Most adult hearts beat steadily at about 60-100 beats per minute. That’s approximately 100,000 times a day, or 3 billion times over an average lifespan.
We expect heart rates to vary depending on age, activity, and fitness level. For instance, your heart typically beats more slowly when you’re resting than when you’re exercising. And occasional palpitations, when your heart feels like it's pounding or skipping a beat, are normal.
However, a persistently irregular rate and rhythm (arrhythmia) can interfere with the heart’s ability to function and supply blood to the brain and other vital organs.
Our goal at Premiere Cardiology Consultants in Hyde Park, Jamaica, and Forest Hills, New York, is to keep your heart as healthy as possible and functioning well throughout your life.
Changing your diet, adding exercise to your routine, and incorporating other healthy habits into your lifestyle may be enough to reach that goal.
However, when lifestyle changes or medications don’t help, a pacemaker may be your best option for keeping your heart beating regularly.
Here’s how it works.
The heart has its own built-in pacemaker, a small cluster of tissues known as the sinoatrial (SA) node, located in the right upper chamber (atrium).
The SA node generates electrical impulses that travel through the heart, causing it to contract and pump blood.
This natural pacemaker ensures that the heart beats at a regular pace, typically between 60 to 100 beats per minute in a healthy adult.
Sometimes, the heart's natural pacemaker doesn't function properly, leading to arrhythmias or abnormal heart rhythms that can be too slow, too fast, or irregular.
Common types of arrhythmias include bradycardia (slow heart rate), tachycardia (fast heart rate), and atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat).
These conditions can result in symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath, and fainting.
Depending on the type of arrhythmia, you may also develop complications such as heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and other life-threatening conditions.
A pacemaker is a small, battery-operated medical device typically implanted under the skin of the chest near the collarbone and connected to the heart via one or more leads (thin wires).
Its primary function is to monitor the heart's electrical activity and, when necessary, send electrical impulses to prompt the heart to beat normally.
The pacemaker accomplishes its job via three main components:
This is the "brain" of the pacemaker, containing a battery and the circuitry needed to assess the heart’s rhythm and generate electrical impulses. The pulse generator is usually about the size of a small pocket watch and is implanted under the skin in the upper chest.
These thin, insulated wires are positioned in the heart’s chambers and connect the pulse generator to the heart.
Located at the end of the leads, electrodes deliver electrical impulses prompted by the pulse generator to the heart muscle when needed to correct heart rhythm.
There are several types of pacemakers, each designed to address specific heart conditions. Your Premier Cardiology Consultants specialist chooses the type that best fits your needs.
For instance, a biventricular pacemaker uses three leads: one for each lower heart chamber (ventricles) and one for the right upper chamber (atrium). This type is often recommended for individuals with heart failure since it helps the chambers beat in sync.
For many people, living with a pacemaker means returning to a healthier, more active lifestyle. Modern pacemakers are highly reliable and can last for many years before the battery needs replacing.
Learn more about the benefits of a pacemaker by scheduling a visit at Premier Cardiology Consultants today.
