Are you ready for Summer ?

With our summer temperatures getting ready to rise -  heart problems and SCA can be on the rise due to extreme heart and often a rise in heart conditions and SCA, especially in elderly people and children.

When the weather is hot outside and we are out in it (who wants to stay inside during the summer) our heart rate increases to help cool our bodies. Our hearts pump and pump and with that, more blood comes to the surface of the skin and creates sweat. All of this occurs as we try to maintain our internal body temperatures.

If you are outside (especially the elderly and children) and doing physical activity (playing ball, working in the yard or even if you work in the heat), your heart works overtime. The physical exertion plus possible dehydration is a sure way to put yourself at risk for SCA.

We, at Living for Zachary believe in our motto of "Listening to your heart" and during the hot summer months - it's true more than ever.

For more information on SCA - visit www.living4zachary.org and read the story of Zach Schrah and the battle he fought with SCA  - his life and his legacy.

The Living for Zachary AED donation Program

Automated external defibrillators are portable electronic devices that save thousands of lives each year! The device checks heart rhythm, diagnosis potential heart conditions and sends electrical impulses to the heart and attempts to “shock” it back into regular rhythm.

Because heart disease, illnesses and conditions are becoming more of a concern for patients worldwide, it’s important to realize that disaster can strike at any time. 

Taking precautionary steps can help lower your risk for heart complications, but it’s not guaranteed to keep you safe at all times. That’s why protection methods are just as needed as prevention methods.

Ask your business, school or church to be proactive in installing an AED somewhere within the facility to be available in case of a disaster. AEDs are simple to use, and many call out vocal commands to the user on where to put the sensors and steps to take in order for it to work properly. They’re so easy to use that anyone can save a life and it could just be you. 

Practice protection and prevention, join the cause to get AEDs put in more public spaces. 


Learn how to locate and use an AED - it will change your life if you have to use it. For information on the Living for Zachary AED Donation Program visit www.Living4zchary.org or click here. Apply for an AED - it cannot hurt!

What are your Sudden Cardiac Arrest Risks?

Living for Zachary speaks alot about how sudden cardiac arrest can strike anyone at any age, but what are the factors that can increase your risk?

First, there are a few risk factors that you have no control over such as:

• Family history of coronary artery disease. 
• Family history of cardiac arrest. 
• Family or personal history of abnormal heart rhythm. 

Then, there are a number of factors individuals can have some level of control over or work to manage. These include:

• Smoking 
• Obesity 
• Diabetes 
• High blood pressure 
• High cholesterol 
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Illegal drug use, especially cocaine and amphetamines 

Individuals who have suffered previous incidents of cardiac arrest or a heart attack are also at higher risk for a repeat incident. Men over 45 and women over 55 are at increased risk.

Darby, Justin. "Risk Factors of Sudden Cardiac Arrest." www.aed.com

More Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) vs Heart Attacks "Did you know's"?

At Living for Zachary we try our hardest to keep updated on the latest information on Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). There are many facts and myths associated with Sudden Cardiac Arrest vs a Heart Attack. Here are a few "Did you know's?"

• Symptoms of a heart attack can be quick and intense. Mostly Heart Attack symptoms start slowly and persist for hours, days or weeks before a heart attack. Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is when the heart usually does not stop beating during a heart attack. 
•  Did you know that heart attack symptoms are different in women than men?
•  But when sudden cardiac arrest occurs, heart attack is a common cause.
•  Other heart conditions may also disrupt the heart’s rhythm and lead to sudden cardiac arrest. These include a thickened heart muscle (cardiomyopathy), heart failure, arrhythmias, particularly ventricular fibrillation, and long Q-T syndrome.

Knowing the difference between a Heart Attack and Sudden Cardiac Arrest in important and could save your life.