A pacemaker is placed in the body to control the rhythm of the heartbeat. Typically, complications from a pacemaker are rare. Less than 5 percent of patients have problems soon after receiving a pacemaker, notes MayoClinic.com. Factors such as...
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...
If you've had a pacemaker implanted, you may be hesitant or cautious about resuming an exercise routine. You may be concerned about the pacemaker's ability to achieve or maintain an accelerated heart rate, your limitations in terms of strength, or...
A pacemaker is a medical device that is implanted in the chest and connected to the heart to help control irregular heartbeats, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Different types of pacemakers treat different kinds of heart...
A pacemaker is a small medical device that is implanted into the chest or abdomen in order to regulate abnormal heart rhythms. Its invention is credited to Dr. John Hopps, who in 1950 created the first pacemaker in collaboration with Dr. W.G....
Pacemakers save many lives, but they do have their limitations. Medical experts advise people with pacemakers to avoid contact sports and certain exercises to keep the pacemaker functioning properly. Swimmers may wonder if that restriction also...
A pacemaker produces electrical impulses that stimulates the heart to beat in a regular rhythm. A pacemaker senses when the heart beats irregularly and sends a signal to the heart that makes the heart beat at the correct pace. A doctor surgically...
The potential benefits of a pacemaker include normalized heart rhythm and improved quality of life. Physicians recommend pacemakers for patients in varying degrees of cardiac distress, so the potential benefits of a pacemaker will vary, as well....
If the heart is unable to maintain a regular rhythm, symptoms may occur. A normal heart rate or pulse is between 60 to 80 beats per minute. However, many medical conditions can make the heart beat too slow, too fast, skip beats or stop...
A normal healthy heart has a built in pacemaker called the sinus node, which regulates the rate at which it beats. If the heart does not beat regularly, a pacemaker may help correct the problem. Pacemakers are commonly used to treat bradycardia,...
A pacemaker is a life-saving device that can help individuals with heart conditions or defects live long, productive lives. Having a pacemaker, though, means that some of your activities will be limited. You must avoid contact sports and some...
A pacemaker is a small internal device that helps regulate a patient's heart rate. This battery operated pacing system is implanted beneath a patient's collarbone where it sends regular electrical impulses to the heart to initiate heart muscle...
A heart pacemaker is a small battery-operated device that detects and corrects slow, irregular heartbeats and delays in the normal flow of electrical impulses within the heart. According to a 1995 article in "Public Health Reports," approximately...
Pacemaker warning signs can alert a pacemaker patient to the potential complications or failure of his cardiac device. Pacemakers are small electronic mechanisms that surgeons implant into the upper chest of some cardiac patients. The devices can...
Special cells in the heart are in charge of controlling the heart rate. These cells receive stimulation from the various nerves within the body and regulate how fast the heart beats. In some cases, these specialized cells are unable to perform...
The American Heart Association states that approximately three million people across the globe have been fitted with pacemakers, most of which are to treat bradycardia, or a heart rate that's too slow. Once your implant is done, you should be able...
The first pacemaker follow-up appointment is critical, according to the Cleveland Clinic: The technician will make adjustments to prolong battery life, and discuss the importance and purpose of various pacemaker tests. Pacemaker tests not only...
A pacemaker surgery involves doctors inserting a small electronic device into a patient's chest directly below the collarbone in order to regulate electrical problems with the heart, according to the Oregon Health and Science University. People...
As an alternative to more invasive bariatric surgeries, doctors can instead use a gastric pacemaker to help a person achieve weight loss. The neurological device, also referred to as the gastric pacer, works in a similar fashion to pacemakers...
For some people whose hearts beat irregularly or too slowly, doctors may recommend a pacemaker, a small electrical device implanted under the skin near the collar bone. Leads from the device are guided through veins into the heart and connected to...
Defibrillators and pacemakers are devices that can be inserted into the heart, or used temporarily over the chest to manipulate the electrical activity of the heart. The heart uses electricity to coordinate contractions in order to efficiently...
A pacemaker is a small device that's placed in the abdomen or chest to control abnormal heart rhythms. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, a pacemaker allows someone with an arrhythmia to resume a normal, active lifestyle. It...
A pacemaker is a medical device that is inserted into the body in order to regulate abnormal heart rhythms. Pacemakers exert their therapeutic effect by emitting a a low electrical current that stimulates the heart muscle to contract. There are...
Physical activity is restricted following a pacemaker implant--due to the lead placement of the pacemaker. Pacemaker leads are positioned in the heart muscle to aide the normal beating of the heart. Following your surgery, however, you should...
A pacemaker is a small medical device designed to regulate abnormal heart rhythms. Pacemakers produce a low-grade electrical current that stimulates the heart to beat. They have a number of clinical indications including tachycardia,...
Patients determined to understand how their pacemakers operate quickly realize medical and technological jargon stand in the way. In less than 50 years, technology has transformed the pacemaker from a simple, non-programmable device into a...
When the electrical signals that keep the heart pumping at a normal rate become compromised, abnormalities in your heart rate result, and a pacemaker may be needed to correct the problem. A pacemaker is often used to treat slow heart rate, sending...
A pacemaker assists in regulating a person's heart rhythm and electrical output. The small device lies under the collarbone and is about the size of two half dollars stacked together. Implanting the device takes several hours in the operating...
According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, the first step is threading the pacemaker wires through a vein near your shoulder or chest. A small incision is made to locate the vein. The wires are fed through and attached to the heart...
Congestive heart failure, or congestive cardiac failure, is the failure of the heart resulting from any structural or functional disorder. Learn more about congestive heart failure in this health video.
Cardiac arrhythmia is a term covering a broad group of conditions that denote irregular electrical activity in the heart. Learn more about arrhythmias, including symptoms and treatments in this health video.