Thousands of dental emergencies happen each year, some of them life threatening. Dentists need to be prepared for any emergency that may occur in their office. If a patient is under anesthesia or is coming out of anesthesia they could present with a serious problem such as cardiac arrest. Your dentist office needs to be prepared!

Whether it is because of the anesthesia or an underlying medical problem such as heart disease or a heart defect, it is imperative that the dentist you visit, twice per year, is well equipped to handle any emergency. The entire staff should carry a CPR certification and have completed their BLS training.

Your dentist office must have life saving equipment readily available such as a defibrillator and they should always be monitoring patients during any procedure. The dentist should always take a patient’s thorough medical history, including allergies, to ensure that the process of having to administer anesthesia happens without complication.

The entire dental team should have an emergency plan of action. They should know exactly what their job is and how to effectively carry it out.
If you need to get your staff trained in BLS give us a call and say you saw it her and you will get 10% off a class of 4 or more. (503) 538-2610

Heart disease is the number one killer of women. Though breast cancer has, through mass popular fund raising and health education programs, been in the forefront of public health awareness, heart disease in fact takes the lives of more women every year. The American Heart Association (AHA) is working at improving the public awareness of the threat heart disease poses to society and to women specifically. It is known that there is a strong genetic component to both breast cancer and heart disease. Unlike breast cancer however, there are several things that women with heart disease can do to reduce their chances of dying. A key first step in promoting women’s health and reducing morbidity is early recognition of heart attack symptoms for women and efficient treatment of acute symptoms. Complicating this effort is the fact that women do not have ‘classic’ signs and symptoms. CPR Northwest is an advocate for health and health education and supports this community outreach education effort in women’s health promotion.



Women who are having a heart attack typically don’t have classic chest pain. The public’s common perceptions of heart attack symptoms include ‘crushing chest pain’, nausea, and diaphoresis. Though these are typical heart attack symptoms, they tend to be more commonly found among males. Women can have these symptoms and are encouraged to promptly seek medical attention should they develop these symptoms. Heart attack symptoms for women can be much different. However, in addition to the more ‘classic’ heart attack symptoms, women may also present with several slightly more subtle symptoms that should not be ignored. Among these are band like back pain, shoulder and abdominal pain. Additionally, women tend to feel short of breath, chest congestion that some describe as ‘flu like’. Actual fainting or near syncope is also commonly reported, more often with women than men.

Do you know what heart attack symptoms for women are?

Symptom recognition is a key first step in damage control in managing an acute heart attack. Initial heart attack symptoms for women can be subtle and easily inappropriately identified as ‘flu’ or muscle strain. To reduce the chances of dying from a heart attack, it is important to stay informed and aware of the signs that, in women, may indicate an acute heart event. This awareness, combined with an understanding of heart health risks, is a key first step in improving the outcome post heart attack.

 Heart Attack Symptoms for Women and “The Simple 7″ Managing heart health risk involves more than weight loss and regular check ups. Although important as a component in a balanced approach to health maintenance, the AHA is an advocate of a multi pronged approach to cardiovascular health management. In addition to recognizing some of the less well known heart attack symptoms for women, the AHA also publishes “The Simple 7.” These seven guidelines are “Heart Health Factors” that are aimed at health promotion and reducing our chances of dying from heart disease. The simple seven are:

Get Active

Control Cholesterol

Eat Better

Manage Blood Pressure

Lose Weight

Reduce Blood Sugar

Stop Smoking

CPR Northwest supports the AHA’s efforts in promoting heart health through education and research. The classes offered at SureFire CPR: First Aid, Basic CPR,, all are taught according to AHA guidelines. CPR Northwest has classes available in your neighborhood. Call and schedule your class today. 503-538-2610

According to studies conducted at Northwestern University, this could be a true statement.  Data collected on both men and women show that individuals with two or more of the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease by age 55 have a higher risk for myocardial infarction or stroke.

While genetics play a major role in determining cardiac health, maintaining two or more of the major risk factors (diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking) over extended time will increase the likelihood and could predict a high lifetime risk for cardiac injury or stroke.

Taken from an article written in the Advisory Board Company website:

Having just two major risk factors for cardiovascular disease—such as hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, and smoking—at age 55 may predict a high lifetime risk of cardiac death, according to a recent NEJM study.

Decreasing those risk factors before middle age can make a significant difference for both men and women alike.  A regular physical examination with appropriate blood tests to monitor for these risk factors is key and the first step to improving the likelihood of cardiac injury.

With a national focus on diet, exercise and overall health, it is easy to find programs to support goals on an individual basis.  Eliminating smoking and excessive alcohol consumption is one of the best ways to begin moving down the road to overall health.  Diet and exercise have also been proven to eliminate many of the cardiac risk factors listed above.

Following through with making these important steps can assist in attaining a better state of wellness by age 55.

Looking for CPR Classes give us a call? 503-538-2610

Heart failure caused by damage to the heart that has developed over time can't be cured. But it can be treated, quite often with strategies to improve symptoms. Successful treatment depends on your willingness to get involved in managing this condition, whether you're the patient or a caregiver. You and your loved ones are an active part of the healthcare team.
Your treatment plan may include:

• Lifestyle changes
• Medications
• Surgery
  • Surgical Procedures Without Devices
  • Implantable Medical Devices
• Ongoing Care
  • Physical Changes to Report
  • Your Healthcare Team
  • For Caregivers

Regardless of your treatment, you need to follow all of your doctor's recommendations and make the necessary changes in diet, exercise and lifestyle to give you the highest possible quality of life.Clinical TrialsClinical trials are scientific studies that determine if a possible new medical advance can help people and whether it has harmful side effects. Find answers to common questions about clinical trials in our Guide to Understanding Clinical Trials. 
To take a CPR or frist aid class give us a call (503)538-2610