Pacemakers should be monitored and patients aware of self-care protocols.
People who have pacemaker implantation should take a few precautions in daily life. The small device is placed in the abdomen or chest to control abnormal heart rhythms. Pacemakers use low-energy electrical pulses to keep the heart from beating to fast or too slow. The surgery is considered minor and is done in a hospital. The aftercare is considered minimal.
Electricity
A heart patient who has had a pacemaker implanted should avoid close or prolonged contact with electrical devices and those that have strong magnetic fields. These can interfere with the functioning of the pacemaker. Such devices include: Cell phones and MP3 players and household appliances, such as microwave ovens. Patients should stay away from high-tension wires and metal detectors. Industrial welders and electrical generators can also disrupt the pacemakers function.
Activity
Having a pacemaker does not interfere with the patient's ability to take part in sports and exercise. Strenuous activities may be undertaken. But full-contact sports like football might damage the pacemaker and the wires inside could shift. The doctor should be consulted on the subject of physical activity. Other factors such as general health conditions may complicate the question.
Ongoing Care
The pacemaker should be checked four times a year. It may stop working properly or not work as well as when first implanted. The battery may weaken. Wires may break or become dislodged. If the patient's heart condition changes use of the pacemaker may need to be re-evaluated. It is now possible for physicians to check the functioning of the pacemaker remotely through digital connectivity.
Battery Replacement
Pacemaker batteries last a long time. They can be good for five to 15 years of operation. But they should be replaced on an average of every six or seven years. The physician replaces the pacemaker's generator and battery. This requires surgery but it is less complicated than original implantation surgery.
Notification
A patient with a pacemaker should always notify any medical personnel tending to him that he has the device. Physicians give pacemaker patients cards that list the type of pacemaker implanted. It should always be carried. Another option is a medical ID bracelet that gives pacemaker information.
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