Pacemakers
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What is a pacemaker?
A pacemaker is a device that sits under the skin near a person’s heart. A pacemaker can treat a slow heart rate. “Heart rate” is the term doctors use to describe how fast a person’s heart is beating.
Normally, each person has a built-in electrical system in the heart that controls their heart rate. A person’s heart needs to beat at a normal rate to pump blood to all parts of the body. Sometimes, a person’s built-in electrical system does not work the right way. This can cause a person’s heart to beat too slowly or too fast.
Different conditions, such as certain heart problems, can cause a person’s heart rate to be abnormal.
How does a pacemaker work?
A pacemaker sends electrical signals to the heart. These signals cause the heart to beat at a normal rate. Ρаϲemаkers are used to treat a heart rate that is too slow.
Who might need a pacemaker?
A person might need a pacemaker if they have an abnormally slow heart rate and have symptoms. These symptoms can include:
- Fainting
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
- Feeling your heart pounding
- Feeling confused or more tired than usual
- Trouble breathing
What does a pacemaker look like?
Most расеmаkers have 2 parts:
- A “pulse generator” – This is a thin metal case with a battery and tiny computer in it. The pulse generator creates and sends electrical signals. A doctor can pre-set the computer to tell the pulse generator when to send electrical signals.
- Wires, also called “leads” – The wires connect the pulse generator to the heart. Electrical signals can travel from the pulse generator through the wires to the heart. Information about how the heart is working can also travel from the heart back to the pulse generator.
A newer type of pacemaker can be inserted directly into the heart, with no wires. This type of pacemaker is only used in special cases.
Do all pacemakers work the same way?
No. Ρаϲemаkers can work in different ways. A pacemaker can:
- Send electrical signals all of the time or some of the time – Some раϲemаkеrs send electrical signals at a steady rate all of the time. Others send electrical signals only when a person’s heart rate is too slow or too fast.
- Send electrical signals to 1 or more parts of the heart.
What is a “temporary pacemaker”?
A temporary pacemaker is a pacemaker that is used for a short time, usually when a person is in the hospital. The pulse generator of a temporary pacemaker is not put inside the body. People might have a temporary pacemaker if they have a condition that will get better soon. They might also have a temporary pacemaker as a short-term treatment until they get a pacemaker put in their body.
What happens after I get a pacemaker?
After you get a pacemaker, you will need to follow up with your doctor on a regular basis. They might do a test called an “electrocardiogram” (“ECG”). An ECG measures the electrical activity in the heart. Your doctor will also check to make sure that your pacemaker is working the right way.
Some people might need to have the pulse generator part of their pacemaker replaced in the future. This is because the battery in the pulse generator usually lasts 6 to 15 years. Wires do not usually need to be replaced.
What else should I do if I have a pacemaker?
If you have a pacemaker, you need to:
- Avoid certain electric or magnetic sources or equipment – Your doctor will tell you which electric or magnetic sources or equipment you can be near, and which ones you should avoid. For example, people with a pacemaker can be near TVs, radios, and microwaves.
- Tell airport security that you have a pacemaker when you travel – The metal parts of a pacemaker could set off a metal detector alarm. For this reason, airport security might use a different type of screening. A metal detector or X-ray machine will not harm the pacemaker.
- Be aware of cell phones and other devices – Some cell phones or other devices might have a strong magnet that could affect your pacemaker. If you are not sure if your device could affect your pacemaker, check with the company that made it, or ask your doctor. To be safe, carry your cell phone in a pocket or bag below your waist so it is not right next to your pacemaker.
- Tell all of your doctors and nurses that you have a pacemaker – Some procedures and tests are safe for people with a pacemaker, but others are not. For example, most people with a pacemaker should not have a type of imaging test called an MRI scan, but some new types of раϲemаkers are safe in the MRI machine. Many people with a pacemaker carry an emergency medical card that tells people they have a pacemaker.