UNDERSTANDING HEART PACEMAKERS

A heart pacer is a tiny device that is implanted directly into the heart to help it beat more regularly and effectively. It does this by sending electrical impulses to the heart, helping it recover its normal rhythm after experiencing an arrhythmia. If you are dealing with low heart rate, your doctor may suggest having a pacemaker installed. This small device monitors your heartbeat and uses electrical impulses to keep your heartbeat from getting too fast or too slow.

BENEFITS OF HAVING A PACEMAKER INSTALLED

• Helps to maintain a regular heart rate
• Helps the heart to pump blood effectively
• Reduces the risk of heart arrhythmias
• Reduces the symptoms of heart diseases
• Prevents stroke / heart failure

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE HAVING A PACEMAKER INSTALLED

Pacemaker installation can depend on a variety of factors, including your current health, your medical history and even the type of surgery that the doctor prefers. If you have a pacemaker installed, you’ll need to have regular follow-up appointments to make sure that the device is still functioning properly. You may even need to have your pacemaker checked more often if you have certain health conditions, like an infection.

How Long Does It Take to Recover From a Pacemaker Installation?

The recovery time can vary depending on the type of pacemaker that is installed. For the most part, though, patients can expect to be in the hospital anywhere from one to three days following the surgery. If a patient requires a procedure to place a lead into their heart, a hospital stay of three days may be required as well. Generally, patients may want to take about a week off from work following the surgery. Doing too much too soon could make your recovery take even longer. If you have a traditional pacemaker implanted, you may be able to return to work sooner than if you get an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). An ICD is a device that is placed in the chest but is attached to the heart with leads. It may take longer for the incision sites to heal when an ICD device is implanted.

Dr. K. Jagdish Babu
Interventional Cardiologist, Star Hospitals

For Appointments, Call: 040 44 77 77 00