What is a Defibrillator?

A cardiac or heart defibrillator is a device that delivers an electric shock or pulse to the heart in order to alleviate certain disturbances or failures. Typically the goal is to change a fibrillation, or rapid and irregular rhythm, into a slower and steadier beat that can be managed by a care provider. The shock comes from an electric current that is channeled through the patient’s chest via electrodes or paddles. The current causes the heart muscle to contract, hopefully jolting it back to a more natural pace.

When a person is experiencing cardiac arrest, the most common cause is ventricular fibrillation. Here, the ventricles are contracting in a chaotic fashion that causes the heart to stop pumping sufficient blood. The other form of fibrillation, atrial fibrillation, is more common and much less deadly. It is a disorder found in approximately two million Americans and causes the small upper chambers of the heart, or atria, to quiver rather than beat steadily. Though this isn’t normally a life-threatening condition, atrial fibrillation can cause blood to pool and clot. If this clot becomes lodged in the brain or artery, a stroke can result.

In years past, the image of a cardiac defibrillator has been that of a last resort, life saving measure undertaken in an emergency room by doctors or surgeons. Although this is still often the setting in which they are used, recent years have seen heart defibrillators become increasing common in the general public for life saving measures.

Specifically, the automated external defibrillator has become a fixture in places such as airports, casinos and various sports arenas. When using the automated external defibrillator, the machine automatically determines whether a shock is needed and selects the appropriate level of energy. Therefore they are an effective tool for those not in the medical field who wish to keep a defibrillator on hand is case of a sudden cardiac attack.

Heart defibrillators have even become common in the home as a method of saving lives. Studies have shown that the vast majority of heart attacks or cardiac arrests occur within the home, but until recently the defibrillator was too bulky and cumbersome an apparatus to keep there. Now with portable cardiac defibrillators, family members have more methods for saving the life of a loved one than simple CPR.

The American Heart Association has sought to continue broadening access to and education on the use of cardiac defibrillators in hopes of helping regular citizens save the lives of victims of cardiac arrest when professional medical attention is unavailable. Though some experts have expressed concern over possible misuse or over-reliance on portable or automated defibrillators, it can surely be said that any device that promotes education and readiness for life saving measures among the general public can only be a good thing.

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.

Defibrillator Recall

Guidant Corporation has just recalled thousands of cardiac defibrillators around the world because of potentially fatal failures with the devices. This recall happened on Friday, June 17 2005 after at least two deaths have occurred since the end of May. As of now there are about 38,000 patients in the US with Guidant brand defibrillators and reports have indicated these machines have failed 45 times so far.

The FDA said in a statement that they did not mandate Guidant to recall their products, but still supported the decision.

Guidant has known that there were potential problems with the Prizm 2 DR model defibrillator, however they continued to market it but demanded a complete redesign of the unit. The model had failed on a few occasions before 2002, but Guidant claimed that the new revisions would make it safer. Later, in 2004, doctors discovered that Contak Renewal defibrillators built before August 26, 2004 demonstrated a high risk of short circuiting and failing to function properly. When Guidant was presented with these two problems they decided it was in their best interest to publicly recall their defective products. This however is providing little comfort to the 50,000 people who continue to live in constant fear that their life-saving equipment might fail them when they need it most.

To learn more about the Guidant Defibrillator recall please visit http://www.sddefenselawyers.com/guidant-defibrillator-recall/ This article may be freely republished as long as this resource box is included and all links stay in tact as hyper links.

Abnormal Beating of the Heart: Cardiac Arrhythmias

Heart has a rhythmic capability to beat and pump blood to our body and remarkably, does so without fail, throughout our life. The rhythm has been destined to beat in certain prefixed numerical limits and with certain regularity. Arrhythmias are disorders characterized by abnormal beating of the heart. Arrhythmias can occur in a healthy heart and be of minimal consequence. At the same time they may co-exist with diseased heart and may be life-threatening or may cause, stroke, heart failure or sudden death.

