What is a Defibrillator

We certainly have come a long way in our abilities to treat serious medical conditions and that has made for some very happy hearts. And one of the most significant yet often taken for granted contributions to the medical world is the defibrillator. Perhaps because countless people enjoy the life saving benefits of these medical equipment items on a daily basis, they aren’t talked about quite as much nowadays, but since they still provide help that is often considered a miracle in itself, it is worth discussing exactly what is a defibrillator.

First, the rhythm of our heart beats is vital to our survival. Just because our heart is still beating doesn’t automatically mean that it is enough to keep us alive. You see, it is absolutely vital that our hearts maintain a consistent rhythm in order to stay alive. Unfortunately, many people suffer from the life threatening cardiac arrhythmias, ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia. These life threatening conditions cause the heart to fall out of its normal beating rhythm and requires the assistance of a manmade device—the defibrillator.

Defibrillation is the definitive treatment for the above conditions. And a defibrillator actually shocks the heart back into a healthy rhythm. These medical devices deliver a therapeutic dose of electrical energy to the affected heart. What this does is depolarize a critical mass of the heart muscle. This is then what stops the arrhythmia (abnormally heartbeat rhythm. Once the abnormal rhythm is terminated the sinus rhythm is enabled to be gotten back on track. The sinus rhythm is the normal, regular rhythm of the heart which is set by the natural pacemaker of the heart called the sinoatrial (or sinus) node.

Thanks to years and years of research and development, these medical devices are completely safe for all ages to use. Plus, the technology behind the designs of these items has not only improved to increase safety and efficiency, it has also helped for replacement parts and newer models to be much more affordable.

And something that has made these defibrillators an even more convenient option for countless people is that there are many different types of models that you can choose from, which allows you to choose one based on your particular budget, lifestyle and your specific health condition. Some of the primary types are external, transvenous, and implanted, depending on the type of device used or needed.