An ICD (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator) is a small device implanted under the skin, typically near the collarbone. It monitors your heart rhythm continuously and, if it detects a life-threatening arrhythmia, delivers a shock or pacing therapy to restore a normal rhythm. It works automatically — you do not need to do anything for it to act.
Not everyone with a heart condition needs an ICD. Whether one is appropriate depends on your specific diagnosis, your individual risk of a dangerous arrhythmia, and a detailed assessment by a specialist cardiologist.
ICDs are commonly considered for people who have already survived a cardiac arrest, and for some people assessed as being at high risk due to conditions including Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), Brugada Syndrome, CPVT, Long QT Syndrome, ARVC, and Dilated Cardiomyopathy. The decision is always individual — having one of these conditions does not automatically mean you need an ICD.
If you have been told you may need an ICD and want to understand the decision better, ask your specialist to walk through the reasons and what the alternatives are.