CPR Works in Conjunction with an AED
Evidence indicates that an electrical shock applied early after cardiac arrest helps the heart resume its natural heart rhythm. When a shock is given to the heart during cardiac arrest, it resets the abnormal heart rhythm but does not necessarily start blood circulating again. CPR preformed in conjunction with the use of an AED may provide a better chance for the heart to regain its own natural heart beat. CPR seems to fill the heart with oxygen-rich blood so that when the heart rhythm is reset with the shock, normal circulation can be restored.
AED Stands for Automated External Defibrillator
If you've ever watched medical shows on television, you've probably seen people on the brink of death shocked back to life by a doctor who yells "clear," then delivers one or more jolts of electricity to the chest. You can perform this type of procedure in your own home with an automated external defibrillator (AED). But AEDs aren't for everyone. An AED won't resuscitate you if you don't have the specific type of heart rhythm problem that an AED can correct. Home AEDs are available over-the-counter, without a prescription. The question is whether an automated external defibrillator could be useful to you. Consider the pros and cons of owning an AED. Then you and your doctor can decide if it's worth buying the device for home use.
When Would You Need to Use an AED?
Cardiac arrest usually occurs when your heart's electrical activity becomes disrupted and the heartbeat gets dangerously fast (ventricular tachycardia) or chaotic (ventricular fibrillation). Because of this chaotic, irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia), your heart stops beating effectively and can't adequately pump blood. During cardiac arrest, your brain and other vital organs quickly become starved of blood and the life-sustaining oxygen and nutrients it carries. You could die within a few minutes, or if you survive, you may sustain permanent damage to your brain and other organs. The sooner your heart's rhythm is restored the better, since each minute is critical to determining your chance of survival and how much damage you might have. Although cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a vital step in the lifesaving process and can keep some blood flowing to your heart and brain for a short time, often only defibrillation can restore the heart's normal rhythm and ultimately save your life. This is especially true if you experience a type of abnormal heart rhythm known as ventricular fibrillation. If you're experiencing ventricular fibrillation and an AED is on hand, a bystander could grab it and easily connect it to your chest to check your heart rhythm. If your heart rhythm can be treated with an electric shock, the AED automatically sends an electrical current to your heart muscle. That jolt could reset your heart back into a normal rhythm, possibly saving your life. If you use an AED on someone, it's still critical that you call 911 or your local emergency services to get help on the way before you begin using the AED.
How an AED Works
An AED is a device that can be attached to your chest. It senses your heart's rhythm during cardiac arrest and, in some cases, delivers an electric shock to get your heart beating again. In an emergency, the automated external defibrillator essentially makes the decisions. It offers step-by-step voice instructions to guide a user through the defibrillation process. It explains how to check for breathing and a pulse and how to position electrode pads on the person's chest. Once the pads are in place, the AED automatically measures the person's heart rhythm and determines if a shock is needed. If it is, the machine tells a user to stand back and instructs the user to push a button to deliver the shock. It will also guide users through CPR. The process can be repeated as needed until emergency crews take over.
