Grumpy Old Man

While a heart pacemaker should not be confused with the natural pacemaker of the heart, an artificial pacemaker is a medical device which serves to help people who suffer from heart problems. Many people are unaware as to how a pacemaker works. It is a fairly simple device that works by using electrical currents which come into contact with the muscles of the heart by way of electrodes. This in turn helps to regulate the beating of the heart.

The heart’s natural pacemaker is responsible for regulating the heart’s beats at a certain pace. However, if sometimes the natural pacemaker fails in doing so. That is where artificial pacemakers step in to fulfil the role of the heart’s natural pacemaker.

These days, an electronic heart pacemaker can be programmed externally by a trained cardiologist who will be able to configure it to fit more precisely the needs of the individual. Pacemakers may also be combined with a defibrillator all in one unit if necessary.

Pacemaker experiments have been going on for over a hundred years, however the real breakthrough was in 1958. It was during this year that the first implantable pacemaker was used, although it was still not as medically developed as the pacemakers of today. The patient who used the first generation implantable pacemaker used 22 of them during his lifetime.

Implantable pacemakers are inserted into the patient by way of a straightforward surgery process. A local anesthetic is always used and antibiotics are provided afterwards to prevent any infection that could be caused as an effect of the operation. With an incision made just below the left collar bone, the pacemaker is inserted into the body and the leads are wired up to the heart with the use of a fluoroscope to make sure everything is going into the right place.

A person who has undergone an artificial heart pacemaker implantation is usually required to visit the doctor once in a while so that the doctor can see that everything is working correctly and that the patient is remaining healthy.

Technorati Tags: artificial heart pacemaker, health, heart, pacemaker