Living
With a Pacemaker
With
advances in technology, pacemakers today generally
last eight to 10 years (depending upon the type
of heart condition) and, in most cases, allow
a person to lead a normal life. In addition, advances
in pacemaker circuitry have reduced the interference
risk from certain machinery, such as microwaves,
which, in the past, may have altered or otherwise
affected the pacemaker. Even so, certain precautions
must be taken into consideration when a person
has a pacemaker.
In the
past, people with pacemakers risked interference
with the proper functioning of their pacemakers
if they were too close to car distributors, radar,
microwaves, electric blankets, and airport security
detectors. However, with improvements in pacemaker
technology, this type of interference is less
common.
The
following precautions should always be considered.
Discuss the following in detail with your physician:
- Use caution when going
through airport security detectors. Check with
your physician about the safety of going through
such detectors with your particular pacemaker.
- Avoid magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI) machines or other large magnetic
fields.
- Abstain from diathermy
(the use of heat in physical therapy to treat
muscles).
- Turn off large motors,
such as cars or boats, when working on them
(they may temporarily "confuse" your
pacemaker's rate).
- Avoid certain high-voltage
or radar machinery, such as radio or television
transmitters, electric arc welders, high-tension
wires, radar installations, or smelting furnaces.
- If you are having a
surgical procedure performed by a surgeon or
dentist, tell your surgeon or dentist that you
have a pacemaker, so that electrocautery will
not be used to control bleeding (the electrocautery
device can change the pacemaker settings).
- Always carry an ID
card that states you are wearing a pacemaker.
- You may have to take
antibiotic medication before any medically invasive
procedure to prevent infections that may affect
the pacemaker.
Always
consult your physician if you have any questions
concerning the use of certain equipment near your
pacemaker.
Once
the pacemaker has been implanted, people with
pacemakers should be able to do the same activities
everyone else in their age group is doing. When
you have a pacemaker, you may still be able do
the following:
- exercise moderately,
upon advice from your physician
- drive your car or travel
- return to work
- work in the yard or
house
- participate in sports
and other recreational activities
- take showers and baths
- continue sexual relationships
When
involved in a physical, recreational, or sporting
activity, a person with a pacemaker should avoid
receiving a blow to the skin over the pacemaker.
A blow to the chest near the pacemaker can affect
its functioning. If you do receive a blow to that
area, see your physician.
Always
consult your physician when you feel ill after
an activity, or when you have questions about
beginning a new activity.
Although
your pacemaker is built to last several years,
always check your pacemaker regularly to ensure
that it is working properly. The proper method
for checking the accuracy of your pacemaker includes
the following:
- Take your pulse regularly
to make sure your pacemaker is keeping your
pulse at the targeted rate.
- Check your "pacing
lead" (the lead which sends information
from the heart to the pacemaker) with an electrocardiogram
(ECG) at your physician's office. In addition,
you may participate in a telephonic check up
for your pacemaker on a periodic basis. Your
physician will provide special instructions.
- See your physician
regularly for check-ups.
- Report any unusual
symptoms or symptoms similar to those you had
prior to the pacemaker insertion to your physician
immediately.
Always
consult your physician for more information, if
needed.
The
pulse rate is a measurement of the heart rate,
or the number of times the heart beats per minute.
As the heart pushes blood through the arteries,
the arteries expand and contract with the flow
of the blood. Taking a pulse not only measures
the heart rate, but also can indicate:
- heart rhythm (abnormal
rhythm may indicate a heart disorder)
- strength of the pulse
(a weak pulse may indicate a fast heart beat
in which some beats are too weak to feel, heart
failure, or a low volume of blood in the circulatory
system)
The
normal pulse rate for healthy adults ranges from
60 to 100 beats per minute. The pulse rate may
fluctuate and increase with exercise, illness,
injury, and emotions. Girls ages 12 and older
and women, in general, tend to have faster heart
rates than do boys and men. Athletes, such as
runners, who do a lot of cardiovascular conditioning
may have heart rates in the 40s and experience
no problems.
As the
heart forces blood through the arteries, you feel
the beats by firmly pressing on the arteries,
which are located close to the surface of the
skin at certain points of the body. The pulse
can be found on the side of the lower neck, on
the inside of the elbow, or at the wrist. When
taking your pulse:
- Using the first and
second fingertips, press firmly but gently on
the arteries until you feel a pulse.
- Begin counting the
pulse when the clock's second hand is on
the 12.
- Count your pulse for
60 seconds (or for 15 seconds and then multiply
by four to calculate beats per minute).
- When counting, do
not watch the clock continuously, but concentrate
on the beats of the pulse.
- If unsure about your
results, ask another person to count for you.
If your
physician has ordered you to check your own pulse
and you are having difficulty finding it, consult
your physician for additional instruction.
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Resources of Cardiovascular Disease
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