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Monday, July 4, 2016

A Pacemaker Implantation Can Give Patients A New Lease On Life

By Rebecca Murphy


Not all that many years ago even minor heart problems could have been a death sentence. Enormous strides have been made in the treatment of heart disease, however. Today, complicated open heart surgery is common and considered to be safe. Many heart problems can be managed or treated by means of medication or minor procedures. For example, by opting for a pacemaker Princeton NJ patients can resume normal activities within days.

The heart is really nothing other than a pump the size of an average fist. It pumps blood containing oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body. When it does not pump as intended to, heart problems van ensue. Sometimes the chambers of the heart do not coordinate very well and sometimes the heart beats too slow or too fast.

A pace making device is not a complicate piece of machinery and implanting it does not require major open heart surgery. It basically consist of a generator and a number of electrodes that are connected to the heart chambers through certain main arteries. The generator sends electric impulses via the electrodes and this corrects the pace at which the heart beats.

These devices are sophisticated. They constantly monitor the heart rate and adjust the speed at which the heart beats based upon the breathing rate and the physical state of the body during exercise. This monitoring is done automatically and the heart beat is adjusted according to the needs of the body for blood and oxygen. These automatic adjustments prevent the patient from fainting or from suffering from severe fatigue.

Inserting a pace making device does not require major surgery. The generator is placed just below the collar bone of the shoulder on the left and the electrodes are guided to the heart chambers through a major vein. It is done under a local anaesthetic and the patient can go home almost immediately after the procedure. At least one follow up visit is necessary to make sure that the device is performing well.

Patients that received a pace making device do not have to change their life styles dramatically. They can still exercise but they should avoid full body contact sports. Intense magnetic fields should also be avoided and when they receive medical attention for any other condition, they should make sure that their doctors know that they have a pace making device. Initially, care should be taken to avoid infection or pressure at the implant site.

Complications from having this type of surgery is rare, but infection is always a risk after any type of invasive surgery. Some patients have an allergic reaction to the dye used during the procedure. Others experience swelling and discomfort in the area where the generator is implanted, although this normally clears up within a week or two. In very rare cases the lungs of the patient collapse.

Millions of people are able to continue enjoying life because of pace maker technology. Heart disease continue to be one of the biggest causes of death world wide. Ongoing research will no doubt provide new solutions. It is the responsibility of each individual, however, to avoid habits and lifestyle choices that will have an adverse effect upon the heart.




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