We have heard so many people talk about pacemakers and heart related terms, but a layman still is not familiar with the concept of pacemakers and how they help people lead a normal life.

The experts at Capitol will be discussing about the pacemaker and how it works to paint a better picture for the common people.

WHAT IS A PACEMAKER?

Arrhythmia is a condition when the heart is not able to function properly, the beating of the heart is irregular; either too fast or too slow. To deal with arrhythmia, the concept of pacemakers came into picture.

Pacemaker is a device which is inserted near the chest or the abdomen that helps in controlling the irregular heartbeat. It is a device which is electrically charged and the pulses emitted are used to cue the heart to beat at a normal pace.

TYPES OF PACEMAKERS

Depending on the symptoms, your doctor will recommend the type of pacemaker.

• SINGLE CHAMBER PACEMAKER

It contains one lead that connects your heart to the generator of the pacemaker. It is linked with only one chamber of your heart.

• DUAL CHAMBER PACEMAKER

It contains two leads, leading to the two chambers of the heart. It is connected to two chambers of the heart. In this, pacemaker manages how the two chambers work in synchronous fashion.

• BIVENTRICULAR PACEMAKER

It has three leads connected to the right atrium and the left and right ventricle.

HOW THE PACEMAKER WORKS?

The sinus node is the natural pacemaker of our heart. It sends electrical impulses which are responsible for the regular beating of the heart. In case the sinus node is not functioning accurately, pacemaker is used to work as an artificial substitute for the sinus node.

Pacemaker helps the heart in regulating the timing and sequence of your heartbeat.

Pacemaker comprises of three parts- generator, leads, and battery.

The battery is used to power the generator and both are encapsulated in a metal box. Lead is an insulated and flexible wire which is used to transmit electrical impulses from the heart to the generator. One end is connected to the generator and the other is connected to a vein of the heart.

After the pacemaker is inserted, it monitors the heart rhythm and decides when the action of pacemaker is required. For instance, if the heartrate is reduced, an electrical signal is sent to the heart, which results in the contraction of the heart.

Pacemakers can be controlled by altering the way they function by your doctor. New instructions can be sent to the generator wirelessly.

But some care is do required when a pacemaker is implanted in your body. These will be discussed in the subsequent blogs.