You may find out from your doctor that you’re in need of a pacemaker in order to keep your heart beating properly. It may help to rest your worries if you know a little more about what a pacemaker is and what it does.
Your healthy heart has a natural pacemaker located in the right atrium – the upper right part of your heart. This is a specialized part of the heart that sends an electrical wave across the rest of your heart and keeps it beating at a steady rhythm.
Unfortunately, sometimes this part of the heart quits doing its job properly. This is sometimes because it becomes too slow and sometimes it’s a result of a blockage that keeps the electrical signal from reaching the entire heart.
Modern medicine has come up with a simple device that can actually take the place of your natural pacemaker. The artificial pacemaker is implanted into the body and emits and electrical impulse to keep your heart beating properly.
There have been many advancements in the artificial pacemaker over the last few years. In fact, some pacemakers now also have defibrillators in them to restart your heart if it stops.
Inserting a pacemaker requires a surgical procedure. And most of them are programmable. For example, some are set to work only when necessary. They sense the heartbeat of the person and only emit impulses if the heart rate becomes too slow.
The one major drawback of a pacemaker is that many things in the environment can interfere with the signal. However, in most cases short exposure to these devices – such as microwaves and CB radios – isn’t enough to cause any real harm. Speak with your physician about the caution you need to take with your device.
Medical equipment can sometimes be harmful to your pacemaker. For example, an MRI machine has a powerful magnet that may interfere with your signal. You need to speak with your doctor before you have an MRI. It’s also important to carry a medical I.D. when you have a pacemaker so that in an emergency, healthcare workers will know you have one.
Pacemakers have been around a long time and they have a good track record for helping to keep the heart pumping at the right rate. This surgery has become routine. Before you have surgery to insert a permanent pacemaker, make sure to discuss any questions or concerns you have with your doctor.
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