Heartstart Defibrillators - Should Every House Really Have A Heartstart Defibrillator?

There seems to be a tremendous push for safety lately. I’ve seen countless articles written about how to buy the safest car seat, or which cars performed best in crash tests, or how essential it is to have an escape plan in case of a house fire. I don’t discount how important these things are, and applaud the fact that these safety issues are being brought to the forefront. But it seems odd to me that people don’t hesitate to spend extra money making their cars and homes safer, but seem to balk at the idea of spending money on a home defibrillator, like the Heartstart Defibrillator.

In case you’ve never heard of the Heartstart Defibrillator, it’s an at-home defibrillator - the only one currently available without a prescription. It literally can mean the difference between a person surviving sudden cardiac arrest or not, yet most people have never heard of it or balk at the price tag or don’t think having an at-home defibrillator is really necessary.

So, who really should buy something like the Heartstart Defibrillator? Is it really necessary for EVERY home?

If someone is young and healthy and has no history of heart trouble, they may not need to purchase the Heartstart Defibrillator (especially if money is tight.) Although sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone at anytime, there are risk factors associated with it (such as age, a history of heart problems, etc.) and if someone does not have these risk factors, they may feel comfortable getting by without a Heartstart Defibrillator in their house. Also, people living alone may choose not to buy one, since they obviously will not be able to use it on themselves should they go into sudden cardiac arrest. In addition, if someone has severe financial problems and can barely make ends meet, they should perhaps wait until they are in a better financial state before buying an at-home defibrillator.

However, if there is even the slightest risk factor in a family for sudden cardiac arrest and it is not a financial hardship, I believe getting an at-home defibrillator is one of the smartest moves you can make! I sincerely hope that none of you reading this article will ever be in a position to use it, but I think the peace of mind that comes with this product alone is worth the price tag.

In conclusion, who should buy a Heartstart Defibrillator? Ultimately, it’s a personal choiceand is up to the family. It is not necessary for every home, but definitely could prove life-saving in those homes that have a family member who is at risk for sudden cardiac arrest. My motto is “better safe than sorry”, especially when it comes to the safety of your loved ones. But my advice, think it over and do the research to find out if getting a Heartstart Defibrillator is right for you.

Visit http://heartstart-defibrillator-reviews.com to learn more about this life-saving product and to be offered a chance to purchase the product at $800 off list price!

 

Defibrillators- Will You Be the Next One Saved by an AED?

AED stands for Automated External Defibrillator. An AED, or Automated External Defibrillator is a lightweight, portable Defibrillator made for use by the general public.

People most likely to benefit from having a defibrillator in their home are those with known risk factors for cardiac arrest or defibrillation. If you choose not to have a defibrillator are you saying that your premises are more important than the people within it? No, most likely its just a lack of awareness of these devices being available.

AEDs are becoming more popular in the workplace environment as well. One of our local companies recently sponsored a series of CPR classes and purchased AEDs for their various buildings. Included in the CPR classes was training on proper use of the defibrillator devices. We consider this very proactive and displays a genuine respect for the health and safety of their employees.

What is the purpose of an AED? The defibrillator shocks your heart back into a normal rhythm. This is done on a larger scale in hospitals, but in emergency situations outside of a medical environment these compact portable units can save a life. For the general public, those buying a home defibrillator are cautioned to call 911 first, then use the home defibrillator until professional help arrives. The 911 dispatcher can often provide guidance over the phone if you become flustered. Defibrillator are saving lives in public places such as shopping malls, theaters, and offices.

Amazingly many people are still unaware of the availability of the automatic external defibrillator machine and how useful it really is. If you were in a life or death situation involving a heart attack and an Automatic External Defibrillator was available, would you know how to use it? Most of the units come with picture and text instructions, but the daunting reality of what you’re facing can be overwhelming which is why we recommend using it after calling 911.

For proactive offices and managers of public areas, the cost to acquire an approved Automatic External Defibrillator is currently between $3000 and $5000.

In short, we recommend considering and researching the availability and cost of AEDs in your area and making them available either at home or in your office. It’s hard to put a price on saving a life.

For more information on defibrillators and AEDs visit our website.

 

Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators

While many people might be most familiar with the external defibrillators seen on TV, in emergency rooms or at sporting events, there are similar devices that, although less obvious in their use, serve the same purpose of restoring proper heart rhythms and thus averting possible death by cardiac arrest or heart attack. They are called implantable cardioverter defibrillators but are often referred to as pacemakers.

