Does every cardiac arrest survivor receive an ICD?
No. The majority of cardiac arrest survivors do not receive an ICD (implantable cardioverter-defibrillator). Whether an ICD is appropriate depends on the underlying cause of the cardiac arrest, the condition of the heart, and a range of clinical factors assessed by a specialist cardiologist.
For some survivors, particularly those whose cardiac arrest was caused by a shockable heart rhythm with an identifiable and treatable underlying cause, other treatments may be sufficient. For others, particularly those at ongoing risk of a life-threatening arrhythmia, an ICD may be recommended.
The decision about whether to implant an ICD is made by your clinical team in consultation with you. If you have questions about your treatment, your cardiologist or cardiac nurse specialist (CNS) is the right person to ask. You can also read more in our guide to implantable devices.
Category: Implantable DevicesI have an inherited heart condition. What is my risk of sudden cardiac arrest?
Having an inherited heart condition does not mean you will experience a cardiac arrest. It means you need the right specialist care, regular monitoring, and an informed conversation with your cardiologist about your personal risk profile.
Many people live long, full lives with conditions such as Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), Long QT Syndrome, Brugada Syndrome, CPVT, ARVC, and Dilated Cardiomyopathy — particularly when they are well managed. Understanding your specific triggers, adhering to any activity guidance, and taking prescribed medication consistently all make a significant difference.
Key steps if you have an inherited heart condition:
Know your triggers. Some conditions are provoked by exercise; others by sleep, sudden noise, or fever. Ask your cardiologist specifically what yours are.
Ask about treatment options. Medication, an ICD, catheter ablation, or a combination may all be relevant depending on your condition and risk.
Ensure your family is screened. Many inherited cardiac conditions can pass silently through families. First-degree relatives should be assessed even if they have no symptoms.
If you feel your condition is not being adequately monitored, ask your GP for a referral to an inherited cardiac conditions (ICC) clinic.
Category: Cardiac ArrestWhat is a venous occlusion and can it happen after ICD implantation?
A venous occlusion is a blockage in a vein, in this case typically the subclavian vein that runs beneath the collarbone, where ICD leads are commonly positioned. It occurs when the presence of the lead causes the vein to narrow or block over time.
Symptoms can include swelling, stiffness, discolouration, or a feeling of heaviness in the arm on the side of the device. It is not always immediately identified, and in some cases people are discharged from hospital without a clear diagnosis, only for the cause to be confirmed when symptoms recur.
Venous occlusion is not a common complication, but it does occur. If you experience unusual arm symptoms after ICD implantation, contact your ICD clinic promptly. Do not wait for your next routine appointment.
Category: Implantable DevicesWhat happens if I get an electric shock from the mains with an ICD?
If you receive a brief electric shock from UK mains (240v) and have no visible injuries, the risk of damage to your ICD or lead is theoretically present but extremely unlikely and would be classed as very low risk.
This is because the current tends not to pass through the ICD or lead but passes through the body to the ground using the shortest and quickest route — for example, hand, up the arm, down the torso, and out through the leg. The majority of devices also have circuitry built in to protect them against electrical surges.
If you are feeling unwell after the shock, go to hospital. Otherwise, contact your local device clinic and request a device check, which can often be performed as a remote transmission. This will pick up any rare issues and provide reassurance.
Category: TreatmentWhat happens after a cardiac arrest?
When the heart is restarted after a cardiac arrest, recovery is not immediate. Admission to the hospital is always required for further treatment and investigation to establish the cause. Provided good CPR has been performed while the heart has stopped and defibrillation has been carried out promptly, the outlook is promising with most patients making a good recovery.
Category: Cardiac ArrestWhat is therapeutic hypothermia?
Also known as Targeted Temperature Management (TTM). Following cardiac arrest, some patients who remain unconscious after successful resuscitation may be treated with controlled cooling, in which the body temperature is lowered to 32–36ºC. This reduces the brain’s oxygen requirements, decreases swelling, and limits the release of substances that can cause cell death, helping to protect the brain and other organs during recovery.
Targeted temperature management is supported by the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) and ILCOR guidelines and is a standard component of post-resuscitation care in many UK ICUs. The specific temperature target is determined by the clinical team based on the individual patient’s condition.
TTM has been shown to improve neurological outcomes and survival in patients who remain in a coma after cardiac arrest.
Category: Cardiac ArrestWhich household items need extra care with an ICD?
Maintain at least the recommended distance between the item and your heart device:
30cm (12 inches) distance
Car or motorcycle – from ignition system components
Electric fence
Electric pet containment fence – from buried wire and indoor antenna
Electrical transformer box
60cm (2 feet) distance
Metal detector – from the search head
Induction hob
Not recommended
Abdominal muscle stimulator (TENS-type ab belt)
Electronic body fat scale
Magnetic mattress pad or pillow
Which household items are low risk for ICD patients?
