Dr. Zipes: AEDs are simple to use and are designed for individuals with no prior experience to follow simple verbal instructions (given by the device) during the stress of an emergency situation to employ the AED safely and effectively. The FDA has recently approved their sale without the need for a prescription from a physician. The American Heart Association is your best source for additional information.

ICDs: Designed to Be Forgotten

Reader: Two years ago, my husband had a cardiac arrest while golfing. Thanks to his golfing buddies' quick thinking, CPR, and a cell phone, he survived. The doctor said he had a thickened heart muscle and what he called a cardiomyopathy. He got a defibrillator and has been on pills for his heart rhythm ever since. He had some shocks right after they put in the defibrillator but hasn't had any shocks for the last year. He is constantly afraid that he will have another cardiac arrest and get more shocks. The doctor says he is doing fine, but my husband stays up at night worrying about it. Neither of us has had a good night's sleep for many months. Is there any way he can get peace of mind about this?

Dr. Zipes: Certain types of cardiomyopathies, such as the kind your husband has (which is probably hypertrophic cardiomyopathy), can cause cardiac arrest. The best protection against dying from this event is the implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Unfortunately, sometimes the ICD can deliver a shock to a conscious patient, and that certainly is not fun, but it may have saved your husband's life! However, in most instances, your doctor can adjust the ICD and/or use medications to prevent another similar episode. It seems that has been done for your husband, and therefore it is less likely that he will receive another shock while he is conscious. It is most important to remember two things: the ICD is like having an emergency room implanted in your chest and is your best insurance policy against dying suddenly; it is designed to be forgotten about and for the patient to live as normal a life as possible. Try to do just that.

NHW Editor-in-Chief Dr. Zipes will answer your questions about heart health in direct, easy-to-understand language. Please send questions to: Dr. Douglas Zipes, SatEvePost, 1100 Waterway Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46202.