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.
In order to figure out who might need pacemakers or why, it is important to understand the human heart. It pumps blood through your body to keep you alive, but the way it does so is quite complex, involving a series of electric signals. Problems occur when the signals do not work properly or stop working altogether, which is dangerous.
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.
Another test is called the Echo, short for echocardiography. This records the flow and function of the heart by using sound waves. It will also measure the entire organ and record the size to make sure that there is nothing abnormal going on.
The doctor may also prescribe a stress test, which records heart rate while it is active. If you are well enough, you will have to exercise on a treadmill to get it pumping. If not, a medicine can be administered to give your heart a similar, elevated beat.
If you do need the device implanted after these tests, it is a common procedure that requires two incisions. One is near the shoulder, where wires are inserted into the heart. Then a second in the abdomen that has the box and battery, which is in turn connected to the wires to regular the heartbeat and make you feel better.
The staff will insist that you stay overnight so they can keep an eye on the incision and your temperature to ensure you do not get a dangerous infection. They will also advise that you stay in bed or take it easy for a month or longer after the surgery so that your body and your heart recover properly.
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.
In order to figure out who might need pacemakers or why, it is important to understand the human heart. It pumps blood through your body to keep you alive, but the way it does so is quite complex, involving a series of electric signals. Problems occur when the signals do not work properly or stop working altogether, which is dangerous.
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.
Another test is called the Echo, short for echocardiography. This records the flow and function of the heart by using sound waves. It will also measure the entire organ and record the size to make sure that there is nothing abnormal going on.
The doctor may also prescribe a stress test, which records heart rate while it is active. If you are well enough, you will have to exercise on a treadmill to get it pumping. If not, a medicine can be administered to give your heart a similar, elevated beat.
If you do need the device implanted after these tests, it is a common procedure that requires two incisions. One is near the shoulder, where wires are inserted into the heart. Then a second in the abdomen that has the box and battery, which is in turn connected to the wires to regular the heartbeat and make you feel better.
The staff will insist that you stay overnight so they can keep an eye on the incision and your temperature to ensure you do not get a dangerous infection. They will also advise that you stay in bed or take it easy for a month or longer after the surgery so that your body and your heart recover properly.
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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