Get to know pacemakers and how they work

You may wonder what kind of pacemaker is often installed in people with heart disease, what is the point, and what kind of way it works. Not only that, it turns out that pacemakers also consist of several types. Then, what type of pacemaker is most commonly used? A pacemaker is a small device that is used to help your heart beat more regularly and normally, not too slowly or quickly. This tool is installed if you experience certain heart problems. Pacemakers are needed to help improve heart rhythm so the heart can pump blood throughout the body properly. Before using a pacemaker, you may need to go through several examinations to determine the need for using this device. Some possible examinations include general physical examination, echocardiogram, electrocardiography, stress test, and a test called holter monitoring. These tests are useful for evaluating heart function, monitoring your heart's electrical work, heart rhythm, and heart condition when you are on the move. After the heart specialist examines your health condition, the doctor will determine treatment options based on the results of the examination. Your doctor will suggest the best treatment steps, including what type of pacemaker is right for your condition. This tool is generally installed by placing or implanting under the skin in the chest area, precisely under the collarbone. After giving the anesthetic and making a small incision in the left chest, the doctor will install small wires that connect the heart to the pacemaker.

How Does a Pacemaker Work?

Once installed, a matchbox-sized device will send an electrical impulse to the heart through small wires connected between the two. Pacemakers can be arranged in such a way that the electric waves that are released to make the heart to contract can suit the needs of the body. If there are no abnormalities in the heartbeat, then the pacemaker will not give a signal. But if the pacemaker detects changes in the rhythm of your heartbeat, for example the heart beats too slowly, this device will send a signal and help the heart beat back to normal. A pacemaker can have several lead wires depending on the type. Pacemakers need batteries to receive signals and send electricity to the heart. The battery can last for about 5-8 years. However, doctors will check pacemakers every 3-6 months. Battery replacement is carried out through surgical procedures, such as when a pacemaker is first installed.

Various Types of Pacemakers

There are three types of pacemakers. The doctor will determine the type of pacemaker you are using based on the condition of your heart.

• Single chamber pacemaker

This tool uses a lead cable and is mounted on your porch or heart chamber.

• Dual chamber pacemaker

This tool uses two lead wires attached to the foyer and your heart chamber.

• Biventricular pacemaker

This tool uses three wires that are attached to the right atrium, the right chamber, and near the left chamber of your heart.

The doctor will set the pacemaker to a minimum, so that if your heart rate is below this limit, the pacemaker will send electrical waves to the heart to contract and produce a heartbeat. Pacemakers are also used if there are obstacles in your heart's electrical pathways. Here are some types of diseases that require the use of pacemakers:

• Bradycardia, which is a disorder that causes the heart to beat too slowly.
• Tachycardia, a disorder that causes the heart to beat too fast.
• Heart electrical resistance, which is an abnormality in which electrical waves that regulate the heartbeat do not flow properly.
• Heart failure, a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs.
• Cardiac arrest, which is a condition in which the heart stops beating.

Pacemaker installation will be performed by a cardiologist. You can discuss this procedure with your doctor and discuss possible complications that can occur and what precautions you should not take. Side effects that occur generally come from pacemaker installation procedures, not from the pacemaker. Side effects include allergies to drugs, bleeding, infections, and damage to blood vessels. You will also be advised to avoid standing too long and close to some electronic devices, such as microwaves. Also avoid placing mobile phones and music players near pacemakers. If after installing a pacemaker you notice a number of complaints, such as fever, bleeding, skin around the location of the red pacemaker, swelling or suppuration, you need to return immediately to control to the doctor.