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Signs You Might Be In Need Of A Pacemaker Implant

 Pacemaker implants are increasingly common, recommended by a physician to individuals with irregular, slow, or fast heartbeats. In the United States alone, pacemaker implants have risen 56 percent in the last few years, but many people with cardiovascular issues fail to identify the symptoms at first. A variety of conditions can lead to your physician recommending you have a pacemaker implanted, such as you may be living with an irregular heartbeat caused by Atrial Fibrillation for a period of time until your symptoms worsen. Pacemakers stimulate the heart to beat at a normal rate and pump more effectively.


Mostly, pacemakers are used to speed up slow heart rates, but sometimes, they are used to slow down fast heart rates. If the heart beats very fast, its chambers never fill up with enough blood, and if the heart beats too slowly, the heart fails to circulate adequate blood to meet the needs of the body. This is where pacemakers can play a huge role by normalizing slow, fast, and irregular heart rates.

Now, a question of significant importance is “who needs a pacemaker?”

Your healthcare provider may recommend pacemaker therapy as part of your treatment for

1.      Slow Heart Rate (Bradycardia) - Based on age and overall health of an adult, the ideal resting heart rate ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute. Bradycardia is a slower than normal heart rate, lower than 60 beats per minute.

2.      Heart Block- the condition involves disrupted electrical signals to the ticker that might be caused by nerve and muscle disorders like muscular dystrophy or damage from aging or heart attacks.

3.      Heart Muscle Damage- caused by heart attacks or aging, which can result in irregular heartbeats.

4.      Heart Failure- A chronic condition in which the heart is too weak to pump enough blood to the body.

5.      Atrial Fibrillation- It is an irregular and often rapid heart rate that commonly causes poor blood flow. AFib is one of the most common abnormal heart rhythms where the heart rate may range from 100 to 175 beats a minute.

6.      Sick Sinus Syndrome- A condition in which the sinus node is impaired and the SA node is unable to produce enough beats (SA node is an area in your upper heart where heartbeats start).

7.      Long QT Syndrome- a condition, sometimes inherited, that puts you at the receiving end of an abnormal heart rhythm by affecting the heart’s electrical activity.

8.      Certain genetic conditions like progressive familial heart block

9.      The device may as well be necessary to counter the effect of certain medications, such as beta blockers for high blood pressure.

Signs you might require a pacemaker implant:

Remember not all heart conditions or irregular heartbeats are treated with pacemakers, there are some signs that indicate that an individual is in need of a pacemaker implant. If you experience any of the following signs, get yourself evaluated by your doctor:

1.      Feeling lightheaded or dizzy

2.      You are extremely fatigued

3.      You have palpitations (intense fluttering in your chest)

4.      Fainting

5.      Shortness of breath

6.      A diagnosis of bradycardia

7.      Chest pain

8.      You take medications that slow down your heartbeat

Pacemakers can help ease such symptoms caused by an irregular or abnormal heart rate by regulating your heartbeat, which as a result not only helps you feel better, but may save your life.

It is important that you discuss all the pros and cons of a pacemaker surgery. Of course, your physician will recommend this procedure to you only when if you are a good candidate. But from your end, get your doubts cleared and concerns addressed, which will help you make an informed decision, since getting a pacemaker is a crucial life-altering step in your healthcare. There are several factors when considering whether and when you should get a pacemaker, including your quality of life (your overall health) with your heart condition, medication effectiveness, device complications, any risk from the surgery, device longevity, follow-up care, etc.

To undergo CPR training, sign up for a CPR class at the AHA certified CPR Tampa inPalm Harbor. To register for a class, contact CPR Tampa on 727-240-9404.

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