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Defibrillators device support

Heart health

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Better heart health for TV-ICD and S-ICD patients

Living with heart disease is about more than just having a TV-ICD or S-ICD and taking medication. Making some simple lifestyle changes can help you take charge of your heart health and live a more active life.


Maintain a healthy weight

One way to help reduce your risk of heart disease is to maintain a healthy weight. You can calculate your body mass index (BMI) to find out if you're at a healthy weight for you. 

Calculate Your BMI

You can also measure your waist circumference to help determine if you’re at a healthy weight. You may be overweight if you're a woman whose waistline is more than 35 inches or a man whose waistline is more than 40 inches.

How to measure your waist

  • Stand and wrap a tape measure around your stomach, midway between your hip bones and the bottom of your ribs
  • Keep the tape snug around your waist, without compressing your skin
  • Take the measurement after breathing out normally

While your BMI and waist circumference can be helpful tools to determine if you may be overweight, only a trained health care professional can assess your individual health status and risks. So be sure to ask your health care provider what a healthy weight is for you. 


Eat a heart-healthy diet

Even small changes to your diet can make a big difference in your heart health. You can start with these simple steps, but be sure to talk to your health care provider before making any changes to your diet so you can develop a plan that’s best for you.

  • Eat more foods that contain whole grains
  • Add a variety of fruits and vegetables
  • Cut down on sugar and salt (sodium)
  • Limit your consumption of high-fat foods, such as red meat, cheese, and baked goods
  • Reduce your consumption of bad fats, which can increase the amount of harmful LDL (bad) cholesterol in your bloodstream and reduce the amount of beneficial HDL cholesterol. Bad fats include saturated and trans fats, and are more likely to be solid at room temperature, such as butter and solid shortening
  • Substitute bad fats for good ones that don’t raise your LDL cholesterol levels and have health benefits when eaten in moderation. Good fats include monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which are more likely to be liquid at room temperature, such as sunflower, soybean, corn and olive oils

Be more active

Even if you can’t fit in regular workouts, try making activity a part of your daily life. By starting small, you’ll gradually build up your activity level, which may help whittle your waistline and enhance your overall heart health.

Tips for adding more activity to your day

  • Take frequent breaks throughout the day to stretch and walk
  • Do your regular household chores at a brisker pace
  • Park farther away from the door when running errands or get off the bus at an earlier stop to add more steps to your day
  • Take the stairs instead of the escalator or elevator
  • Plan more active entertainment. For example, go bowling or bike riding instead of seeing a movie
  • Go for a brisk walk with friends or family after dinner

Be sure to talk to your health care provider before you start or resume any kind of exercise program.


Kick your smoking habit

Smoking damages the heart and blood vessels and is estimated to increase the risk of heart disease and stroke by two to four times.1 It also decreases HDL (good) cholesterol, increases the tendency for blood to clot and reduces your ability to exercise. The good news is that the damage is repaired quickly for most smokers who quit. And even long-time smokers who stop can see rapid improvements to their health. 


Reduce stress

Experiencing stress from time to time is a normal part of life. However, unmanaged stress can affect your overall health and have a negative impact on your heart by2:

  • Increasing your heart rate
  • Raising your blood pressure
  • Causing irregular heart rhythms
  • Raising your cholesterol levels
  • Damaging your arteries
  • Causing the development and progression of coronary artery disease (atherosclerosis)
  • Weakening your immune system

In addition, many people turn to unhealthy habits to cope with stress, such as smoking, drinking too much alcohol and overeating. All of which may put you at higher risk for stroke and heart disease.

Simple ways to reduce stress

Laugh a little

  •  Research shows that laughter may help reduce stress, lower blood pressure, increase muscle relaxation and boost the immune system.3 So make it a point to add laughter to your day—whether that means meeting your humorous friend for lunch, watching silly animal videos on the internet or doing anything else that tickles your funny bone
     
Take Time to Relax
  • From meditation to deep breathing exercises, there are a number of techniques to help relax your mind during times of stress. Find the technique that works best for you and stick with it
     
Keep a Stress Diary
  • Taking note of the things that cause you stress can help you identify stressors—and find ways to avoid them in the future

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health Effects of Cigarette Smoking. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/health_effects/effects_cig_smoking/. Accessed October 20, 2016.

