Got an Emergency? There is an App for that….
San Ramon Valley, CA, United States (AHN) – The San Ramon Valley fire department has created a new app which notifies residents of cardiac emergencies and also locates Automated External Defibrillators.
The mobile, GPS-based notification system was designed specifically to get people who are trained in performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation to the site of a heart attack faster than first responders.
Dispatchers notify users via text of the emergency incident.
The iPhone app, which is available for free download, is coordinated by the fire department and communicates with over 700 members of the Community Emergency Response Team using the app. Over the last few months an early version include the public with more than 22,000 iPhone users.
However because San Ramon Valley is only 155 square miles, that’s nearly 150 people per square mile who are connected and ready to assist with CPR should the need arise.
Another feature of the app allows users to monitor in real time on the status of each reported incident, and ascertain when a rescuer has reached the scene and when professional emergency services are expected to arrive.
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There is a Drugfree Way to Lower Cholesterol
There has been a substantial increase in people having high cholesterol levels. It has been proven in many studies that an unhealthy increase in blood cholesterol levels can lead or be associated with the development of heart disease. High cholesterol levels can also increase the risk of strokes and heart attacks. Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death among people living in industrialized societies such as the US. The increasing incidence of high cholesterol levels in people living in this part of the world can often be contributed to a high saturated fat diet, smoking and leading a sedentary lifestyle.
There are several dugs now available that is being used to treat unhealthy cholesterol levels in people. Most popular of these is the HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor or what is more simply known as Statins. This group of cholesterol lowering drugs come in different name drugs and is increasingly being used in order to help high risk patients drastically lower their cholesterol levels. Statins can also increase the levels of HDL or “good” cholesterol.
Although statins and other known drugs being used to lower cholesterol levels have been proven to be very effective, there are also other ways available for people to lower their cholesterol levels without the use of such drugs. One of these is trying to lead a more active lifestyle. Physical activity and exercise is an important part of several low cholesterol therapies that aim to reduce bad cholesterol levels. Regular exercise can also help in reducing blood pressure, excess weight as well as decrease the diabetes risk.
Following a low cholesterol diet can also help a lot in trying to decrease high cholesterol levels. Scientists have found that a low cholesterol diet can help decrease cholesterol levels by as much as 29 percent in one month. This suggests that a combination diet can also be as effective as drugs like statins used to treat people with high cholesterol levels. It has also been established that eating low cholesterol and high fiber foods can cut individual cholesterol level by seven percent.
A recommended diet that can help people avoid developing coronary heart disease include consuming non-hydrogenated or unprocessed fats, eating a rich diet of soy protein, nuts and fiber rich foods such as oats and barley. Increased consumption of Omega-3 fats from fish and other plant sources can also have a positive effect in any low cholesterol diet as well as a healthy amount of fruits and vegetables.
Information on cholesterol ratio can be found at Cholesterol Guidelines.
