Defibrillators for Heart Attack Patients
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It is important to distinguish the differences between heart failure and a heart attack. Heart failure occurs when the heart fails to pump or is prevented from pumping blood through the circulatory system, and a heart attack occurs when a blood vessel blockage interferes with blood flow to the heart which causes cardiac tissue death. In any case, these cardiac events are traumatic and life-altering.
The use of an Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator in the event of a heart attack reduces the risk of sudden death following an episode. During a heart attack, the heart stops beating for a period of a few seconds to several minutes, and each moment that passes increases the risk of permanent damage to the heart. When the ICD detects the irregular heartbeat during and after a heart attack, it can “jumpstart” the heart into beating again, restoring blood flow to the heart and preventing damage. Many people who survive one heart attack often elect to receive an Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator as “back up” against future incidents. Residual natural electrical current from previous heart attacks can cause arrhythmias even in healthy hearts, and ICDs help regulate and monitor this potentially fatal occurrence.
While no substitute for other preventative measures such as healthy diet and exercise, an ICD can help victims of heart attacks survive until medical help arrives.
What
is a defibrillator?
