If you have periods with abnormal heart rhythms, especially tachycardia (fast heart beat) an internal cardiac defibrillator (ICD) implanted in your upper chest would be like having a paramedic team with a defibrillator available on standby at all times to help you.

This device may be able to help you return to normal activities with less anxiety over your condition, and here are the basics you would need to know about it.

About the Device

The modern ICDs are about the size of a small container of breath mints. It consists of generator and a tiny computer that monitors your heart rhythm and will it give direction if needed. It has from one to three wire leads that will be threaded in a vein and would end in your right heart ventricle.

If your heart beats too slow (bradycardia) this device send tiny pulses to your heart to act as a pacemaker and restore a normal rhythm. If your heart begins to quiver in a non-effective contraction pattern or beat too fast  the device would detect this rhythm, it would deliver a shock to help your heart regain its normal rhythm. These functions are important because an ineffective heart rhythm can result in your body organs and tissues not getting the oxygenated blood they need, and you would die quickly.

People who have these devices often don't feel them when they go into pace-making mode, but being shocked feels like either a kick or a sudden electrical shock, but there is usually no pain associated with it afterwards.

The battery lasts between 5 and 7 years so the device would be taken out and replaced when it wears out. The leads can last much longer so they may be left in until they need replacing.

Patients who would Benefit from a ICD

The persons who might benefit from this device are people who have had a heart attack and have scar tissue that is making their heart beat less effectively, persons who have had ventricular arrhythmias or sudden cardiac arrest, have a certain type of congenital heart disease, or have Long QT syndrome ( or LQTS, a disorder that causes long chaotic and fast heart rhythms).

The Procedure to Implant it

To implant the device you would have to go through a minor surgical procedure and the leads to the device would be threaded through the vein to the heart. Then the device would be placed under the skin, but above the muscle on your left side just below your clavicle bone. You would undergo a type of sedation that might cause you to sleep but the doctor could wake you and talk to you if needed. Also a local anesthetic would be used.

The device would be tested for function following implantation and before you leave the hospital the next day.

Your Lifestyle following Implantation

You would need to have regular visits to your cardiologists following the procedure. The ICD records your heart rhythm and any adjustments it makes (pace-making function kicking in, or shocks given) so your doctor can analyze its effectiveness and your current heart condition.

Most people can return to a normal active lifestyle within a short time following implantation. That means you could work out, engage in sports, have sex, and continue to work.

There are few restrictions with the device but the main thing is to avoid strong electrical-magnetic waves. That would mean not using an arc welder, working around large engines or getting an MRI. This would also mean that you should not go through metal detectors at airports or in court building  entrances, and you would carry an official card to show the officers who operate these.

This device has few drawbacks, would kick in immediately if you began having an episode of an ineffective heart rhythm, and could help you to live a longer and more active life. If you are interested in it, you should consult your doctor to see if it would benefit you.

To learn more, contact a company like Halifax Heart Center.

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