How Does a Cardiac Defibrillator Work?

!±8± How Does a Cardiac Defibrillator Work?

Cardiac defibrillators used to be a tool of paramedics and doctors only, but new technology have simplified the process so that nearly anyone can use these products to help assist a person having a sudden heart attack. Unfortunately, need for these portable and easy to use products has also lead to this development as well. This has been for many reasons, but one of the largest is the awareness of the power of these products to stop sudden heart problems that can occur for many different reasons. Many people associate these problems with heart attacks, caused by old age or poor health, but irregular heart rhythms in birth, some existing from birth require these machines as well.

There are three basic types of machines on the market today. Most people are familiar with the standard large medical model seen in movies. These products used handles that are placed on the body and held by the administering person. Aside from this model is the hands-free version. These products do the same thing as the paddle models in the same places on the body, however they stick to the skin and do not need to be held. A more intensive version is the implanted models. These are for people with heart conditions that need regular monitoring. They are implanted on the side of the chest and are equipped with heart monitoring equipment. They activate a small jolt of electricity whenever the heartbeat becomes irregular. This model is more common for individuals with birth defects, but can also be found for people with long-term illnesses.

Regardless of the form, these products all do the same function. The paddles (or implanted electrodes) deliver a strong electrical current to the heart muscle. This overloads the heart muscle's electrical timing (which is controlled by electricity) causing the cardiac muscle to reset and resume a normal rhythm. This is necessary during certain cardiac episodes that are caused for various reasons that off-set the cardiac muscle. Whatever the cause, these instances are viewed as life threatening and require the intense power of these machines.

These products have gone through many changes throughout the past century and are now very safe to operate for both the patient and the administering person. The machines meant for home or office use have clearly labeled instructions and can be the last line of defensive in saving a person's life in many situations when a heart attack suddenly strikes.