2. Cleveland Clinic. Stress and Heart Disease. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/heart/prevention/emotional-health/stress-relaxation/stress-management-your-heart. Accessed October 20, 2016.

3. Bennett MP, Zeller JM, Rosenberg L, McCann J. The effect of stress of mirthful laughter modifies natural killer cell activity. Altern Ther Health Med. 2003 Mar-Apr;9(2):38-45.

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Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators
Important Safety Information

An implantable cardioverter defibrillator is designed to monitor and treat heart rhythm problems, greatly reducing the risks associated with them. These devices are sensitive to strong electromagnetic interference (EMI) and can be affected by certain sources of electric or magnetic fields. Some of the risks encountered during the implant procedure include, but are not limited to, the following: Bleeding, formation of a blood clot, damage to adjacent structures (tendons, muscles, nerves), puncture of a lung or vein, damage to the heart (perforation or tissue damage), dangerous arrhythmias, heart attack, stroke, death. Some of the risks encountered after the ICD system is implanted may include, but are not limited to, the following: Infection, erosion of the skin near your device, lead(s) may move out of place in the heart, device may move from the original implant site, difficulty coping with having an implanted device. The device might be prevented from shocking or pacing due to electromagnetic interference. Electrodes on the lead or the pacing pulses may cause an irritation or damaging effect on the surrounding tissues, including heart tissue and nerves. You may receive a shock or pacing therapy when it is not needed (unnecessary therapy). The device might not be able to detect or appropriately treat your heart rhythms. The device may exhibit malfunctions that may result in lost or compromised ability to deliver therapy. You may experience some discomfort from the incision as you recover from the surgery. With all medical procedures there are risks associated. In rare cases device failure or death can occur. Be sure to talk with your doctor so that you thoroughly understand all of the risks and benefits associated with the implantation of this system. To obtain a copy of the device Patient Handbook for more detailed device safety information, go to www.bostonscientific.com, or you can request a copy by calling 1-866-484-3268 or writing to Boston Scientific, 4100 Hamline Ave. N., St. Paul, MN 55112. Rx only

S-ICD™ System
Important Safety Information

An implantable cardioverter defibrillator is designed to monitor and treat heart rhythm problems, greatly reducing the risks associated with them. These devices are sensitive to strong electromagnetic interference (EMI) and can be affected by certain sources of electric or magnetic fields. As with all ICD systems, there are risks associated with the S-ICD System. Some of the risks that may be encountered during the implant procedure include the following: Formation of a blood clot; damage to adjacent structures (tendons, muscles, nerves); injury to or pain in upper extremity including clavicle, shoulder, and arm; dangerous arrhythmias; stroke. After the system is implanted, other infrequent risks may occur, including: Infection; erosion of the skin near your device; electrode and device may move out of place; fainting (syncope); delivery of a shock or therapy when it is not needed (unnecessary therapy); inability to detect or appropriately treat your heart rhythms due to electromagnetic interference or malfunction; difficulty coping with having an implanted device; bleeding or formation of a blood clot (hematoma); pain and discomfort; injury to or pain in upper extremity including clavicle, shoulder, and arm; allergic reaction; need for surgical replacement. You may experience some discomfort from the incision as you recover from the surgery. In rare cases severe complications can occur, such as device failures or death. Your physician should discuss all potential benefits and risks with you and describe the appropriate medical care. Refer to the product labeling for specific indications, contraindications, warnings/precautions and adverse events. Rx only

Device Quality and Reliability

It is Boston Scientific’s intent to provide implantable devices of high quality and reliability. However, these devices may exhibit malfunctions that may result in lost or compromised ability to deliver therapy. Refer to Boston Scientific’s CRM product performance report on www.bostonscientific.com for more information about device performance, including the types and rates of malfunctions that these devices have experienced historically. While historical data may not be predictive of future device performance, such data can provide important context for understanding the overall reliability of these types of products. Also, it is important that you talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits associated with the implantation of a device. 

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