Pacemakers: Understanding Benefits and Treatment for Heart Rhythm Disorders

A pacemaker is a small electrical device that is placed into a patient̵7;s abdomen or chest to control and treat abnormal heart rhythms or arrhythmias. Abnormal heart rhythms can lead to organ damage, a loss of consciousness or death.

Slow Heart Rhythms

• According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, a pacemaker can speed up a slow heart rhythm or bradycardia. Slow heart rhythms may cause fainting, shortness of breath or fatigue.

Fast Heart Rhythms

• Fast heart rhythms or tachycardias can be controlled and brought back to a normal rhythm with a pacemaker.

Atrial Fibrillation

• Pacemakers may be used to correct atrial fibrillation that causes a heart ventricle to quiver rather than beat in a normal rhythm.

Heart Failure

• Heart failure may be prevented with a pacemaker that coordinates electrical signals between the ventricles of the heart.

Temporary Pacemakers

• A temporary pacemaker may be used in a patient to treat emergency heart rhythm conditions and removed after the condition has been corrected (See Reference 1).

Permanent Pacemakers

• Long-term heart rhythm abnormalities can be corrected with a permanent pacemaker.