARS!!! Thank you for your great service!! ”
George Love, RRT
Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center
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