Salt - the Heartbreaker!

Many of us just HAVE to have our Salt and most of us get pretty upset if someone tries to limit our salt intake. We just have it!

Sodium is a mineral that YES is totally essential for your body to keep going.  Salt is regulated in your body by your kidneys and aids in the control of your body's fluid and balance. Salt also assists in sending nerve impulses and muscle function.

When there’s extra sodium in your bloodstream, it pulls water into your blood vessels, increasing the total volume of blood inside. With more blood flowing through, blood pressure increases. It’s like turning up the water supply to a garden hose — the pressure in the hose increases as more water is blasted through it. Over time, high blood pressure may overstretch or injure the blood vessel walls and speed the build-up of gunky plaque that can block blood flow. The added pressure also tires out the heart by forcing it to work harder to pump blood through the body.
- See more at: http://sodiumbreakup.heart.org/sodium-411/sodium-and-your-health/#sthash.XuYeUtbu.dpuf

it pulls water into your blood vessels, increasing the total volume of blood inside. With more blood flowing through, blood pressure increases. It’s like turning up the water supply to a garden hose — the pressure in the hose increases as more water is blasted through it. Over time, high blood pressure may overstretch or injure the blood vessel walls and speed the build-up of gunky plaque that can block blood flow. The added pressure also tires out the heart by forcing it to work harder to pump blood through the body. - See more at: http://sodiumbreakup.heart.org/sodium-411/sodium-and-your-health/#sthash.XuYeUtbu.dpuf

it pulls water into your blood vessels, increasing the total volume of blood inside. With more blood flowing through, blood pressure increases. It’s like turning up the water supply to a garden hose — the pressure in the hose increases as more water is blasted through it. Over time, high blood pressure may overstretch or injure the blood vessel walls and speed the build-up of gunky plaque that can block blood flow. The added pressure also tires out the heart by forcing it to work harder to pump blood through the body. - See more at: http://sodiumbreakup.heart.org/sodium-411/sodium-and-your-health/#sthash.XuYeUtbu.dpuf

it pulls water into your blood vessels, increasing the total volume of blood inside. With more blood flowing through, blood pressure increases. It’s like turning up the water supply to a garden hose — the pressure in the hose increases as more water is blasted through it. Over time, high blood pressure may overstretch or injure the blood vessel walls and speed the build-up of gunky plaque that can block blood flow. The added pressure also tires out the heart by forcing it to work harder to pump blood through the body. - See more at: http://sodiumbreakup.heart.org/sodium-411/sodium-and-your-health/#sthash.XuYeUtbu.dpuf

it pulls water into your blood vessels, increasing the total volume of blood inside. With more blood flowing through, blood pressure increases. It’s like turning up the water supply to a garden hose — the pressure in the hose increases as more water is blasted through it. Over time, high blood pressure may overstretch or injure the blood vessel walls and speed the build-up of gunky plaque that can block blood flow. The added pressure also tires out the heart by forcing it to work harder to pump blood through the body. - See more at: http://sodiumbreakup.heart.org/sodium-411/sodium-and-your-health/#sthash.XuYeUtbu.dpuf

Sodium is a mineral that’s essential for life. It’s regulated in the body by your kidneys, and it helps control your body’s fluid balance. It also helps send nerve impulses and affects muscle function.
When there’s extra sodium in your bloodstream, it pulls water into your blood vessels, increasing the total volume of blood inside. With more blood flowing through, blood pressure increases. It’s like turning up the water supply to a garden hose — the pressure in the hose increases as more water is blasted through it. Over time, high blood pressure may overstretch or injure the blood vessel walls and speed the build-up of gunky plaque that can block blood flow. The added pressure also tires out the heart by forcing it to work harder to pump blood through the body.
- See more at: http://sodiumbreakup.heart.org/sodium-411/sodium-and-your-health/#sthash.XuYeUtbu.dpuf

Salt is high in so many of our foods such as:

• Processed foods/lunch meats
• Canned foods
• Many mixed drinks
• Pickled foods

Want to know why salt is so bad for our heart and overall health?

it pulls water into your blood vessels, increasing the total volume of blood inside. With more blood flowing through, blood pressure increases. It’s like turning up the water supply to a garden hose — the pressure in the hose increases as more water is blasted through it. Over time, high blood pressure may overstretch or injure the blood vessel walls and speed the build-up of gunky plaque that can block blood flow. The added pressure also tires out the heart by forcing it to work harder to pump blood through the body. - See more at: http://sodiumbreakup.heart.org/sodium-411/sodium-and-your-health/#sthash.XuYeUtbu.dpuf

The NFL and Pink Awareness - Let's get some Red in there!

We are very grateful that the National Football League (NFL) participates in the Think Pink or Breast Cancer Awareness programs. Breast Cancer is a horrible disease that can take any of our loved ones at any time - just like Sudden Cardiac Arrest. The difference is - SCA can strike with any warning, no symptom.

The NFL has a complete website for the NFL's support of Breast Cancer - http://www.nfl.com/pink. Great cause and great idea with ways that you can Pledge to be a part of the Crucial Catch Day! On the NFL Breast Cancer site you can sign up for Personal screening reminders, pledge to get screened, schedule your screening and also encourage others. Great IDEA and love that the NFL is participating in something with such a great need and cause.

However - can we remember that October IS also Sudden Cardiac Awareness Month? It might be new to some that is why Living for Zachary is asking and encouraging all to help us bring SCA Awareness to the forefront and Wear RED in October too!

Projected Deaths from SCA in 2014

When most people think of October, they think Halloween and now Pink - everyone is wearing pink in October, even the NFL.  Many people already realize that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month but many don't realize that October is also Sudden Cardiac Awareness Month.

Through many advances and bringing awareness to all, Breast Cancer survivors are on the rise. So, that is why Living for Zachary is working hard to not only bring Sudden Cardiac Awareness Month to people's attention but also now bring RED to the forefront as we become aware of SCA.

According to the Sudden Cardiac Awareness Foundation nearly 400,000 people will die unexpected from Sudden Cardiac Arrest outside the hospitals in 2014. Are you aware that there are people that do not even know about SCA and exactly what Sudden Cardiac Arrest means??

So, let's share the PINK and add some RED to October and bring awareness to all about SCA and how it can strike, just like Breast Cancer.

Don't be one of those "Projected Deaths" - be a informed individual through heart screening , early detection tools, educating the public (through CPR and AED's) and bring awareness to all about the Red in October.

Why October is important to us!

This month is Sudden Cardiac Arrest Month, an awareness campaign that is very dear to the hearts of all of us here at Living for Zachary, and for the families and friends of those that have been directly affected by sudden cardiac arrest.

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a heart condition that different from a conventional heart attack. During a heart attack, the heart doesn’t normally stop beating. During sudden cardiac arrest, the heart stops pumping blood to the rest of the body and for many, leads to nearly immediate death.

This month, many non-profits across the country have launched awareness campaigns to help the general public learn from the situations of others and to help become more proactive in getting their heart screened and detected for any potentially life-threatening signs.

Living for Zachary is so proud to have the HeartRun in October with hundreds of participants coming out and participating in a event to benefit the awareness of Sudden Cardiac Arrest.