A pacemaker is a tiny device that is implanted in the chest to assist with heartbeat regulation. It serves as a safeguard against the heart beating too slowly. The placement of a pacemaker in the chest necessitates surgery. Another name for a pacemaker is a cardiac pacing device.
You could have one of the following pacemaker kinds, depending on your health.
To assist regulate your heartbeat, a pacemaker is installed. If your heartbeat is sluggish (bradycardia) after a heart attack, surgery, or drug overdose but is otherwise anticipated to improve, your doctor may advise getting a temporary pacemaker. Permanent pacemakers can be installed to treat heart failure or to fix a persistently slow or irregular pulse.
The heart has four chambers two on the left and two on the right and is a powerful, fist-sized pump. Your heart’s electrical system collaborates with the right and left atria and right and left ventricles to maintain your heart pounding at the proper pace, which for people at rest is typically 60 to 100 beats per minute.
Your heart’s electrical system, which originates in a cluster of cells at the top of the heart (the sinus node) and spreads to the bottom, regulates your heartbeat by forcing the heart to contract and pump blood. An irregular heartbeat can be brought on by aging, heart attack damage, certain drugs, and some hereditary diseases.
Pacemakers work only when needed. If your heartbeat is too slow (bradycardia), the pacemaker sends electrical signals to your heart to correct the beat.
Some newer pacemakers also have sensors that detect body motion or breathing rate and signal the devices to increase heart rate during exercise, as needed.
A pacemaker has two parts:
Complications related to pacemaker surgery or having a pacemaker are uncommon, but could include:
Before your doctor decides if you need a pacemaker, you’ll have several tests done to find the cause of your irregular heartbeat. Tests done before you get a pacemaker could include:
You’ll likely be awake during the surgery to implant the pacemaker, which typically takes a few hours. A specialist will insert an IV into your forearm or hand and give you a medication called a sedative to help you relax. Your chest is cleaned with special soap.
Most pacemaker implantations are done using local anesthesia to numb the area of the incisions. However, the amount of sedation needed for the procedure depends on your specific health conditions. You may be fully awake or lightly sedated, or you may be given general anesthesia (fully asleep).
One or more wires are inserted into a major vein under or near your collarbone and guided to your heart using X-ray images. One end of each wire is secured at the appropriate position in your heart, while the other end is attached to the pulse generator, which is usually implanted under the skin beneath your collarbone.
A leadless pacemaker is smaller and typically requires less invasive surgery to implant the device. The pulse generator and other pacemaker parts are contained in a single capsule. The doctor inserts a flexible sheath (catheter) in a vein in the groin and then guides the single-component pacemaker through the catheter to the proper position in the heart.
You’ll likely stay in the hospital for a day after having a pacemaker implanted. Your pacemaker will be programmed to fit your heart rhythm needs. You’ll need to arrange to have someone drive you home from the hospital.
Your doctor might recommend that you avoid vigorous exercise or heavy lifting for about a month. Avoid putting pressure on the area where the pacemaker was implanted. If you have pain in that area, ask your doctor about taking medicines available without a prescription, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others).
It’s unlikely that your pacemaker would stop working properly because of electrical interference. Still, you’ll need to take a few precautions:
Devices that are unlikely to interfere with your pacemaker include microwave ovens, televisions and remote controls, radios, toasters, electric blankets, electric shavers, and electric drills.
Having a pacemaker should improve symptoms caused by a slow heartbeat such as fatigue, lightheadedness and fainting. Because most of today’s pacemakers automatically adjust the heart rate to match the level of physical activity, they may can allow you to resume a more active lifestyle.
Your doctor should check your pacemaker every 3 to 6 months. Tell your doctor if you gain weight, if your legs or ankles get puffy, or if you faint or get dizzy.
Most pacemakers can be checked by your doctor remotely, which means you don’t have to go into the doctor’s office. Your pacemaker sends information to your doctor, including your heart rate and rhythm, how your pacemaker is working, and how much battery life is left.
Your pacemaker’s battery should last 5 to 15 years. When the battery stops working, you’ll need surgery to replace it. The procedure to change your pacemaker’s battery is often quicker and requires less recovery time than the procedure to implant your pacemaker.
If you have a pacemaker and become terminally ill with a condition unrelated to your heart, such as cancer, it’s possible that your pacemaker could prolong your life. Doctors and researchers vary in their opinions about turning off a pacemaker in end-of-life situations.
Talk to your doctor if you have a pacemaker and are concerned about turning it off. You may also want to talk to family members or another person designated to make medical decisions for you about what you’d like to do in end-of-life care situations.
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