It may happen that your loved ones show an irregular or continuous slow heartbeat or are suffering from Heart failure. To treat heart failure and restore the rhythm of the heart, cardiac surgeons may recommend permanent Pacemaker implantation.
A pacemaker helps control the heartbeat. A pacemaker is a device that is put inside your body by surgeons through a surgical procedure to help maintain the electrical system in the heart. Pacemakers aid to restore and normalize irregular heartbeats and check and control any disorders associated with the heart.
How do you know that you would require a pacemaker?
There are certain symptoms that would help make you understand the need for a pacemaker. However, it is always advisable to consult with a cardiac surgeon or a medical specialist before undergoing Pacemaker Implantation.
1.Angina – If you suffer from continuous chest pain
2.Tachycardia – If you have an abnormally fast heartbeat – may be more than 100 beats/minute
3.Bradycardia – Abnormally slow heartbeat – less than 60 beats/minute
4.Heart Palpitations- A condition when you suffer from unpleasant heartbeats that you may feel pounding in your chest
5.Inconsistent heartbeat- When you experience irregular heartbeat, called Arrhythmia
6.A feeling of shortness of breath- This happens when you are overactive
7.If experience dizziness or nausea without any reason
8.If you see there is swelling in the ankles, legs or in the abdomen area
9.Confusion – A feeling of uncertainty
10.Frequent urination – Need to urinate many times at night
What is the function of a pacemaker?
When the electrical systems of the heart do not function properly, the heart cannot provide enough blood to the body and hence causing problems. Pacemakers check these types of problems and correct the disorders and help your heart beat at a healthy rate – 60 to 100 beats per minute. However, the pacemaker does not function all the time. It works only when required. If it is observed that the heartbeat is too slow – a problem called bradycardia, then the pacemaker corrects the beat by sending electrical impulses to the heart.
Doctors recommend a temporary pacemaker to correct slow heartbeats – bradycardia, which often occurs in a person who suffered a heart attack. A pacemaker is also needed when a person had a surgery or medication overdose.
Conditions that can be treated with a pacemaker:
1.When your heart does not function properly meaning it doesn’t have normal heart beats
2.Heart blockage issue
3.Cardiac arrest or Heart failure
4.When someone has a history of heart attack
Depending on the type of heart disorder, doctors may recommend a specific type of pacemaker that would help correct the heartbeat and aid the heart to work properly.
Single chamber pacemaker- It is used to help carry the electrical signals to the right ventricle of the heart.
Dual chamber pacemaker- When it is needed to correct the timing of contractions between the two chambers of the heart, this type of pacemaker is used. This helps carry the electrical signals to the right ventricle and the right atrium of the heart.
Biventricular pacemaker- This pacemaker is given to people who suffer from heartbeat problems and have had heart failure. A biventricular pacemaker is used to boost the right and left ventricles enhancing the heart to beat better and more efficiently.
Procedure involved
Doctors may implant a pacemaker that would be rightly required by you. With advances in medical science, you need to go through a catheter-based, vein-based or surgical-based approach. These procedures are improved and have been widely used because they help you feel less pain, faster recovery, and get back to work in less time. However, your doctor is the best person to explain all these procedures and which pacemaker is the best for you.
Benefits of pacemaker implantation
1.Easing off chest pain, nausea, palpitations and confusion
2.Checking the possibility of fainting
3.Restoring regular heartbeats, which means the heart will perform better and more efficiently
4.Improved quality of life
5.More energy level
6.Physically more active
However, with pacemaker implantation, you should be very careful. Always consult your heart specialist whenever you experience any abnormalities.
Don’t forget to take your medication – Your heart specialist would definitely prescribe you medicines along with pacemaker implantation. Do clearly understand how to take the medicines and for how long. Get doubly- checked, and ask your doctor, in case you don’t understand. Get to know about any side effects of the medicine.
Pay a regular visit to your doctor – As advised by your heart specialist, do pay periodic visits to your doctor to check your health and to make sure your pacemaker is working properly.
Take care of yourself – Pacemaker implantation is a serious surgical procedure. Follow your doctor’s advice properly with regard to taking medicines, practicing physical exercises, diet, smoking or drinking, etc.
It’s always advisable to call and consult your doctor if you experience any of the problems given below:
1.Breathing problem
2.Gaining weight unusually
3.Swelling in ankles, lower leg portion
4.Feeling dizziness, confusion, nausea
5.Other abnormalities
Disclaimer
Though all attempts are made to provide correct information on the subject, inadvertent & typographical errors arising out of manual intervention cannot be ruled out. It is requested to bring any such discrepancies to the notice of the blogger for correction.
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