If your heart condition makes you more susceptible to sudden cardiac arrest, a cardiac life vest could be beneficial. These devices monitor your heart rhythm and send shocks if it experiences an irregular beat.
Cardiac life vests are commonly prescribed to individuals with a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), an issue in which the heart’s ventricle cannot pump as much blood as usual with each contraction.
Safety
A cardiac life vest is an invaluable device that helps prevent sudden cardiac arrest, the leading cause of death among people with heart disease. It works by continuously monitoring a person’s pulse and administering shocks to restore normal rhythm if an irregular beat is detected.
The vest can help some people avoid an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), which shocks the heart back into a normal rhythm if it’s not beating normally. Unfortunately, these devices aren’t suitable for every type of heart rhythm so doctors must still determine if they’re suitable for each patient.
Recent research from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry indicates that wearing a LifeVest wearable defibrillator in the days after a heart attack may reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death by up to 35 percent. This finding was based on their analysis of nearly 2,000 patients from their study.
Researchers found that three months after their heart attack, 3.2 percent of those wearing the LifeVest defibrillator died from any cause, as opposed to 4.9 percent in those without. This rate is much lower than the risk experienced by people with a heart attack who don’t use the vest, according to these researchers.
Cardiac life vests are an excellent option for patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, meaning their heart’s left ventricle does not pump enough blood during each contraction. Furthermore, they can benefit those needing an implantable defibrillator but waiting to have it placed in their chest according to the American Heart Association.
It’s essential to note that a LifeVest only functions properly when worn at all times and someone nearby to respond to alarms. It does not work while bathing or swimming, and the batteries need changing periodically.
Today the FDA issued a safety alert for some Zoll LifeVest 4000 wearable cardioverter defibrillators due to an issue with their charging system that may prevent them from delivering shocks when necessary. If you own one of these units, contact the company right away to have it repaired.
Benefits
A cardiac life vest for adults is an effective, noninvasive way to help protect against sudden cardiac death. This device detects certain dangerous rapid heart rhythms and automatically administers a treatment shock to stop the progression of an abnormal pulse.
Wearable cardioverter defibrillators (WCD) monitor a patient’s heart for dangerous arrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation. When these arrhythmias are detected, WCD will deliver one or multiple treatment shocks to interrupt the irregular heart rhythm.
This device consists of a vest, an electrode belt and a monitor. The vest can be worn around the waist or over a shoulder strap while the electrode belt features four dry non-adhesive electrocardiogram (ECG) electrodes and three defibrillation electrodes that extend directly into skin.
Furthermore, the defibrillator has an alarm that sounds and vibrates when it detects a dangerous heart rhythm. If someone is awake, they can turn off the alarm to prevent an unnecessary shock.
For those waiting for an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) due to health or mechanical concerns, the LifeVest can be an effective temporary measure for avoiding cardiac arrest. It’s also suitable for recent heart attack survivors who may not have enough strength after surgery for ICD implantation.
An article published in 2021 suggests it could be a useful option for those waiting to see if their left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) improves with medication or expect improved LV function due to reversible causes such as thyroid disease. Furthermore, those who have suffered heart attacks and are still recovering from them could find this tool beneficial.
Wearing a cardiac life vest for adults has many advantages, but also some potential risks. For instance, one must be ready to respond if the alarm sounds and ensure that their batteries are fully charged. Furthermore, they should take off their device when taking a bath, showering or swimming as malfunctions or lack of charging could cause serious harm to one’s heart.
Cost
A cardiac life vest for adults, also known as a WCD (wearable cardioverter defibrillator), is an non-surgical way to help prevent sudden cardiac arrest. This device continuously monitors your heart’s rhythm and, if an irregular beat starts up, delivers shocks to restore normal beat.
LifeVest systems consist of two parts, the vest and monitor. The vest wears underneath clothing with electrodes to pick up your electrocardiogram while the monitor attaches either around your waist (like a fanny pack) or around your shoulders – about the size of a paperback book – attached.
Most adults who are prescribed a LifeVest by their doctor can get it covered by insurance if it’s deemed medically necessary. However, insurers have specific heart-health criteria that must be fulfilled before approval can be granted for this product.
The LifeVest wearable defibrillator is intended for people at risk of sudden cardiac arrest, such as those who have recently had a heart attack or are suffering from certain medical conditions. Additionally, it serves to safeguard patients with certain types of heart disease like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who may not be candidates or suitable candidates for implantable defibrillators.
On any given day, hundreds of thousands of people around the world can benefit from wearing the LifeVest WCD. This device provides a safe and simple-to-use solution for those at risk for ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia.
When an arrhythmia or rapid heartbeat is detected, the LifeVest WCD alerts you and alerts any bystanders to watch for you. If you don’t respond to its alarms within a few minutes, it will administer a shock through garment electrodes in order to treat your abnormal heart rhythm.
If you are conscious, you have less than one minute to press two buttons and stop the treatment shock from being delivered through garment electrodes. If not done within that timeframe, alarms will sound again and a second shock will be administered through these same buttons.
The LifeVest is an effective way to prevent sudden cardiac death in those at high risk, but it comes with some drawbacks. You must be ready to respond to alarms at all times and your LifeVest must be charged regularly in order for it to work properly.
Appearance
A cardiac life vest for adults looks like a fashionable jacket with an internal battery compartment and electrodes. It can be worn tucked into suit jackets, slacks or pants; alternatively it could serve as either a belt, fanny pack or over the shoulder. This device should only be used by adults who have medical conditions that place them at risk for sudden cardiac arrest. With its life-saving potential, this technology has many applications in cardiac arrhythmias like ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia. The primary function of the device is its capacity for detection and prevention of dangerous arrhythmias from occurring again. To guarantee maximum benefit from their use, all devices come with instructions and educational materials.
