The heart of a person beats 100,000 times daily in order to keep them alive and functioning. However, in the case of some people, the electrical system of the heart becomes impaired or weak, which results in the heart becoming too slow, too fast, or irregular. In such circumstances, a pacemaker becomes a life-saving device for the patient. However, patients and their caregivers might sometimes wonder what a Pacemaker actually is, and which conditions necessitate its need. In this article, we will discuss precisely the same.
What is a pacemaker?
A Cardiac Pacemaker is a small electrical device that is operated with the help of a battery. It is placed just below the skin of the chest of a patient. It sends electrical impulses to the heart muscles in order to signal them to beat normally. It constantly keeps a track of the heartbeats of the patient and gets activated only when it detects an abnormality in the heartbeats of the patient, for example, when the heartbeats are too slow. Modern pacemakers are highly advanced, programmable, and tailored to individual needs, while some of them are used for emergencies, others are made in a way so that they can keep on working for years to come.
Which heart conditions require a pacemaker?
- Bradycardia (Slow Heartbeat): This is a condition in which the heart starts to beat too slowly to be able to pump oxygen-rich blood to different parts of the body. It is the most common cause of putting a pacemaker in a patient.
- Heart Block: This condition occurs when the electrical signals are completely or partially blocked between the upper and the lower chambers of the heart. Under such conditions, installation of a pacemaker might be essential to ensure proper signal sharing between both chambers.
- Atrial Fibrillation with Slow Ventricular Response: In patients with this condition, a Cardiac Pacemaker can help the patient by keeping in check the ventricular response of the lower chamber of the heart.
- Tachy-Brady Syndrome: This is a condition in which the heart starts to beat too fast or too slow alternatively. In such a condition, a pacemaker helps by preventing the heartbeat from slowing down.
- Congenital Heart Disease: In people born with certain defects of the heart, a pacemaker can be an important part of the long-term management strategy of the condition.
- Post-Cardiac Surgery or Heart Attack: A pacemaker might be required temporarily or permanently after a heart attack, depending upon the particular case of the patient and the extent of damage to the heart.
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