02/08/2023
A pacemaker is a small device that treats a slow heart beat.
-
There are three different types of pacemakers. Your doctor will advise which one best suits your condition.
-
All types of pacemakers are made of two parts—a battery-powered pulse generator which gives off impulses and a lead/s which carries impulses to and from the heart.
-
Everyone’s heart is different, so your pacemaker will be ‘programmed’ by your doctor especially for your needs. Once it is installed, it will be checked by a technician using an external machine and the rate of the pacemaker can be set. Tests will be done where the pacing speed will be temporarily increased and decreased. Then a ‘normal’ pacing speed will be set.
-
Your pacemaker is designed to ‘stand by’ until your heart rate falls below the set rate determined by your doctor. If this occurs the device will step in and ‘pace’ your heart rate to the set level.