A pacemaker is implanted into the chest or abdomen to treat abnormal heart rhythms, or arrhythmias. Arrhythmias cause the heart to beat too fast, too slow or irregularly, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Arrhythmias can cause symptoms of dizziness and fatigue due to the body not receiving an adequate amount of blood from the heart. A pacemaker controls the heart by prompting it to beat at a normal rate and rhythm, thus relieving arrhythmia symptoms.
Mechanism
A pacemaker consists of multiple parts: a battery, a computerized generator and wires with sensors on one end. The battery and the computerized generator are surrounded by a thin metal box. A pacemaker monitors and controls the heartbeat via the sensors on the ends of the wires, which detect the heart's electrical activity. The sensors then send data through the wires to the computerized generator. MedlinePlus states if the heart rate is too fast, too slow or if the rhythm is irregular, the computerized generator will send electrical impulses to the heart, correcting it back to a normal rhythm and rate.
Types
A person may have either a single-chamber or dual-chamber pacemaker installed. A single-chamber pacemaker has only one wire placed in a chamber of the heart. A dual-chamber pacemaker has wires placed in two chambers of the heart, one in the upper chamber, the atria, and one in the lower chamber, the ventricle. A dual-chamber pacemaker controls and coordinates the function of both the atria and ventricle, thus allowing for a more natural pacing of the heart, according to the Heart Rhythm Society.
Candidates and Surgery Risks
Doctors most commonly refer patients with bradycardia and heart block to have pacemakers installed. Bradycardia is a very slow heartbeat, while heart block is a problem with the heart's electrical system, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.
The chance of experiencing any problems from pacemaker surgery is very rare, according to MayoClinic.com. If a problem does arise, it may involve swelling, bleeding, bruising or infection in the area where the pacemaker was placed.
Warnings
Individuals with pacemakers need to avoid close or prolonged contact with electrical devices or devices that have strong magnetic fields, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Devices that can potentially interfere with a pacemaker include cell phones, MP3 players, household appliances, high-tension wires, metal detectors, industrial welders and electrical generators. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute states these devices can disrupt a pacemaker's electrical signaling, stopping it from working properly depending on the proximity and length of exposure.
Follow-up Visits
Doctors check a patient's pacemaker approximately every three months to ensure it's working properly. A pacemaker can stop working properly if its wires become dislodged or broken, the battery fails, heart disease progresses or if other devices have disrupted its electrical signaling.
A doctor will replace the pacemaker battery during a follow-up visit if he notices the power is getting low. However, pacemaker batteries usually last anywhere from five to 10 years, according to MayoClinic.com.
