Hypothermia 'could help cardiac patients'
Friday 29th January 2010
New research has suggested that cooling the body temperature to similar levels seen in those with hypothermia could be an effective treatment for cardiac arrest sufferers.
According to the BBC, the Emergency Medicine Research Group found that "therapeutic hypothermia" slows down the release of harmful chemicals in those with heart problems.
Although cooling the body is already practised in intensive care units several hours after a patient has a heart attack, it is thought that the new study could lead the way to paramedics using the technique during the early stages of a cardiac arrest.
Dr Richard Lyon, who led the research, told the news provider: "The cooling process somehow seems to preserve brain and body function. We know that cooling patients after a cardiac arrest is helpful, what we don't know is how to do it, when to start it and how long to do it for."
The report was funded by Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland, one of the country's leading medical charities, which aims to raise awareness about heart conditions and provide support to victims and their families.
Written by Mathew Horton
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