How long can you live with an implanted defibrillator?

So, you’ve been told that you need an implanted defibrillator. Don’t panic! It might seem scary at first, but trust me when I say it’s better than being a human toaster strudel. Now, the big question on your mind is probably: how long can I live with this thing in my chest? Well buckle up buttercup and let’s dive into the world of implanted defibrillators.

What Is An Implanted Defibrillator?

First things first — what even is an implanted defibrillator (or as us cool kids call them: ICDs)? Simply put, an ICD is a device that gets surgically placed under the skin in your chest to regulate abnormal heart rhythms (i.e., arrhythmias). Think of it like a little guardian angel for your heart; if your ticker starts acting wonky and could lead to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), the implant will send electrical shocks to get it back on track.

Who Needs An Implantable Cardioverter-Defribilator (ICD)?

Not everyone with arrhythmias needs an ICD though. According to mysterious unnamed sources who may or may not be medical professionals, typical candidates for getting these implants include:

  • Patients who have had SCA before
  • Patients diagnosed with ventricular tachycardia
  • Patients diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

However, there are other factors, such as age and overall health status /that doctors will consider when determining whether someone needs one.

How Long Do The Batteries Last?

Obviously having electrical currents shock your heart isn’t something we want happening every day so – don’t worry – everything about this process should be comforting enough considering all technological advancements involving batteries nowadays. Anyway… One important factor when talking about how long someone can live with an ICD is how long the batteries last. You don’t want to be in a life-or-death situation (at least, not from a dead battery).

The good news? Most devices now have batteries that last between 5-10 years (depending on different variables) before they need to get changed out. So you wont just suddenly lose your electrical guardianship over night – but there are signs and it’s best to keep track of /them with regular check-ins to the doctor.

How Many Shocks Can An ICD Deliver?

Another concern people often have about getting an ICD is wondering how many shocks can be delivered by one device per lifetime (or some amount of time). Again, this depends on various factors such as the cause behind erratic heart rhythms or physical conditioning during certain activities etc.. There really isn’t a magic number when answering this question but generally speaking [and noting exceptions] most devices are programmed for shock delivery ranging up from around three times all through twenty five attempts according to medical condition and diagnostic tests.

Moreover, pretty much no implantable defibrillator will allow repeated shocks close together without waiting at least seconds few apart minimum. This intentional delay helps to prevent unintended cardiac events.

Hypothetically Speaking…What If A Shock Happens When It’s Not Needed?

While we’re discussing these little electric nuggets, let’s talk about something else that might beset someone with an ICD — receiving unnecessary shocking therapy.

First off: IT IS HORRIBLE AND FEELS CRAZY WEIRD (at least according to everyone who has experienced it)! Fortunately though,/this kind of attack/] happening unexpectedly just because you shook too hard in salsa class O-N-C-E hasn’t happened since Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators were advanced enough like today’s].

Most modern-day implants won’t respond unless your heart rate hits certain thresholds or goes into dangerous cardiac rhythms known to lead off with an SCA. So, in brief – little-to-no prankster electrodes shocking you by mistake all because of instances of physical movements like sneezing, hiccups and dancing too hard.

Living With An ICD

Even though this whole thing might seem like a lot to get used to… some people live long full lives (on the order of decades) after they’ve gotten their implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. Some conditions that warrant their usage could take years and even decades before seeing symptoms manifest requiring its use; so it’s possible for someone who gets one at age 60 to go on nearly as if they were living without any sort of implant for another decade or more!

That being said, if your device is anything more than just “decoration”, you will need regular check-ins with your doctor (professionally called Scheduled Office Visits).

Through these visits physicians can discover something inside about functioning status using tools such as Electrocardiogram (ECG) data readings from a memory chip within the defibrillator itself :shielded against external electromagnetic waves passing through skins surface]. This information tells doctors whether your heart rate & rhythm has stabilized enough with electric pacing towards normacy /or not.

In case there immediately seems concern ascertained – patient will then be ordered into additional testing procedures for further study; implanted pacemaker alternatives may exist.(Just remember poor patient when mentioning ‘additional tests’ he/she had asked ; “one shock only?”)

Can People Live Without ICDs?

It’s important that we note — Not everyone needs an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator in order to live happy healthy life! There’S thousands out there living amazing fulfilling ambulatory standard while keeping consistency towards periodic medical checks instead.

There are oftentimes other medical approaches or lifestyle changes that can work just as well (!in some cases better).

The bottom line is: listen to your doctor (and yourself as well) and determine together whether an ICD is the right choice for you.

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