An arrhythmia occurs when the normal electrical cycle of the heart is disturbed. Normally, tiny currents activate the upper part of the heart, just before the bottom part of the heart, which are the muscular chambers that pump blood around the body. Fast arrhythmias are referred to as ‘tachyarrhythmias’. When the heart goes too slowly due to a failure of electrical activation, it is referred to as a brady arrhythmia. Most arrhythmias arising from the top of the heart are troublesome but not life-threatening. Many arrhythmias arising from the lower of the heart, are life-threatening.

Causes of Cardiac Arrhythmias

Some cardiac arrhythmias result from congenital heart defects that run in families. Others arise from a variety of diseases that develop in individuals over a period of years. Others still result from sudden events such as heart attack. They may also be the result of excessive alcohol, smoking or certain drugs. Rarely despite extensive investigations no cause is found of their occurrence. Cardiac arrhythmias may be symptomatic or may cause a variety of warning symptoms such as palpitations or rapid thumping in the chest, feeling tired or light-headed, getting unconscious, having shortness of breath or chest pain.

Types of Arrhythmias

Following are the different types of cardiac arrhythmias:

1. Atrial fibrillation: The heart beats too fast and irregularly. This type of arrhythmia requires treatment and can increase risk of stroke.

2. Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia: The heart has episodes when it beats fast, but regularly. This type of arrhythmia may be unpleasant but is usually not dangerous.

3. Ectopic beats: The heart has an extra beat. Treatment usually is not needed unless you have several extra beats in row and/or other problems with your heart - such as heart disease or congenital heart failure.

4. Ventricular tachycardia: The heart beats too fast and may not pump enough blood. These types of arrhythmias are very dangerous and need immediate treatment.

The Remedy

Treatment depends on the type of cardiac arrhythmia you have. Some mild arrhythmias require no treatment. Other arrhythmias can be treated with medicines. In more serious cases, other treatments are available:

1. Drugs.

2. A pacemaker: An electronic device placed under the skin on the chest. It helps the heart maintain a regular beat, especially when the heart beats too slowly.

3. Implantable cardiac defibrillation: Can be used to stop an abnormal rhythm and restore a normal one.

4. Surgery: Can correct certain types of arrhythmias. For example, arrhythmias caused by coronary artery disease may be controlled by bypass surgery. When an cardiac arrhythmia is causes by a certain area of the heart, sometimes that part of the heart can be destroyed or removed.

Lindsay Fox is a veteran of the alternative medicine industry and has a wealth of knowledge on Vaginal Warts. More info: Warts Genital

Ventricular Septal Heart Defects Linked to Antidepressants

PAXIL AND THE POSSIBLE LINK TO VENTRICULAR SEPTAL DEFECTS Paxil may be the end-all and cure-all when it comes to depression, but nearly 20 years after it was released to the general public, more and more studies are showing the negatives may far outweigh the positives. Despite being the most popular and well respected drugs to control depression, Paxil has entered the third decade of its existence with a whole new slew of side effects that may be worse than the disease it was designed to control.

One of these side effects is known as Ventricular Septal Defects (VSD), a congenital heart defect. A VSD is a problem with the wall between the left and right side of the heart. To understand beeter what a VSD is, picture or a poorly built apartment building. The walls are in this apartment building are so thin that if you were to hammer a nail into the wall, the pointy end would protrude into your neighbor’s apartment. Now picture the same thing with the left and right sides of your heart. Not a pretty picture is it?

In September 2005, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) released a study showing that pregnant women who use Paxil during the first trimester are two times more likely to have a baby with birth defects. The most common defect of Paxil users, according to the FDA, is VSD. Put simply, VSDs are holes in the heart ranging in size from a problem that can correct itself as the baby grows older to holes that require surgery to repair.

FUTURE CARE OF VENTRICULAR SEPTAL DEFECTS You may decide the risk to your future child of your ingesting using Paxil is not enough to warrant the risk of your depression resurfacing if stop using the drug. There are other Paxil side effects down the road that you need to be aware however. Babies born with ventricular septal defects sometimes require ongoing care throughout their life. And the restrictions imposed on their lives can effect more than their physical health.

• Medical – If your baby is born with VSD, it is necessary for a physician to periodically check the heart to make sure there are no problems.

• Activity restrictions – Though most patients won’t have to limit their activities much, there is a small percentage who will. Activities as simple as playing in the backyard and riding a bike may be limited.

