Cardiac LifeVest®: Wearable defibrillator

After a heart attack or if you have an irregular heartbeat, a cardiac LifeVest® can provide you protection from sudden cardiac arrest, giving you peace of mind as you go about doing normal activities.

What is a cardiac LifeVest®?

A cardiac LifeVest® is a lightweight wearable defibrillator with a built-in device that monitors your heart. If the device senses abnormal heart rhythms, it restores your heart’s normal beat.

Your doctor might recommend a cardiac LifeVest® if you suffered a heart attack that weakened your heart muscle or if other treatments such as stents or medication didn’t improve your heart function.

How a cardiac LifeVest® works

Cardiac LifeVests® are designed to be worn under your clothes, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They’re usually given if your heart is weak and are worn until you qualify for an internal cardiac defibrillator (ICD).

Your cardiac LifeVest® will beep for a few seconds if it senses an abnormal heart rhythm. If you feel lightheaded or dizzy, you can press a button on the vest’s monitor, which will prompt the vest to shock – defibrillate – your heart into beating regularly again.

Typically, you’ll wear a LifeVest® for 90 days, then your doctor will do an ultrasound to see if you need a defibrillator. You should always wear the defibrillator vest, although it’s fine to remove the vest for showers.