Maintain at least a 15cm (6 inch) distance between the item and your heart device:
Electric golf buggy – from motor
Hand-held electric kitchen appliances (electric whisk, electric knife)
Electric shaver – corded
Electric toothbrush charging base
Exercise bike – from magnet in wheel
Hair dryer – hand-held
Hand-held back massager
Magnetic therapy products
Radio-controlled items – from antenna
Sewing machine – from motor
Small household magnet
Speakers
Tattoo machine
Treadmill – from motor
Ultrasonic pest repeller
Vacuum cleaner – from motor
What household items can I use if I have an ICD?
If used as intended and in good working condition, the following items carry no known risk for ICD patients:
Battery charger (household batteries)
CD, DVD, or Blu-ray player
Curling tongs
Dishwasher
Electric blanket
Electric guitar
Electric toothbrush
Electronic scales
Garage door opener
Hair straighteners
Heating pad
Hot tub
Air purifier
Iron
Kitchen appliances – small and large (blender, tin opener, fridge, cooker, toaster)
Massage chair or pad
Medical alert necklace
Microwave oven
Remote controls (TV, streaming device)
Salon hood hair dryer
Sauna
Battery-powered shaver or trimmer
Sunbed
Television
Why do I need to avoid using tools like a chainsaw?
The electromagnetic energy generated by a chainsaw is similar to other electric and liquid fuel-powered tools. If electromagnetic interference occurs with your heart device and you experience symptoms such as becoming dizzy or lightheaded, a running chainsaw may present a higher risk of injury to you than other power tools.
Category: Implantable DevicesCan I use a chainsaw?
Yes, but exercise extreme caution at all times. Follow the safety precautions below to minimise the risk of interference with your heart device while using a chainsaw.
- Maintain at least 15cm (6 inches) between the motor of an electric chainsaw and your heart device
- Ensure the equipment is properly earthed
- Maintain at least 30cm (12 inches) between the ignition system components of a petrol chainsaw and your heart device. Where possible, use a model with the spark plug positioned away from the handgrips
- Stop cutting and switch off the chainsaw immediately if you feel lightheaded, dizzy, or believe your ICD has delivered a shock
- Do not work on the engine while it is running
- Do not touch the coil, distributor, or spark plug leads of a running engine
Can I use a welder?
It is recommended you avoid using welding currents above 160 amps. If welding with currents under 160 amps, follow the precautions below to minimise the risk of interference with your heart device.
Welding safety precautions
Limit welding to currents below 160 amps
Work in a dry area wearing dry gloves and footwear
Maintain at least 60cm (2 feet) between the welding arc and your heart device
Keep welding cables close together and as far from your device as possible. Position the welding unit approximately 1.5 metres (5 feet) from the work area
Connect the earth clamp to the metal as close to the point of welding as possible
Wait a few seconds between attempts when having difficulty starting a weld
Ensure firm footing and adequate space to move freely
Work with someone else who is aware of your condition
Stop welding immediately and move away from the area if you feel lightheaded, dizzy, or believe your ICD has delivered a shock
As welding equipment may temporarily affect your heart device, any decision to use welding equipment should be made in consultation with your cardiologist or device clinic. Protective aprons and vests will not shield your device from electromagnetic interference generated by welding equipment.
Category: Implantable DevicesWhy should ICD patients avoid welding?
Unlike most other household power tools, welding with currents above 160 amps may have a higher tendency to temporarily affect the normal function of your pacemaker or implantable defibrillator.
Category: Implantable DevicesDo magnets affect pacemakers and implantable defibrillators?
Even though most electromagnetic fields in the home environment will rarely affect the function of a pacemaker or ICD, it is recommended you keep any item containing magnets at least 15cm (6 inches) away from your device.
The reason for this is that there is a small magnetically activated switch built into pacemakers and ICDs. This internal switch is designed to close when a magnet of sufficient strength is placed over it.
When the switch closes in a pacemaker, the device paces the heart at a fixed pre-set rate (which may differ from your programmed settings).
When the switch closes in an ICD, it prevents the device from delivering treatment therapies.
You may not always know whether an item contains a magnet. However, if household items are used as intended and properly maintained, they should have no effect on your heart device. This includes microwaves, kitchen appliances, cordless phones, radios, televisions, computers, hair dryers, electric shavers, electric toothbrushes, electric blankets, and small power tools.
If you accidentally place a magnet too close to your device, simply move the item away. The pacemaker or ICD will return to its normal programmed settings once the magnet is removed.
The use of magnetic mattress pads and pillows is not recommended as it would be difficult to maintain a 15cm (6 inch) separation from your device at all times.
Category: Implantable DevicesCan I go through store anti-theft detectors?
Yes. Anti-theft security systems in shops and libraries generate electromagnetic fields that detect embedded tags on merchandise. Under unusual circumstances, these fields could temporarily affect the operation of your heart device, but significant interference is unlikely if you walk through normally.
It is recommended that you:
Be aware of anti-theft detector gates as you enter and leave
Walk through at a normal pace and do not linger near the equipment
If you experience any symptoms such as dizziness or palpitations near a security system, move away promptly. Your device will resume normal operation once you are clear of the equipment.
Can an MRI scan affect my ICD?
Prior to any scan, your doctor should determine whether there is an effect on your heart device.
See our MRI Compatibility page for more information.
Category: Implantable DevicesWhat if my doctor strongly recommends an MRI scan?