• Medicinal therapy – Some patients, even after surgery, suffer with a heart that is less able to contract. In these cases the patients uses diuretics to help the heart pump better.

• More surgery – Most people with uncomplicated ventricular septal defects that are repaired early rarely need further surgery. However, residual effects in some patients have been found. In this case, more surgery may be required.

WHAT ARE YOUR CHOICES

Of all the defects associated with the use of Paxil, ventricular septal defects are the most common. The side effects may not be enough to warrant you, as the mother, to cease using the drug. After all, most of the issues of a “hole in the heart” can be easily repaired with surgery and medicinal therapy. However, there is the risk of a hole in the heart that cannot be repaired and the risk of a child being on medication the rest of their life. The choice is yours.

Schmidt & Clark | A National Law Firm specializes in mass torts and drug side effect lawsuits. For more information or a free review of your potential case, please visit: http://www.schmidtandclark.com or Paxil Ventricular Septal Heart Birth Defects.

Antidepressants and Ventricular Septal Defects

Just like the atrial chambers (the left atrium and right atrium), the ventricular chambers also have a wall dividing them. The left ventricle and the right ventricle are divided by the ventricular septum and it is this septum that prevents arterial blood from mixing with venous blood.

When arterial blood mixes with venous blood, there are a multitude of potential side effects that could occur to a person as a result of this mixing. First and foremost, the main effect of the mixing the blood together is that the oxygenated and non-oxygenated blood groups will intermingle with each other, creating an imbalance between the blood coming in and leaving the heart. Some of the blood coming into the heart will already be oxygenated and some blood will leave the heart with poor oxygenation. This poorly oxygenated blood will circulate around the body and organs that are very sensitive to changes in blood oxygen levels (such as the Brain) may become damaged if a prolonged period of poor blood oxygenation takes place.

Additionally, there are also blood pressure concerns that can arise from the mixing of arterial and venous blood, not to mention the possibility of chronic pulmonary hypertension problems. These are the kinds of problems that can result from a hole in heart condition, especially if that condition is a ventricular septal defect (a hole in the ventricular septum). In general it is a very undesirable problem to have because of the large number of complications that can result from it.

The Connection to Paxil

In 2005 (especially late 2005 in the September to December month range), a lot of information was revealed about the side effects of Paxil. From the FDA warnings against pregnant women taking Paxil to multiple studies that showed the drug’s propensity to cause multiple birth defects, Paxil and all selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) were deemed dangerous to fetal matter and as such all pregnant women were urged to avoid taking those kinds of drugs.

Amongst the rather large list of birth defects that had been traced to the use of Paxil was the ventricular septal defect. In many ways, this defect is worse for infants than it is for adults, because adults by and large, with medical assistance in some cases, have learned to deal with the problems of having a ventricular septal defect. In newborn children, obviously that acclimation is not there and conditions like pulmonary hypertension that result from a ventricular septal defect can be very painful for the child to experience and very stressful for the parent to see.

As with most things relating to the world of drug taking, knowledge and information are a person’s best allies. If you are pregnant and suffering from depression, try to seek alternatives to taking SSRI drugs such as Paxil. If you must take these types of drugs, do so only under the supervision of a medical professional and do not under any circumstances take the drug without the permission of one. The list of mothers today that regret taking Paxil during their pregnancy is vast and many of them feel nothing but sorrow for the painful lives their children now lead.

Schmidt & Clark | A National Law Firm specializes in mass torts and drug side effect lawsuits. For more information or a free review of your potential case, please visit: http://www.schmidtandclark.com or Paxil VSD Attorney

Does Caffeine Cause Atrial Fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation is a heart disorder, most often found in older adults. During atrial fibrillation, the heart’s two small upper chambers quiver rather than beating effectively. As a result, blood isn’t pumped completely out of the chambers, so it can pool and clot.

Approximately 2.2 million Americans suffer from atrial fibrillation. The likelihood of developing this disorder increases with age. Doctors estimate that three to five percent of those over age 65 have this disorder.

Atrial fibrillation can be dangerous because, if a piece of a blood clot in the atria leaves the heart and becomes lodged in an artery in the brain, a stroke can result. In fact, about 15% of all strokes occur in people with atrial fibrillation.

