CARDIAC HEALIH

Implanted defibrillators in older people: What to expect

Research we're watching

Published: April, 2017

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are miniature electronic devices placed under the skin below the collarbone to sense and stop abnormal heart rhythms. A study in the Jan. 24, 2017, Journal of the American College of Cardiology provides new information about outcomes in older people who receive these lifesaving devices.
The study included 12,420 people with an average age of 75. All had survived a sudden cardiac arrest and received an ICD. Nearly four in five of the participants survived at least two years. During the two-year period, nearly 65% were hospitalized at some point. Many were admitted to skilled nursing facilities during the study, including about 32% of those ages 80 and older.
The researchers did not compare the findings to a group of similar people without ICDs, but their findings suggest that age alone should not preclude getting an ICD. However, the device may not make sense for frail, elderly people who are unlikely to survive long-term after cardiac arrest because of other medical problems.

WAR AGAINST AGING

Find out how men — at age 50, 60, 70, 80 — are defying age-related illnesses,
staying stronger, and living longer!
Men's Health: Fifty and Forward
   

The Men's Health: Fifty and Forward Special Health Report includes:
✓     Ways to reduce your risk for heart disease, stroke, cancer, and dementia
✓     The latest treatments for prostate diseases
✓     10 steps to a longer, healthier life
✓     How to eat better and exercise more
✓     Tips for managing health conditions unique to men
✓     And so much more!



As a man, you know that by age 50, you should be doing some “retirement planning.” And we don't just mean protecting your finances. There's something more important: protecting your health.

Good health is essential to be able to do all you want to do in the years and decades ahead. Declining health can dim and darken a man’s future. But you can keep yours bright!

41 things you can do to feel younger, stay healthy, and add years to your life

Doctors now know that factors you can control can affect your health just as much as — and sometimes more than — the factors you can’t control. You can cut your risk of serious illness. You can have greater physical, mental, and sexual energy. And you can enjoy years of active living.

The good news is that you don’t have to train for a marathon or eat an exotic macrobiotic diet to achieve those goals. Whether you want to reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke or boost your stamina and staying power, this Special Health Report will show you the simple steps and strategies that can make a lasting difference.

Prepared by Harvard Medical School doctors, Men’s Health: Fifty and Forward offers straightforward guidance that puts you ahead of the curve. You’ll discover a small mealtime change that can help lower your chances of colon cancer by up to 30%, an exercise routine that can help cut the risk of dementia in half, and four steps that can reduce your risk of prostate cancer — and increase your survival odds.

You'll also learn six ways to reduce your risk of heart disease, four ways to lower your blood pressure without drugs, two ways to screen for colorectal cancer without a colonoscopy, and one often overlooked way to protect yourself against Alzheimer’s disease.

Plus, Men’s Health: Fifty and Forward will help you avoid those ailments that affect your quality of life. You’ll read about the one lifestyle change that can lead to better erections. You’ll get tips for preventing arthritis pain. And you’ll discover the best exercises to keep you strong and limber.

Like all planning, the sooner you start, the better. Invest in your health. Send for your copy of Men’s Health: Fifty and Forward today.