Atrial fibrillation is a condition that causes the heart to beat abnormally fast. Atrial fibrillation can usually be treated with medication, but some people don't respond to treatment, so a pacemaker may be recommended.
Sometimes people with atrial fibrillation can have a much slower pulse rate than normal, which can also be intermittent not continuous. In people with heart block , the pulse that needs to be sent from the SA node to the AV node is either delayed or absent. Heart block can be caused when the heart is damaged acquired heart block , or it can occur if a baby is born with 1 or more defects that affect their heart congenital heart block.
If you have heart block and it's causing troublesome symptoms, a pacemaker will usually be recommended. An implantable cardioverter defibrillator ICD , which is a device similar to a pacemaker, is mainly used to prevent cardiac arrest. A cardiac arrest is a potentially fatal condition where the electrical activity that controls the heart becomes so disrupted that the heart stops beating.
An ICD can detect abnormal electrical signals that could indicate that a cardiac arrest is about to happen. This basically "reboots" the heart. After the shock, the heart should start beating normally again.
An ICD implantation may be recommended if you have had a cardiac arrest in the past or it's thought you have a significant risk of having one in the future. Page last reviewed: 15 October Next review due: 15 October There's also a newer type of ICD where the pacing lead is implanted under the skin subcutaneously.
These signals can become disrupted for several reasons, which can lead to a number of potentially dangerous heart conditions, such as:. Read more about why you might need a pacemaker. It's usually carried out under local anaesthetic , which means you'll be awake during the procedure. The generator is usually placed under the skin near the collarbone on the left side of the chest.
The procedure usually takes about an hour, and most people are able to leave hospital on the same day or a day after surgery. Read more about how a pacemaker is fitted. As a precaution, it's usually recommended that strenuous activities are avoided for around 4 to 6 weeks after having a pacemaker fitted.
You'll be able to feel the pacemaker, but you'll soon get used to it. It may seem a bit heavy at first, and may feel uncomfortable when you lie in certain positions.
You'll need to attend regular check-ups to make sure your pacemaker is working properly. Most pacemakers store information about your natural heart rhythms. When you have follow-up appointments, your doctor can retrieve this information and use it to check how well your heart and the pacemaker are working. Read more about recovering from pacemaker surgery. Anything that produces a strong electromagnetic field, like an induction hob, can interfere with a pacemaker.
But most common household electrical equipment, such as hairdryers and microwave ovens, won't be a problem as long as you use them at least 15cm 6 inches away from your pacemaker. If you have an induction hob, keep a distance of at least 60cm 2ft between the stove top and your pacemaker. If this is a problem, you may want to consider replacing the appliance with something more suitable. If you feel dizzy or feel your heart beating faster while using an electrical appliance, simply move away from it to allow your heart beat to return to normal.
The biggest concern is the pacemaker losing its ability to control the heartbeat, either because it malfunctions or the wire moves out of the correct position. It's sometimes possible to reprogramme the pacemaker to fix a malfunction using wireless signals.
Read more about the risks of having a pacemaker. Every medical procedure has some risks. Most risks associated with a pacemaker are from the surgical installation. They include:. You may go home that evening, or you could stay in the hospital overnight. Your doctor can reprogram the device as needed at follow-up appointments. Over the next month, you should avoid rigorous exercise and heavy lifting.
You may also need to take over-the-counter medications for any discomfort. Ask your doctors what pain relievers are safest for you. It allows your doctor to receive information from your pacemaker without the need for an office visit. Modern pacemakers are not as sensitive to electrical devices as the old ones, but certain devices could cause interference with your pacemaker. For example, you should avoid:. Although the risk is low, people should keep these devices at least six inches away from implanted medical devices.
This especially applies to pacemakers and cardiac defibrillators. An echocardiogram test uses sound waves to produce live images of your heart.
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