There are several ways to treat atrial fibrillation. The most common treatments include:

• Medications, which slow down the rapid heart rate associated with atrial fibrillation.

• Electrical cardioversion - This is basically an electric shock that restores normal rhythm. It is typically used when medications don’t improve symptoms.

• Drugs can sometimes restore the heart's normal rhythm. These drugs are given under medical supervision, and are delivered through an IV tube into a vein, usually in the patient's arm.

• Radiofrequency ablation may be effective in some patients when medications don't work. In this procedure, thin and flexible tubes are introduced through a blood vessel and directed to the heart muscle. Then a burst of radiofrequency energy is delivered to destroy tissue that triggers abnormal electrical signals or to block abnormal electrical pathways.

• Surgery can be used to disrupt electrical pathways that generate atrial fibrillation.

• Pacemakers can be implanted under the skin to regulate the heart rhythm.

Who’s At Risk for Atrial Fibrillation?

We don’t really know what causes atrial fibrillation, but we do understand some of the risk factors. The most significant are:

• Increased age – the number one risk factor is simply old age

• Coronary heart disease

• High blood pressure

• Abnormal heart muscle function

• Disease of the mitral valve between the left and right ventricle

• An overactive thyroid gland

• Low amounts of oxygen in the blood. This is often found in patients with lung diseases like emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

• Inflammation of the lining surrounding the heart

• Blood clots in the lung

• Chronic lung disease

• Alcoholism

• Stimulant drug use – abuse of drugs like cocaine or decongestants

• Recent heart or lung surgery

• Congenital heart disease

In addition, there are young adults who have atrial fibrillation without any known cause or any evidence of underlying heart disease. This condition is known as lone atrial fibrillation. Stress, alcohol, tobacco and the use of stimulants is believed to play a role in lone atrial fibrillation. Does Caffeine Cause Atrial Fibrillation?

One question that has been asked by many people is whether caffeine contributes to atrial fibrillation, and whether caffeine consumption is safe for those with atrial fibrillation.

One study, reported by the UK Tea Council, suggests that caffeine consumption is safe for those at risk for the disease. This study, conducted in Denmark, examined nearly 48,000 participants, each over the age of 56. Their caffeine consumption was analyzed over a period of years, as was their health information, including whether or not they went on to develop atrial fibrillation.

The study concluded that caffeine consumption was not at all related to whether or not participants developed the heart disorder. The associated researchers did not recommend that those at risk for atrial fibrillation discontinue the consumption of caffeine.

This is great news, especially for green tea drinkers. Since green tea is known to be associated with a lower than average risk of heart disease, it’s wise for those at risk of any sort of cardiovascular disease to consume green tea on a daily basis. And, while green tea is lower in caffeine than coffee, black tea and soda, it does contain some caffeine.

So, you’re safe to drink your green tea, both for its health benefits and its delicious and refreshing flavor. If you’re not a connoisseur of green tea yet, take a look at all the benefits that green tea can offer.

• Green tea is full of anti-oxidants – which are known to reduce aging and prevent disease.

• Green tea has been shown to decrease your risk of heart disease by improving your cholesterol. While green tea doesn’t actually reduce the cholesterol in your blood, it does appear to prevent the bad cholesterol from hardening into the plaque that causes narrowing of the arteries.

• Green tea has been associated with a lower risk of many forms of cancer. It is believed that green tea’s anti-oxidants act as a scavenger to abnormal cells, ridding the body of them before they can mutate into cancer cells.

• Green tea has been shown to naturally regulate blood glucose levels, which may help maintain normal weight and may be helpful in controlling Type II diabetes

• Green tea has been shown to have anti-microbial properties, which means that it may be helpful in ridding the body of infections.

So, if you haven’t been drinking green tea, see what you’ve been missing? Not only is green tea delicious, inexpensive and readily available, but it may also be an important way to prevent disease and protect your health.

Jon M. Stout is the Chairman of the Golden Moon Tea Company. Golden Moon Tea carefully selects the finest rare and orthodox teas, which are processed slowly and handcrafted with extreme care. At their website, you can learn more about their current tea offerings, including their exceptional green tea, white tea, black tea, oolong tea (also known as wu-long and wu long tea) and chai. Visit goldenmoontea.com for all details concerning the Golden Moon Tea Company's fine line of teas.

