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Key Points
- A pacemaker is a small device that's placed under
the skin of your chest or abdomen to help control irregular heartbeats. This
device uses electrical pulses to prompt the heart to beat at a normal rate.
- Pacemakers are used to treat heart rhythms that
are too slow, fast, or irregular. These abnormal heart rhythms are called
arrhythmias.
- Pacemakers can relieve some symptoms related to
arrhythmias, such as fatigue (tiredness) and fainting, and can help people who
have arrhythmias resume a more active lifestyle.
- A pacemaker is similar to an
implantable
cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), but an ICD can use higher energy
electrical pulses to treat certain dangerous arrhythmias. (To treat fast heart
rhythms, a pacemaker is combined with an ICD in a single device.)
- Your doctor may recommend a pacemaker if aging,
heart disease, or other factors make your heart beat too slow, too fast, or
irregularly.
- Symptoms such as fainting, shortness of breath,
and fatigue (tiredness) may be due to an irregular heartbeat that a pacemaker
could correct. Your doctor will confirm whether you need a pacemaker based on
your symptoms, any medicines you take, and test results.
- A pacemaker consists of a battery, a computerized
generator, and wires. The generator sends the electrical pulses that correct or
set your heart rhythm, and the wires carry pulses to and from various chambers
of your heart and the generator.
- Pacemaker surgery is usually done in a hospital
or special heart treatment laboratory. You will be given medicine to help you
relax. The surgery takes just a few hours, but you will stay in the hospital
overnight so your doctor can monitor your heart rhythm and make sure your
pacemaker is working properly.
- Problems from pacemaker surgery are rare. Most
people can return to normal activities within a few days.
- Your doctor may ask you to avoid any vigorous
exercise or heavy lifting for a short period after your surgery. After you have
fully recovered from surgery, discuss with your doctor how much and what kinds
of physical activity are safe for you.
- Once you have a pacemaker, you have to avoid
close or prolonged contact with electrical devices or devices that have strong
magnetic fields. You also need to avoid certain medical procedures that can
disrupt your pacemaker.
- Let all of your doctors, dentists, and medical
technicians know that you have a pacemaker.
- Have your pacemaker checked regularly. Some
pacemaker functions can be checked remotely through a telephone call or a
computer connection to the Internet. Your doctor may ask you to come to his or
her office to check your pacemaker.
- Pacemaker batteries have to be replaced every 5
to 15 years, depending on how active your pacemaker is. The wires of your
pacemaker also may need to be replaced eventually. Your doctor can tell you
whether you need to replace your pacemaker or its wires.
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