Your doctor should discuss all potential benefits and risks of an MRI scan with you. Present your ID card to the doctor recommending the MRI scan. If needed, your doctor can seek more information from the manufacturer of your ICD.
Category: Implantable DevicesWhat if my ICD isn’t MRI approved?
You should speak with your doctor regarding this situation.
Many modern ICDs and leads are compatible with MRI scanners and many are retrospectively approved.
See our MRI Compatibility page for more information.
Category: Implantable DevicesIs my heart device MRI compatible?
Many modern devices and leads are now MRI compatible but older ones are often not.
You can get more information about how to check by going to our MRI Compatibility page.
Category: Implantable DevicesWhat activities can I resume after getting an ICD?
Most people with an ICD can continue or return to the activities and hobbies they enjoyed before, including walking, cycling, swimming, golf, gardening, and many sports. The device is designed to allow your heart rate to rise normally during exercise without delivering unnecessary treatment.
Whether any specific activities need to be restricted depends on your underlying condition rather than the ICD itself. Your cardiologist will advise you on anything to avoid. If you are unsure about a specific activity, ask before resuming rather than avoiding everything out of caution.
Category: Implantable DevicesAre there any medications that defibrillator patients should not take?
There are no medications that interfere with your ICD. Talk with your doctor about any questions or concerns regarding medication.
Category: TreatmentCan I raise my arm above my head on the side of my ICD implant?
Check with your doctor about any restrictions. Some doctors do recommend limiting use of the arm that is on the same side as the ICD. The surgical site may be sensitive after the implant procedure and need time to heal for a number of days. However, after a while, you should be able to resume activities that you were doing before getting the device. Tennis anyone?
Category: Implantable DevicesCan I work around magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment?
MRI equipment generates large magnetic fields and radio waves that may interfere with ICD operation. Check with your doctor to see what precautions, if any, you should follow when working around MRI machines.
Category: Implantable DevicesWill people be able to see my device?
You may notice a slight bulge under the skin where an ICD is implanted. This is normal. How it looks depends on the size of the device, size of the patient, where it’s implanted and other things.
Category: Implantable DevicesHow deep can I scuba dive?
Exposure to pressures greater than 4 ATA is not recommended. That means diving no deeper than about 100 feet or 30 meters in seawater. Talk to your doctor about that and about any other concerns with scuba diving and your heart condition.
Category: TreatmentCan I have cataract surgery?
Cataract surgery is generally safe for people with ICDs and pacemakers. The procedure does not typically involve electrical equipment that would interfere with a heart device.
However, if electrocautery (an electrical current used to stop bleeding) is needed during the procedure, the surgeon and anaesthetist should be informed about your device beforehand so that appropriate precautions can be taken. Always carry your device ID card to any medical or surgical appointment and ensure the clinical team are aware of your ICD.
Category: Implantable DevicesAre there kid-sized ICDs?
Currently, there aren’t any companies that make an ICD specifically for children. A regular ICD will perform correctly when programmed for a child, and might be implanted differently for the child’s comfort.
Category: Implantable DevicesIf I have an ICD can I have sex?
Yes. Sexual activity is a normal and important part of life, and having an ICD shouldn’t stop you.
From a physical standpoint, sex is roughly equivalent in exertion to climbing two flights of stairs, moderate activity that most people with ICDs can manage comfortably once they’ve recovered from their procedure. Your cardiologist will advise when it’s safe to resume, typically once you’re comfortable with light to moderate physical activity.
A common worry is whether a shock during sex could harm a partner. The honest answer: it’s extremely unlikely to cause any harm. If your ICD were to deliver a shock, a partner in physical contact might feel a mild tingle, but not a painful or dangerous shock. This is a widely asked question and one worth discussing openly with your care team if it’s causing anxiety.
Many people find that worry about the ICD itself affects confidence more than any physical limitation, and that is completely normal. SCA UK’s peer support community includes people who’ve navigated exactly these concerns. You’re not alone in having them.
Full guidance on intimacy and ICDs, including information for partners, is on our Sex and Intimacy After Cardiac Arrest page.
If you have specific concerns about your situation, speak to your cardiologist or specialist nurse.
Category: Implantable DevicesWhy do I need an ICD?
A combination of several factors may put people at risk for a life-threatening arrhythmia. This includes prior heart attacks, reduced heart function, advanced heart failure and spontaneous VT or VF that is not due to a transient or reversible cause.
Category: TreatmentCan I get an MRI?
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is a type of diagnostic that creates an internal view of your body. The energy fields present during an MRI scan may harm a traditional heart device, which could endanger a patients health.
Category: Implantable DevicesWill an ICD save me from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)?
Most likely, yes. ICDs have been proven to terminate 98% of potentially life-threatening arrhythmias.
Category: Implantable DevicesWhy do I need to see an electrophysiologist?
Electrophysiologists (EPs) specialize in treating electrical disorders in the heart. ICDs and CRT-Ds monitor and treat certain electrical problems in the heart. Many EPs perform implant procedures and conduct follow-up device checks for patients with heart devices.
Category: Cardiac Arrest