Understanding Pacemakers: Reasons for Implantation and Function

A pacemaker is used to monitor and control a person's heartbeat. This electronic device is implanted into the chest and is connected to the heart with electrical wires. Pacemakers prompt the heart to beat at a healthy rate and rhythm.

Heart Attack

• According to the Mayo Clinic, patients who have suffered a heart attack or undergone surgery may need a temporary pacemaker in order to normalize a slow heartbeat.

Drug Overdose

• A drug overdose may cause an abnormally slow heart rate that must be treated with a temporary pacemaker.

Bradycardia

• A chronically slowed heartbeat, or bradycardia, may require a permanent pacemaker.

Heart Failure

• Biventricular pacemakers can be implanted permanently to treat patients who have experienced heart failure.

Complications

• According to the Mayo Clinic, patients may experience complications after a pacemaker has been surgically implanted, including bleeding, bruising or infection.

Precautions

• Patients should not place a cellular phone directly over the site where a pacemaker was implanted and should stand at least two feet away from power generating equipment.