AED stands for automatic external defibrillator. It wasn't too long ago that these devices were only seen in the hands of doctors, ambulance crews, and other medical professionals. Although there were portable AEDs on the market, they tended to be bulky, very technical to operate, and cost prohibitive for an average consumer.

The AED's today are small, cheap, reliable, and safe for the administrator and the recipient. This change has meant that AED's are becoming more visible in public places such as churches, sport arenas, theatres, on cruise ships, in the cockpit of commercial airliners, etc.

We are also seeing AED's more in the home and office setting. This is a very positive trend, because in the greater majority of cases sudden cardiac arrest occurs in one of those two places. And given that there is only a 5% survival rate when SCA strikes, due mainly to the fact that medical crews don't reach the victim in time to administer defibrillation, having an AED in the home or office is extremely pro survival. In fact, victims of sudden cardiac arrest that receive defibrillation swiftly, have an over 90% survival rate.

There is currently only one external defibrillator available without a prescription. This is the Philips Heart Start Home Edition. It is causing a revolution in the medical field by allowing resuscitation attempts to be administered before medical crews even arrive on the scene.

The implications of this are amazing indeed. Imagine this: the emergency crews arrive at the scene 12 minutes after receiving the emergency call, and having fought their way through heavy traffic and breakneck speeds. Upon inspection they find the victim alive, in stable condition and ready to be taken to the emergency room. The reason? The victim's wife had used an AED that they kept in the home as a precautionary measure against such an emergency.

Scenes like this are becoming more common in the US and abroad. Let's hope the trend continues.

It is worth noting that a heart attack is not the same as sudden cardiac arrest, although that is the popular notion.

AED fact 1 - A heart attack occurs due to a blockage in one or both of the coronary arteries that feed blood to the heart. It does not require the use of an aed.

AED fact 2 - Sudden cardiac arrest, on the other hand, occurs because of an electrical short-circuit in the heart muscle. The heart, instead of beating synchronously, begins quivering or "fibrillating", and ceases to be able to pump blood sufficiently around the body. You should use an AED on someone suffering sudden cardiac arrest.

But now for the twist: it is often the case that sudden cardiac arrest is preceded by one or more heart attacks. Therefore, is paramount that heart attack sufferers or people with heart disease, have available to them AED's. The good news is, defibrillators like the Philips Heart Start, they can be bought without prescription, for home or office use, will not only available but very affordable.

To sum up: know that the technology is now available, and affordable enough, for the average person in the street to own an AED and have a significant safeguard against one of the most prevalent and deadly diseases in the world today. Whether you're safeguarding yourself, your family, or your friends, it is good to know that we have another weapon in the continuing war against heart disease.