Will An Implanted Defibrillator Prevent Me From Having A Heart Attack?

Dr. Gordon Ewy answers the question: 'Implanted Defibrillator For Prevention?'

ByABC News
December 24, 2008, 1:56 PM

— -- Question: Will an implanted defibrillator prevent me from having a heart attack?

Answer: An implantable defibrillator will not prevent you from having a heart attack. But if you have a cardiac arrest, it will save your life.

Right now, the indication for an implantable defibrillator are someone who has already had a cardiac arrest, or someone who has very poor heart function, which increases the likelihood of cardiac arrest. And your physician, your cardiologist can tell you whether you're a candidate for an implanted defibrillator or not.

Next: How Reliable Are Implanted Defibrillators?

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