You may be surprised to learn that your heart has a built-in electrical system that controls the rate and rhythm of your heartbeat, but it’s key to your overall health. An abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia) can cause death. When this natural electrical system isn’t functioning properly, an implanted pacemaker can provide an assist that keeps your heart beating at a life-sustaining rhythm and rate.
The highly regarded specialists at Premier Cardiology Consultants, serving residents throughout New York City, are known for their expertise in providing a wide variety of treatments for numerous heart conditions, including pacemaker placement for arrhythmia.
These talented physicians want to provide you with information about pacemakers and the lifesaving benefits they offer in case you should need one.
A two-part, battery-powered, electronic pacemaker is a small medical device that includes a small pulse generator implanted just under the skin in your chest or abdomen, and tiny flexible wires (leads) that run from the generator to various chambers in your heart. Advanced technology housed in the generator senses cardiac arrhythmia and delivers electrical signals that return your heart’s beat (pace) to normal.
The most recent addition to pacemaker models includes a leadless variety that can be implanted directly into the heart. Some newer systems are also able to detect breathing rate and body motion, and thus can increase your heart rate as necessary during exercise.
Conditions that may require pacemaker placement include:
Your Premier cardiologist may also recommend a special biventricular pacemaker for advanced heart failure.
When you have heart failure, one or both of your lower heart chambers (ventricles) aren’t able to pump the blood your body needs to function normally. A biventricular pacemaker sends signals to the ventricles to help the heart pump better. This type of treatment is also called cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).
Your Premier Cardiology physician will provide complete details about pacemaker insertion and aftercare before scheduling your procedure. Generally, you can expect to be sedated but awake during the procedure, which usually requires just one day, or less, in the hospital.
Most pacemakers are checked remotely every few months, during which your pacemaker’s computer chip transmits pertinent information regarding your pacing requirements, the device’s battery life, etc. to your doctor. Note that pacemaker batteries generally last about 15 years, after which they need to be replaced.
You can also expect to note significant improvement in your overall health with less dizziness, fatigue, and other debilitating symptoms caused by an irregular heart rate and/or heart failure.
For outstanding cardiac care that you can rely on, including pacemaker placement and monitoring, schedule a visit with Premier Cardiology Consultants today at any of our convenient locations.
