For decades, the diagnosis of a heart problem meant either an eventual death sentence or a sharply altered life where your regular routine would be completely upended. Technology today ensures that this is no longer the case, and many heart problems can actually be dealt with very easily. A pacemaker is one way that doctors can make this happen.
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.
Pacemakers are usually used to correct an arrhythmia, which is an abnormal heartbeat rate or pace. It could leave to intermittent or even chronic fatigue or fainting, which could take a serious toll on your health. In fact, it could be deadly if left untreated, because it can cause blood flow to slow or stop to the major organs, which results in organ failure.
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.
An echocardiography, also called an echo for short, involves using waves of sound to record the functions and flow. It also measures the shape and size or everything, including the chambers and valves and makes sure they are working properly.
For patients who are still active and can run on a treadmill, they may ask them to do so with sensors attached, also called a stress test. For those who cannot run because of fatigue, they can drink medicine that increases heart rate for a similar effect.
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.
This procedure requires that you stay overnight for observation and to help stave off infection. You will likely need some over the counter medication to help with a little pain or soreness, and will have to take it easy for at least a month afterwards to let your body fully recover from the surgery.
Once you have the device installed, you should try to avoid prolonged use of electrical devices, or those with a strong magnetic impulse or field. This includes cell phones and microwave ovens, two things most people cannot live without. You can, however, use a cell phone, just use it on the opposite ear from where your device was installed, or use speaker phone.
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.
Pacemakers are usually used to correct an arrhythmia, which is an abnormal heartbeat rate or pace. It could leave to intermittent or even chronic fatigue or fainting, which could take a serious toll on your health. In fact, it could be deadly if left untreated, because it can cause blood flow to slow or stop to the major organs, which results in organ failure.
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.
An echocardiography, also called an echo for short, involves using waves of sound to record the functions and flow. It also measures the shape and size or everything, including the chambers and valves and makes sure they are working properly.
For patients who are still active and can run on a treadmill, they may ask them to do so with sensors attached, also called a stress test. For those who cannot run because of fatigue, they can drink medicine that increases heart rate for a similar effect.
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.
This procedure requires that you stay overnight for observation and to help stave off infection. You will likely need some over the counter medication to help with a little pain or soreness, and will have to take it easy for at least a month afterwards to let your body fully recover from the surgery.
Once you have the device installed, you should try to avoid prolonged use of electrical devices, or those with a strong magnetic impulse or field. This includes cell phones and microwave ovens, two things most people cannot live without. You can, however, use a cell phone, just use it on the opposite ear from where your device was installed, or use speaker phone.
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