About this topic
A pacemaker helps your heart to beat properly. A pacemaker is used when the heart does not beat normally. This is called an arrhythmia. Your heart may be beating too fast or too slow. Also, your heart may beat with an irregular rhythm. Any of these arrhythmias can affect your health if not treated right away. ‚
The pacemaker is placed under the skin of your chest, under your collarbone. Leads or wires are attached to the pacemaker. The leads will be hooked up to your heart to help control your heartbeat. Pacemakers work in many ways. Your doctor will decide which settings your pacemaker will need. Some send an electric pulse for each heartbeat. Others only send an electric pulse if the heart rate is too high or too low. There are also devices called defibrillators that can give an electric shock to your heart. These devices can help avoid serious heart problems. A pacemaker is made up of two parts: ‚
- Pulse generator ¢ ˆ ’ Houses the battery and a small computer that records the heartbeat
- Lead wires ¢ ˆ ’ Send the electric pulses from the generator to the heart
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Talk to your doctor about how to care for your cut site. Ask your doctor about:
- When you should change your bandages
- How to care for your cut sites
- When you may take a bath or shower
- If you need to limit your arm movement or wear a sling on the side where the device was placed
- If you should learn to take your heart rate and blood pressure
To help others in case of an emergency: ‚
- Wear a disease medical alert ID. This will let other people know that you have a pacemaker.
- Always carry your medical card. This card has information about your pacemaker. It will be able to let other people know what to do.
Be careful around electrical devices or anything with magnets. ‚
- Cell phones and MP3 players such as iPods have magnets. Do not use or hold them on the same side of your body where the pacemaker is placed. Always hold them at least 6 inches away from your pacemaker.
- Most appliances in your home are safe for you to use.
- Walk through metal detectors at a normal pace. Your pacemaker will likely set it off. Show your medical alert ID or card and ask to be hand searched.
- Stay at least 2 feet away from industrial welders, large motors, electrical generators and equipment.
- Tell your other doctors about your pacemaker before having any other tests or procedures. These can interfere with how well your pacemaker works. There are some types of tests that you cannot have done because you have a pacemaker.
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. Your doctor may order you to have an ECG (electrocardiogram) to check electrical pulses of your heart. Your doctor will also want to check: ‚
- Your pacemaker. This is to make sure it is working properly.
- The pacemaker batteries. The batteries will need to be replaced before they start to run down. The batteries may last for years, based on how much your device is used. Leads or wires may also need to be replaced over time.
If you have stitches or staples, you will need to have them taken out. Your doctor will often want to do this in 1 to 2 weeks. Ask your doctor when the stitches or staples need to come out. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to prevent infection. Your doctor will tell you about the drugs you will need to take. Be sure to ask about them. Take all your drugs as ordered by your doctor. ‚
Will physical activity be limited?
You may have to limit your activity until the cut site is healed and the wires are securely in place. Talk to your doctor about: ‚
- The right amount of activity for you. Ask when you may begin light sports and workouts or other tiring activities. Do not play full contact sports such as football. This could damage your pacemaker or may loosen the wires connected to your heart.
- How far you may raise your arm on the side of your body with the device. There will be a time when you are not allowed to reach over your head, out to the side, or do stretching on the side of your body with the device. You may be asked to wear a sling.
- How much weight you may lift.
What problems could happen?
- Bleeding
- A collapsed lung
- Infection
- Device may not work the right way
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
- The same signs you had before your implant
- Dizziness or shortness of breath. Call for emergency help right away.
- Chest pain. Call for emergency help right away.
- Hiccups that do not go away
- Fainting or passing out. Call for emergency help right away.
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Helpful tips
Be to keep your ID card with your pacemaker information in a safe place. It will include the manufacturer, serial number, and date the implant was put in. ‚
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my procedure.
- I can tell you how to care for my cut site.
- I can tell you how I need to be careful around electrical devices and magnets with my pacemaker.
- I can tell you what signs will make me call for emergency help.
Where can I learn more?
American Heart Association ‚
http://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@hcm/documents/downloadable/ucm_300451.pdf ‚
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute ‚
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/pace/lifestyle.html ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