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What Are the Benefits of the Pacemaker?

Cardiac arrythmias occur quite regularly, and often do not require any treatment. In that case, doctors do not regard them as clinically significant. However, if cardiac arrythmias combine with other symptoms such as shortness of breath or tiredness, they may require medical intervention. Pacemakers were developed in the 1960s and have since evolved into small, sophisticated pieces of equipment.

  1. Regulating the Heartbeat

    • The cardiologist will assess a patient's need for a pacemaker.

      The sino-atrial node acts as the heart's natural pacemaker, sending electrical impulses which cause the heart to beat. A problem in this or some other part of the heart's electrical pathway can cause the heart to beat too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or just irregularly. When this condition becomes severe enough, the patient runs the risk of further heart problems, which a pacemaker helps prevent.

    Breathlessness

    • Many patients with an irregular heartbeat complain of breathlessness, an unpleasant symptom which can lead the patient to restrict his activities. This, in turn, will further affect his general health. The breathlessness arises when the blood does not pump at maximum efficiency to and from the lungs, thus compromising the lung's function. A pacemaker should resolve this symptom.

    Tiredness

    • Patients who have a disturbance to the heartbeat frequently feel tired and lacking in energy. This arises because the blood is not being effectively oxygenated in the lungs, and the oxygenated blood is not being pumped at the optimal level throughout the body. Sometimes, patients experience low blood pressure, and suffer faintness and dizziness. The insertion of a pacemaker should help to alleviate, or even cure these symptoms.

    Biological Changes

    • A study carried out at the John Hopkin's University School of Medicine indicated that the use of a biventricular pacemaker can actually change the biology of the heart muscle, and improve the outlook for the patient. This becomes especially true when the patient combines the pacemaker with doctor-prescribed medication.

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