Pacemaker - Basic Information
- 2. Pacemaker 1. A small device placed inside chest to control abnormal heart beats. 2. It uses electrical pulses to prompt the heart to beat at a normal rate. 3. Arrhythmias are the problems related with the heart beat. 4. In arrhythmias the heart can beat too fast or too slow. 5. Pacemaker can relieve some arrhythmias symptoms such as tiredness and fainting.
- 3. Functioning of a pacemaker ● A pacemaker consists of a battery, a computerized generator, and wires with sensors at their tips. (The sensors are called electrodes.). ● A pacemaker helps monitor and control your heartbeat. The electrodes detect your heart's electrical activity and send data through the wires to the computer in the generator. ● If your heart rhythm is abnormal, the computer will direct the generator to send electrical pulses to your heart. The pulses travel through the wires to reach your heart. ● The pacemaker's computer also records your heart's electrical activity and heart rhythm.
- 4. Types of Pacemaker PERMANENT PACEMAKER:- 1) implanted totally in the body. 2)power source is implanted subcutaneously usually over the pectoral muscle on the patient non dominant side. TEMPORARY PACEMAKER:- In this pacemaker the power source is outside the body.
- 5. Pacemaker modes:- 1)FIXED RATE: fire constantly at a preset rate with our regard to the electrical activity of the patient's heart. 2)DEMAND: it detects the heart electrical activity.Fires only when the electrical activity of the heart drops the below the preset rate.
- 6. Effect On Lifestyle ❏ Try to avoid prolonged contact with devices such as cell phones,high tension wires,metal detectors ❏ Some medical procedures can disrupt pacemaker such as MRI. ❏ Pacemakers do not limit us from doing sports activities ❏ However,avoid full contact sports such as Football ❏ Doctors need to check it about every three months ❏ Pacemaker may stop working correctly in case ‘Its wires get broken’ ‘Battery gets weak’ ‘Other devices disrupt its electrical signaling’ ❏ Average battery life is 6 to 7 years
- 7. Risks during surgery:- 1. Blood vessel or nerve damage. 2. Swelling, bleeding, or infection in the area where the pacemaker was placed. 3. A bad reaction to the medicine used during the procedure.
- 9. Thank You