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Heart of Healthy You
The Pacemaker Q&A
How these tiny devices keep your heart beating steady
They’re small enough to hold in your hand, but when your heart needs a kick-start they do big things. Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network electrophysiologist Robert Malacoff, M.D., answers your questions about pacemakers.
Q. Who needs a pacemaker?
People with an electrical problem in their heart that causes it to beat too slowly. A slow heart rhythm causes fatigue, dizziness and fainting spells.
Q. How does a pacemaker work?
It’s implanted under the skin near the shoulder. A thin internal wire (lead) connects it to the heart. A pacemaker is like a clock programmed to detect a heartbeat within a certain period of time. If the heartbeat doesn’t happen, the pacemaker creates one with a small, precisely timed electrical pulse. You can’t feel the pulse and it causes no damage to your heart, even if you’ve had a pacemaker for a long time.
Q. How long do pacemakers last?
Pacemaker batteries last 8-10 years; the lifespan depends on how heavily the pacemaker is used. The battery’s strength is checked regularly, and more frequently as it ages. People with a pacemaker have a device that checks battery strength and transmits data to their doctor over the phone. When the battery becomes weak, the old pacemaker is replaced with a new one.
Pacemaker leads are extremely reliable, but sometimes have to be changed if they break or cause infection. Laser technology (used regionally only at Lehigh Valley Hospital) dissolves the tissue that grows where the lead attaches to the heart, allowing the wire to be removed safely.
Q. Can anything interfere with a pacemaker?
Household items (microwaves, cell phones) don’t affect pacemakers, but some medical equipment, like MRI scanners, can cause them to malfunction. If you have a pacemaker, tell your doctor and dentist.
Q. What are the latest developments in pacemaker technology?
While old pacemakers kept your heart beating at a steady rate, new models are rate-responsive. They determine what your heart rate should be from moment to moment by detecting your body movement and breathing rate. For example, when you take a brisk walk, the pacemaker detects the increased motion and faster breathing and keeps your heart beating faster.
Modern pacemakers also record your heart’s activity. Doctors can download information from the pacemaker into a computer to learn how often the pacemaker was used, and when and how high the heart rate increased.
Want to Know More about women and heart disease? Call 610-402-CARE.
Published from Healthy You Magazine, September-October 2008
This page last updated 8/20/08 10:54 AM
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