PACEMAKER FOR HEART

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One of the most important parts of the heart is the pacemaker. When the natural (or original) pacemaker starts functioning with a lesser efficiency compared to the recommended one, the use of artificial pacemakers is suggested. Surgery is needed to implant an artificial pacemaker inside the body.

The artificial pacemaker (or simply ‘pacemaker’) is a device which functions on electrical impulses which are delivered by electrodes in contact with the heart muscles, thus helping in the regulation of the heart’s beating.

So, the most important function of the pacemaker is maintaining the heart rate within specified safe limits. This is required when the natural pacemaker is not functioning with sufficient speed. It may also be needed in case there is some kind of a block (obstruction) in the electrical conducting system of the patient’s heart.

Artificial pacemakers come in the following types --- Rate-responsive pacemaker, Single chamber pacemaker and Dual (or double) chamber pacemaker.

Some pacemakers are implantable. These are required for permanent pacing of the heart. Surgical operation is carried out for doing this and pacing electrodes are placed in the heart’s chambers. This type of pacemaker has in-built electronic circuitry, which detects the change in the pace of heart and adjusts it automatically to bring it within the recommended limit. This function is done by an important part of the pacemaker called as the pacemaker generator.

For getting best results from the artificial pacemaker, it is suggested that the battery of the pacemaker be replaced at regular intervals of time. It is extremely important to check the pacemaker regularly from a practicing physician.

The use of a pacemaker has helped a lot of people so far. The best part of it is that it does change the person’s lifestyle to much of an extent. Only the use of devices or gadgets generating magnetic fields is not allowed.