There was a time in the past when heart problems meant that your entire life would change, and you may have severe limitations on your diet and activities. Luckily, with today's stellar medical technology improving all the time, a heart condition does not have to mean impending doom. With a pacemaker, you are able to live a much more normal life.
To really understand why people even need pacemakers in the first place, you have to understand how the human heart works. Your heart keeps blood pumping throughout your body, and every heartbeat sends electrical signals to do this. If these signals become weak or stop altogether, it could be serious or even fatal.
These devices are mostly used to help correct a condition known as an arrhythmia, which means that the heartbeat is not going at a normal pace. This can cause all kinds of issues such as fainting, dizziness, and fatigue, some or all of which could be chronic, depending on how serious it is. Those who have one and do not seek treatment could die.
If your doctor suspects that you are suffering from an arrhythmia, they may run one or more tests to confirm that this is the case before enacting a treatment plan. They often will ask for an EKG to be performed, because it is painless to the patient and registers all of the heart's electrical activity.
The Echo, or echocardiography, is another test the doctor may run. This one uses uses sound waves to take a measurement of the size and shape of the heart, as well as a snapshot of the blood flow and function as well.
A stress test is done on people who are strong enough to exercise. They are fitted with sensors that record their heartbeat while working out, usually on a treadmill. You might also be given a special medicine cocktail to raise the beat and perform the test.
Once it is decided you do need one, you will go through a surgery that takes a few hours of time. During the surgery, a needle is put into a vein near your shoulder. The wires of the device are strung though and placed on the heart itself. Then a small incision is made in your chest and a small metal box is inserted and connected to the wires.
You will have to stay at least one day and night so the staff can keep an eye on you and make sure you do not get an infection or that the device does not malfunction. You may experience some pain and tenderness in the incision area, but nothing that some over the counter medicine cannot help. You should scale back work and other activities for at least a month as your body adjusts.
Another thing to look out for is anything with a magnetic field or electrical devices, as they could interfere with the operation of your new device. This includes cell phones, so try to use speakerphone when you can and do not put it in your shirt pocket or near where the device is implanted in order to stave off any adverse effects. Just remember to do what your doctor tells you and you are on your way to a better life.
To really understand why people even need pacemakers in the first place, you have to understand how the human heart works. Your heart keeps blood pumping throughout your body, and every heartbeat sends electrical signals to do this. If these signals become weak or stop altogether, it could be serious or even fatal.
These devices are mostly used to help correct a condition known as an arrhythmia, which means that the heartbeat is not going at a normal pace. This can cause all kinds of issues such as fainting, dizziness, and fatigue, some or all of which could be chronic, depending on how serious it is. Those who have one and do not seek treatment could die.
If your doctor suspects that you are suffering from an arrhythmia, they may run one or more tests to confirm that this is the case before enacting a treatment plan. They often will ask for an EKG to be performed, because it is painless to the patient and registers all of the heart's electrical activity.
The Echo, or echocardiography, is another test the doctor may run. This one uses uses sound waves to take a measurement of the size and shape of the heart, as well as a snapshot of the blood flow and function as well.
A stress test is done on people who are strong enough to exercise. They are fitted with sensors that record their heartbeat while working out, usually on a treadmill. You might also be given a special medicine cocktail to raise the beat and perform the test.
Once it is decided you do need one, you will go through a surgery that takes a few hours of time. During the surgery, a needle is put into a vein near your shoulder. The wires of the device are strung though and placed on the heart itself. Then a small incision is made in your chest and a small metal box is inserted and connected to the wires.
You will have to stay at least one day and night so the staff can keep an eye on you and make sure you do not get an infection or that the device does not malfunction. You may experience some pain and tenderness in the incision area, but nothing that some over the counter medicine cannot help. You should scale back work and other activities for at least a month as your body adjusts.
Another thing to look out for is anything with a magnetic field or electrical devices, as they could interfere with the operation of your new device. This includes cell phones, so try to use speakerphone when you can and do not put it in your shirt pocket or near where the device is implanted in order to stave off any adverse effects. Just remember to do what your doctor tells you and you are on your way to a better life.
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