Fun with the Home Defibrillator/Aug 2006 Moron Of The Month Award

This month's winner is a very special product. It's the Home Defibrillator. In case you don't know what a defibrillator is, it's one of those things they use to shock someone when their heart has stopped. Now when BillyBob has a heart attack, there's no need to drag him outside, grab the jumper cables, hook them up to the old pickup and zap him. Just grab your home defibrillator. (Hummm... I wonder if it would work the other way around. The car won't start and I can't find the jumper cables. Grab the paddles, zap the battery....good as new!)

A couple of problems I have with the Home Defibrillator come from the commercials I've seen for it. The first thing they tell you in the commercial is that 80 percent of the people who die from heart attacks never had any previous symptoms. And that most of them could have been saved if there had been a defibrillator close by. Okay fair enough. Then they tell you that you can only get the Home Defibrillator by prescription. Now wait a minute. If I don't have any symptoms of heart problems, why would a doctor write me a prescription for a defibrillator? Just in case I might have one? I think that's taking preventive medicine just a little too far. If a doctor came to you and said, "We've ran some tests and we have found no signs of cancer. But just to be safe, we're going to give you Chemo Therapy anyway." Would you ever go back to that doctor? I don't think so. Let's do all kinds of other stuff, just to be sure. Let's cut off all my limbs just in case I might ever get gangrene in any of them. Let's put in a pacemaker just in case my heart ever decides to stop beating regularly on it's own. Let's do a liver transplant just in case mine might be going bad on me. Come on, how far do you want to take this just in case thing?

I'm sure this product will save lives. But I don't think I want Joe Smoe zapping me with a few thousands volts. I'd much rather have some one who's had a little bit of training, like maybe A DOCTOR, using it on me. I really don't want some moron using it on me just because I fell asleep on the couch. "LOOK, he's not moving and his eyes are closed! He's had a heart attack. Quick BillyBob, grab the defibrillator! No, forget jump starting the car, we need to zap him right now!"

Now I'm sure there will be lots of other fun uses for the Home Defibrillator. Can you imagine being at a party with about 20 drunken college students when one of them finds the Home Defibrillator? OH BOY! LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!! "Hey Joe, stand on your head, chug this beer and we'll hit you with 5 thousand volts. It's an awesome rush!" Or maybe, "Whoa dude, at the lowest setting it makes your hair stand straight up. But at the highest setting your eyes light up and blink like a neon sign. It's really cool." I'm sure more party games will follow. "Dude, hold these paddles while you suck on the keg. We'll start turning this knob. See how long you can take it. The record is setting 5 so far. Don't worry dude, it's cool. Ken did it and he stopped twitching after an hour or so!"

Yeah, this is just the thing I want at my house. Forget the fake stethoscope and thermometer. Let the kids play doctor with the real thing! While you're at it, give them everything in your medicine cabinet along with a scalpel and one of those syringes with the really long needles.

This sure sounds like a handy thing to have around the house. I bet it would work well in the kitchen too! "Mom, I put a potato in the microwave oven, but it didn't cook it all the way though. Where's the Home Defibrillator?" Maybe at restaurants. "Can I warm your coffee up for you?" ZAP! Now it's nice and hot. Maybe you can start your own business with it. Instead of a lemonade stand, maybe the kids can start a shock therapy clinic in the front yard. I bet there are a lot of people in the neighborhood that could use it. And you can charge a lot more for the service than selling some warm, colored sugar water.

Yes, this is a wonderful product. It has 1001 uses. Just think about it and I'm sure you can come up with more on your own. The possibilities are endless. So to the makers of the Home Defibrillator, I say thank you for giving us this wonderful life saving device/party game/kitchen device. Because of your advanced thinking, you have rightly earned this months Moron of the Month award.

Robert Clayton is a new writer to the world of humor. Having loved to make people laugh his whole life, Robert has turned his comdey skills toward the direction of writing. He maintains the site http://www.gifts-software-n-more.com where he shares many of his wild thoughts and articles. If you need a laugh in your life, look for other articles by Robert and be sure to check out his website.