Heart Condition Medical Alert Jewelry
Last Updated: December 4, 2020
Should I wear a medical ID bracelet for my heart condition?
The general term, “heart conditions” includes a broad range of diagnoses, all of which are vital for first responders, such as EMTs and paramedics, to know about as quickly as possible. Whether the emergency situation is caused by your heart condition or not, wearing a cardiac bracelet is one way you can be proactive in your healthcare when living with any of these or other heart conditions:
- Hypertension / High Blood Pressure
- Arrhythmia (EG: Atrial Fibrillation, aka A-Fib, Supraventricular Tachycardia, or Long QT Syndrome)
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Heart Disease
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Congenital Heart Disease
- Valvular Heart Disease (EG: Endocarditis; Aortic Valve Regurgitation or Stenosis; Mitral Valve Prolapse, Regurgitation, or Stenosis)
- Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)
- Cardiac Device or Implant Use (EG: Pacemaker, Heart Stent)
For a heart patient, medical alert bracelets help ensure that you receive the right treatment at the right time. For instance, many heart patients require blood thinners or pacemakers. According to the American Heart Association, it’s a good idea to, “consider an ID bracelet or necklace for added security,” as this allows for faster access to your key medical information when seconds count.
So, what is a cardiac bracelet? Cardiac bracelets are the same as POTS Syndrome bracelets or pacemaker alerts. They are pieces of jewelry designed to alert first responders and other emergency personnel to the presence of vital information using the universally recognized medical caduceus, or “Star of Life,” symbol.
Which medical alert jewelry is best for people with heart conditions
There are so many options when it comes to a cardiac bracelet: gold, silver, rose gold, waterproof stainless steel, and more. For many people with heart disease, a rubber bracelet such as a simple silicone band is ideal for casual wear while a metal or beaded bracelet is more suitable for business settings or dressier occasions. But bracelets aren’t the only option. People often choose a heart disease necklace instead.
Whether you choose a simple medical alert dog tag or an elegant sterling silver ladies’ bracelet, what really matters is that you select a style that works for you and your lifestyle. Heart conditions are some of the most important diagnoses that paramedics want to know about, so having an ID you are comfortable wearing daily is truly important.
“As a Paramedic, I am most worried about allergens of all kinds, and heart conditions.”
-Nicholas Yoncher EMT-P
What should I engrave on my heart condition alert ID?
Once you choose your style, the next step is determining what to engrave. Here are six things to engrave on your cardiac necklace or bracelet:
- Full name
- Chief medical condition(s)
- Medications you take
- Drug allergies
- Any other conditions or allergies
- Emergency contact number(s) preceded by ICE for “In Case of Emergency”
Of course, space is at a premium when it comes to engraving your ID, which is why we have compiled a resource where you’ll find dozens of common medical abbreviations. Some of the most requested heart disease abbreviations are:
- Congenital Heart Disease (CHD)
- Chronic Heart Failure (CHF)
- Cardiomyopathy (DCM: dilated cardiomyopathy and HCM: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy)
- High Blood Pressure (HBP)
- Atrial Fibrillation (A-FIB)
It’s important to note that some abbreviations are not used often outside of the cardiac specialty. While HBP and A-FIB are frequently used abbreviations in the medical field, for example, it is not as typical for non-specialists to see things like DCM and HCM, and therefore it is better to spell out the condition as a whole. This is why our abbreviations page is limited in scope to only those abbreviations that EMTs, paramedics, and other first responders tell us they are familiar with seeing regularly.
