6 Signs You're a Candidate for an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD)

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are implantable devices that help your heart maintain a normal rhythm, primarily by detecting and correcting abnormal heartbeat patterns called arrhythmias. 

Rhythm problems aren’t just bad for your heart — they increase your risk of strokes, heart attacks, and even death.

While atrial fibrillation (AFib) and some other arrhythmias may respond to treatment with medication, severe or persistent arrhythmias require a more proactive type of treatment, and that’s when an ICD can help. 

ICDs continuously monitor your heart rhythm, emitting high-energy electrical impulses to correct abnormal rhythms (particularly very fast rhythms) when they occur. They can also restart your heart in the event of sudden cardiac arrest.

At Florida Heart, Vein, and Vascular Institute, we use implantable cardioverter-defibrillator devices to monitor heart activity and correct rhythm abnormalities as soon as they’re detected. 

Here are six conditions that could mean you’re a good candidate for an ICD and all the benefits it can offer.

1. You have a high-risk arrhythmia

We recommend ICDs for people with dangerous arrhythmias that could lead to sudden cardiac arrest. That includes ventricular tachycardia (V-tach) and ventricular fibrillation (V-fib), two serious arrhythmias that affect the lower chambers of your heart (the ventricles). 

These very serious arrhythmias can quickly progress to life-threatening emergencies. An ICD helps correct the abnormal rhythm before it reaches that stage.

2. You’ve had a prior sudden cardiac arrest

Arrhythmias are a major cause of sudden cardiac arrest, a life-threatening event that can quickly lead to death without immediate intervention. If you’ve had a sudden cardiac arrest in the past, particularly one associated with a ventricular arrhythmia, your risk of having another one tends to be higher. 

3. Your heart’s pumping action is weak

ICDs are also often recommended in people with congestive heart failure, particularly those who have trouble pumping blood due to a problem with the left ventricle. This type of heart failure can lead to arrhythmias that in turn increase your risk of sudden cardiac arrest. 

4. You have a congenital or inherited heart problem

Some people inherit heart conditions that make dangerous heart rhythms more likely. Congenital heart defects that alter the way the heart pumps and even a family history of sudden cardiac arrest increase your risk, as well. 

Depending on what other risk factors are present, we might recommend an ICD as a preventive measure to reduce those risks, ideally before a problem occurs.

5. You have structural heart disease

In addition to congenital heart defects, structural heart disease includes other issues, like valve disease or dysfunction, scarring from prior heart attacks or infections, or coronary artery disease, a leading cause of heart-related deaths. 

Some infections or illnesses can weaken or thicken the heart muscle, interfering with its pumping action. All of these issues increase your risk of sudden cardiac arrest, and you may benefit from an ICD.

6. You have unexplained fainting or dizzy spells

Also called syncope, fainting can happen for many reasons, including problems with your heart’s electrical activity and pumping function. 

If you've experienced unexplained fainting or frequent dizzy spells, it could be related to an abnormal heart rhythm that, in turn, could lead to sudden cardiac arrest. Our team uses advanced testing to evaluate your heart’s structure and rhythm, so we can determine if you might benefit from an ICD or other intervention.

Don’t leave heart health up to chance

As part of an overall heart health management plan, ICDs can provide lifesaving assistance for people at risk of sudden cardiac arrest. 

To learn more about ICDs and whether they’re a good choice for you, book an appointment online or over the phone with our team at Florida Heart, Vein, and Vascular Institute in Zephyrhills, Lakeland, Plant City, or Riverview, Florida, today.