An implantable cardioverter defibrillator is a device designed for individuals with certain forms of heart disease of defects that put them at recurring risk of sustained ventricular fibrillation, or cardiac arrest. The device is implanted either within the chest itself, or more commonly today within the blood vessels thus eliminating the need for dangerous open chest surgery.

Once inside the body, an implantable defibrillator, or ICD, uses leads positioned near the heart to deliver electronic pulses or shocks when the device senses a cardiac rhythm that is out of sync. This arrhythmia or fibrillation can lead to cardiac arrest by constricting blood flow to the heart. The device can also, if necessary, stimulate a consistent pace or beat if the heart is unable to do so on its own.

Internal defibrillators are only used in cases where a patient has shown consistent, recurring risk of cardiac arrest or attack do to fibrillation. As with any invasive surgery, an ICD is not to be taken lightly, but they have been extraordinarily useful in preventing sudden deaths among patients who elect to have them implanted.

If you are wondering if you are a candidate for an ICD, contact your regular medical practitioner or heart specialist. Only they can determine whether you are in need of an internal defibrillator, but if you have been found to be at recurring risk for rhythm problems such as ventricular tachycardia (when the heart beats at a dangerously fast pace) or ventricular fibrillation (when the heartbeat is both fast and irregular), an ICD may be a viable option.

Patients who have ICDs implanted often say that the delivery of pacing therapy by the device is a painless experience. Most do not experience discomfort or pain, while some may feel a mild fluttering in the chest. If cardioversion therapy is needed, a mild shock is sent that is said to resemble a thump in the chest. The defibrillator shock, sent to resolve cardiac fibrillation or irregular pacing, is the heaviest jolt and is often said to resemble a swift kick in the chest. There may be some discomfort but the sensation typically only lasts a few moments.

Once you have an internal defibrillator implanted, certain lifestyle adjustments will be necessary. Like after any surgery, your doctor will advise you to limit any strenuous or stressful activities for a certain period of time. But in most cases, you can return to a normal routine after a few short weeks. Though, patients will need to be aware of any machines capable of interfering with the ICD’s operation. Devices with strong magnetic fields are of particular concern.

Though doctors will always be hopeful to avoid major invasive surgery such as the implantation of an ICD, implantable cardioverter defibrillators have allowed thousands of heart patients to live out long and productive lives despite a recurring cardiac condition or disease. Recent advances have made the device smaller, more effective and often unnoticeable to both the patient and the public. Consult your physician for more information about whether an ICD is right for you.

Defibrillators Info provides detailed information on automated external defibrillators (AED), implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD), portable defibrillators, and more. Defibrillators Info is affiliated with Original Content.

Biphasic Defibrillators

A defibrillator is an instrument that carries out defibrillation on the chambers of the heart. When the device is implanted in the user, it is known as an implantable cardioverter or internal cardiac defibrillator (ICD). Traditionally, monophasic waveforms were used in these implements but research studies have shown that biphasic waveforms are better suited for such equipments.

In monophasic defibrillators, electrical pulses are sent rapidly from one electrode to the other, in a single direction. In case of biphasic defibrillation, the direction of the pulses alternates, completing one cycle in approximately 10 milliseconds. Biphasic defibrillation was originally developed and used for implantable cardioverter-defibrillators. They use a different waveform technology than the monophasic ones. It uses either a biphasic truncated exponential (BTE) waveform or a rectilinear biphasic waveform. In the first phase, the current moves from one paddle to the other as with monophasic defibrillators. During the second phase, the current flow reverses direction, thus lowering the electrical threshold for successful defibrillation.

The American Health Association has a different opinion about low-energy biphasic defibrillation. As per them, biphasic defibrillation is now a part of advanced cardiac life support guidelines. Biphasic shocks at energy levels of 200 joules or less are at least as safe and effective as monophasic shocks with traditional energies between 200 and 360 joules. Biphasic shocks of 200 joules or less are now classified as a Class II-A recommendation.

The biphasic defibrillation process varies depending on the specific biphasic waveform used. External biphasic defibrillation offers equal or better value at lower energies than traditional monophasic waveform defibrillators .It has less risk of post -shock myocardial dysfunction and skin burns. There is a significant cost and size saving which helps in the proliferation of the automated external defibrillators.

When low-energy biphasic shocks were used, the left ventricular ejection fraction and mean arterial pressure returned to baseline more quickly. In conclusion, based on all the research studies carried out till date, biphasic cardioversion is more effective than monophasic cardioversion in patients with acute atrial fibrillation

Defibrillator provides detailed information on Defibrillator, Automated External Defibrillator, Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator, Portable Defibrillator and more. Defibrillator is affiliated with CPR Training.