HOUSTON No.151 Medical ID jewelry plays a vital role in the fight to reduce the number of deaths resulting from heart disease and heart-related emergencies. According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the nation’s leading cause of death; however, recent medical advancements have enabled more than 7 million Americans to survive heart disease and live with few complications. Medical research indicates that heart conditions or a family history of heart disease can put individuals at risk for future heart attacks or stroke. Because they accurately, quickly communicate crucial medical information to emergency workers and hospital personnel, medical IDs help ensure proper treatment in emergencies — especially when patients are unable to communicate themselves.
February, National Heart Month, reminds people with a heart condition — and anyone with a medical condition or allergy — to make sure their significant medical information is readily available to all medical personnel. “If a person goes into cardiac arrest, it is important for them to wear a medical ID. This way doctors can quickly treat them,” said Dr. Atasu Nayak, MD, Cardiologist at Kelsey Seybold Clinic in Houston. “Wearing the ID keeps us from having to waste time calling around to find out who the doctor is and finding out what’s wrong.”
Medical IDs should be personalized with chronic medical conditions like heart disease or diabetes; food, drug or insect allergies; key prescription medications; even emergency contact and physician information. “If a patient is on a blood thinner or is using an implanted device, we want to know that, too,” Nayak added.
Many national health awareness organizations, including the American Heart Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Mended Hearts, strongly suggest medical IDs.
